EASTER IS HERE

Easter is here and across Victoria there are thousands of kids eagerly awaiting for their eggs to arrive.  With many amazing animals native to Victoria (over 1300 different species) we explore the five best alternatives to the 'Easter Bunny'.

With its silky long ears and rabbit-like behaviour, the Bilby is already a widely known Easter Bunny alternative. They are great diggers, who can disappear in soil within 3 minutes - perfect for hiding Easter eggs in your garden. The Bilby is also a marsupial which means it can keep your Easter eggs safe in its pouch. And, as a nocturnal animal it means, while you're sleeping, the Bilby is busy delivering your Easter eggs.

While the bilby is a popular favourite...it no longer exists in Victoria. A reminder about the importance of having a strong plan to protect our plants and animals. Learn more here www.environment.vic.gov.au/biodiversityplan

Let's have a look at some other interesting Victorian native animals that can give the Easter bunny a run for its money.

Another nocturnal mover, the Ring-Tail possum, can also sneakily hide Easter eggs under the cover of night. Possums are not as quiet as the Bilby so you may hear them grunting, hissing or screeching during the night. They have a pouch for carrying treats, and live on a diet of leaves and flowers so don't worry they're unlikely to be caught eating your chocolate eggs.

The Magpie an Aussie icon, can fly around Victoria to deliver your Easter eggs. Once at your house they'll often potter around the garden looking for hiding spots, making you hunt for those delicious chocolate eggs. Most would think a Magpie, with its eye for shiny things, would be a poor bunny substitute. After all, they may be tempted to devour those shiny foil wrapped eggs. However contrary to common belief, their love for shiny treasures is actually a myth!

The Wombat can waddle around helping its friends deliver your scrumptious Easter eggs. Just like the Bilby, wombats are great diggers and can create numerous tunnels and chambers underground, almost like a maze! The Easter wombat can hide your eggs in its secret chambers and then deliver them to your garden in its backwards facing pouch.

The Brush-Tailed Rock Wallaby could also join his fellow native friends in helping deliver Easter joy across Victoria. Wallabies are great climbers, often climbing tall trees using their sharp claws. This is how they can go from house to house, delivering those yummy Easter eggs. But don't expect to see them wandering around during the day, exactly like their lazy bilby and possum friends they spend most of the day sleeping.

While these native Victorian superstars give the common easter bunny a run for its money, it's important to remember we need to help protect them. Working together we can give our plants and animals a better chance to survive for many more Easters to come. 

There are many things you can do around your home to help us protect our plants and animals. Planting native plants so local birds visit your garden, picking up litter to ensure it doesn't end up in our rivers and oceans. This is how you can be a part of protecting Victoria's plants and animals.

Biodiversity 2037 is the Victorian Governments plan to protect Victoria's plants and animals.

You can learn more about how you can be part of the solution by visiting www.environment.vic.gov.au 

Have a safe and happy Easter!