Bilbies are terrestrial and semi-fossorial and dig slightly spiraling burrows with multiple exits that serve as protection from predators, sun, and other environmental conditions.
Bilbies are terrestrial and semi-fossorial, found in areas consisting of rocky, clay soil.
Unlike bandicoots, bilbies are excellent burrowers and can build extensive tunnel systems with their strong forelimbs and well-developed claws. Bilbies dig slightly spiraling burrows about 2 meters deep and up to 3 meters in length. These burrows may have multiple exits, which are particularly important if a burrow is invaded by a predator. A single bilby typically makes several burrows within its home range, up to about a dozen, and moves between them. These burrows serve as protection from predators as well as from the harsh sun and other environmental conditions and provide a safe place to cache young while adults are foraging.
• Image | ©️ Toni Fish, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
• Sources | (Brown, 2011; Environment Australia, 2004; Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, 1998; Pavey, 2006; The Wikimedia Foundation, 2021)
