One year on: rapid assessment of fauna and red fox diet after the 2019–20 mega-fires in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales

A rapid assessment of the Greater Blue Mountains Area one year after the devastating 2019–20 mega-fires revealed that while species richness remained similar between burnt and unburnt areas, certain species like the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Common Wombat, and Australian Magpie thrived in burnt sites. Conversely, small mammals were more abundant in unburnt areas. Red Fox diet analysis indicated a shift towards medium-sized mammals and reptiles in burnt regions, suggesting increased predation pressure on these groups post-fire. The study employed remote camera traps and scat analysis to gather preliminary data, highlighting the effectiveness of rapid surveys in understanding species responses to mega-fires and providing a baseline for recovery monitoring.

Spencer, E. E., Dickman, C. R., Wardle, G. M., Newsome, T. M., & Greenville, A. C. (2022). One year on: rapid assessment of fauna and red fox diet after the 2019–20 mega-fires in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Australian Zoologist, 42(2), 304–325. https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2022.033