Use of a combined drainage/fauna underpass by the Spotted-tailed Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus

Abstract

Combined drainage/fauna culverts and dedicated fauna underpasses are routinely used to mitigate the potential barrier effects of roads and reduce road-related mortality. To determine the success of underpasses constructed as part the Pacific Highway Upgrade in eastern NSW automated cameras were used to monitor a number of underpasses. The first monitoring period (autumn 2018) recorded photographic evidence of a Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus using a combined underpass on day 61 of a 63-night monitoring period. To our knowledge, this is the first photographic evidence of use of an underpass by a D. maculatus in NSW and supports the installation of box culverts as a mitigation measure to facilitate movement for this species.