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Gardening in Oz
paradisi

antichinus or rodents?

20 years ago

I've seen a little furry thing wandering around my garden in the evenings - I knowit's not a rat - too small and wrong shaped head

and I'm sure it's not a mouse - I used to live out west and know mice by the millions from the plagues that used to attack the wheat silos

So... is it possible that we have marsupial mice in the garden? I've done a google and the closest I can find is the antichinus..

Does anyone else near the sunshine coast have something like these little creatures?

Sorry - no photo yet, hopefully I'll be able to get one this evening

Comments (7)

  • 20 years ago

    Hi Paradisi,
    I've been waiting patiently to see a photo of your little visitor. I assume you have had no luck in that department yet. I know there are antichinus up your way but it I would love to know if they would venture into garden areas. Where is Nugget when the little creature is about?
    Cheers,
    Dee.

  • 20 years ago

    Hi deejaus - no luck with photographing the little creature

    on the night we spotted it we had nugget running round like a sheep dog - him following our directions (left, right, back, stop etc etc) shocked us as much as the creature.

    that may have been what has scared it off

  • 20 years ago

    An interesting disucssion that might help:-

    Here is a link that might be useful: antichinus discussion

  • 20 years ago

    Well that was interesting Jan. Okay Paradisi...the challenge is on for you to go scat hunting! LOL.
    Cheers,
    Dee.

  • 20 years ago

    Antichinus are carnivores and quite helpful in the garden. The males will start to die off now as only the pregnant females make it through winter... These can be quite a problem if they come into houses because they make nests for their youngs in secure places such as wardrobes, clothes drawers etc, etc shredding items in the process or using these places as toilets...
    Rose-Marie

  • 20 years ago

    Some species of antichinus such as the phascogale will even kill and eat your chooks. They can be very aggresive when cornered so be careful if you see it again as it will give a very nasty bite. The link is about WA animals but you might find something of interest in the phascogale links.

    Cheers, Jules

    Here is a link that might be useful: Marsupials

  • 20 years ago

    We have had antechinus and phascogale here. The most obvious difference to me was the the antechinus' head was broader than that of a mouse (it just didnt look like a mouse head) The phascogale of course has a tufted tail and is larger - we never had trouble with chooks but they did murder a pair of quail, and no doubt would be able to take a young chicken easily.

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