EchidnaWatch - SciStarter

Have you seen an echidna lately? Wildlife Queensland’s EchidnaWatch program is gathering information on the distribution and abundance of echidnas in your area – and we’d like your help. The only species of echidna in Queensland, and Australia – the short-beaked echidna – is one of our most loved and unique animals. With a distribution that extends from Tasmania to the Top End, this ambling adventurer can be found anywhere from the outback to the backyard. We know that echidnas don’t cope well with traffic and sadly become roadkill. But we need to know the real extent of the damage that cars cause to echidna numbers. How well do echidnas cope with other modern hazards such as ant baits, fences and introduced pests, such as fire ants.