Wombat Burrows Help Other Critters Survive After Fires

Wombat burrows act as survival boltholes for a surprising array of creatures after bushfires hit, a study suggests. Researchers have analysed camera trap images from NSW’s Woomargama National Park and Woomargama State Forest, where more than 18,000 hectares burnt during the Black Summer fires. Sensor cameras were installed in front of 28 wombat burrows in areas with varying degrees of fire damage. Cameras were also positioned at 28 control locations, which had been impacted by fire but did not have burrows. Native species such as bush rats, agile antechinus, lace monitors and painted button-quails were more prevalent around burrows compared to similar sites without them....