Behaviours

The bilby has very large ears which are use to hear for incoming predators whilst they are digging a burrow (3). The forelimbs of the bilby have three stoutly clawed toes and two unclawed toes to aid in burrowing while its hind limbs are slender (3). Bilbies on average are 55cm long and have a 29cm tail (3). The bilbies long snout has an excellent sense of smell and can reach into the ground to retrieve food using its sticky tongue (4). Bilbies build many burrows, most of these are for hiding away from predators however one is used for sleeping in (4). Bilbie burrows reach two or three meters down and are spirally and can interconnect, they can maintain a constant body temperature of 23 °C when in the burrows (4). Bilbies emerge from their burrows to forage generally an hour after dusk, their home ranges cover a lot of space, if weather and environmental conditions permit otherwise they are capable of staying in the burrows for longer period of time (4). The bilby can adapt and tolerate the Australian environment very well.

Bilby digging