It is time to save the bush rat

"Australia is home to about 50 living species of rats that have adapted to its environments over thousands if not millions of years."

"Dr Finnerty said in the case of the bush rat it had multiple roles including as ecosystem engineers.We know them to be really good pollinators, especially of our banksias. They're good at moving seeds and eating seeds ... they're really good dispersers of fungi spores, the mushrooms that are so key to our ecosystems."

"They're really good at kicking out black rats."
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2026-02-28/smelly-bush-rat-towels-sydney-urban-rewilding/106368332
#biodiversity #BushRat #RattusFuscipes #BlackRats #rats #owls #goannas

'Smoky scent': The novel plan to return native bush rats to Sydney

Conservationists hope a smelly plan to reintroduce Australian bush rats into a nature reserve in Sydney this weekend could help repair urban ecosystems.