Pygmy Possum Safe Haven – A Regional First

Yarnbala is proud to have initiated the first Pygmy Possum Safe Haven program in our region. With local populations under pressure from habitat loss, National Park fire regimes, introduced predators, we designed a purpose-built nesting box with a unique entrance size and internal structure that provides security from cats, foxes and snakes while allowing possums to breed naturally.

What began as a small, experimental project has grown into a model now being adopted by community groups, schools and conservation organisations. To expand the program, the Yarnbala Foundation partnered with the Cummins Men’s Shed, who have brought the design to life through locally crafted boxes. This collaboration has created far more than habitat—it has built regional awareness, skills sharing and a sense that protecting threatened species is something everyone can be part of.

Boxes installed across Yarnbala are now being monitored for occupancy and breeding success, contributing valuable knowledge to the understanding of Pygmy Possums on the Eyre Peninsula. The Safe Haven program demonstrates how local innovation, when shared openly, can ripple well beyond property boundaries.

Photo by Arj Slater

Cummins Mens Shed

Collaboration with Cathedral Rocks