TREE HOLLOWS & NEST BOXES

​Native animals that use tree hollows include possums; gliders, birds and microbats. Tree hollows can take up to 150 years form, and as a result of land clearing, tree-hollows are an increasingly scarce resource in the Australian landscape. If wildlife can't find appropriate hollows, it can harm their chances of survival, and they can become locally extinct. Nest boxes can play a vital role as substitute hollows, providing nesting opportunities for a wide range of wildlife. 

​Here's how to get a Possum Nest Box for your garden:

• Check out Possum boxes on Gumtree, or FauNature, or Pestrol
• Visit our Build a possum box page and build your own, or
• Download our ‘Build a possum nest box’ brochure (PDF)

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Will wildlife use nest boxes?
We have observed wildlife inhabiting nest boxes in bush blocks, urban residential properties, and public parks. 
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The following factors should be considered when constructing or buying a nest box:

• Shape and size - which need to be very different depending on the animal
• Insulation - natural hollows are well insulated from extreme heat and cold
• Entrance hole dimensions - there's a big difference between the size of a feathertail glider and a brushtail possum!
• Orientation - nest boxes should be protected with the entrance facing away from prevailing weather.
• Protection - many mammals prefer nest boxes to be placed among dense foliage for protection against predators.
• Shading - nest boxes should be shaded from the hot sun
• ​Position - possum boxes should be located in an area known to support possums of that species

Nest box with baffle © WRSC Gavin Swan

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This page last updated Februaty 2022