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Australian Wildlife – Macropods
- A cheeky little potaroo
Thursday Photo is one from the archive today as Hubby and I have been a bit under the weather since Christmas although unfortunately not from excessive celebrating.
Occasionally I go to mind a property that belongs to friends of ours. They are frequently visited by potoroos who covet fruit and vegetables from their garden. They are not tame but they are quite unafraid of humans. I would frequently see them grazing in the garden and they would only hop away if I came too close.
I had thought that these animals were mainly nocturnal but I took my photos on a winter afternoon. There are a couple of different species of potoroo and I’m not sure which this is. I am a townie and not good at identifying wildlife. My friends said they were always being invaded by potoroos and these are a little smaller than wallabies so I took their word for it. I’ve added some links to sites with more information for people who like the facts. I thought they were cute, my friends think they are furry little thieves. It all depends on your point of view.

Links:
http://bird.net.au/bird/index.php?title=Long-nosed_Potoroo
http://www.arkive.org/long-footed-potoroo/potorous-longipes/
http://www.ozanimals.com/wildlife/Mammal/Bettongs,Potoroos.html
I have never heard of these Potoroos before, glad they are not here in the UK! We live on the edge of a town with fields 100 yards away. My garden is always being eaten by pigeons, rabbits and game birds. The worst time was at harvest time last year, I went to cut the front lawn and in front of the mower was about 12 harvest mice eating the grass. They were not a bit afraid of me or the mower – I hate mice. I wore long boots for a week – and it was hot weather!
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They are not as well known as their cousins wallabies and kangaroos. To people who grow things I guess they are as annoying as rabbits.. or mice!
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