Artificial boulderfield yields a surprise: The Smoky Mouse in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia.

Spoil dumps in the subalpine and montane environments of Kosciuszko National Park in far south-eastern Australia are modified landscapes which in the past were considered to have little faunal value. Recent finds (2010-2011) of the critically endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum ( Burramys parvus) have resulted in a reconsideration of the importance of such landscapes to fauna. Such re-evaluation has been translated into on-ground actions, including the construction of an artificial boulderfield on one spoil dump as habitat targeting Mountain Pygmy-possum in rehabilitation works. Trapping 7 and 19-20 months, respectively, after these works has so far not recorded this Pygmy-possum. However, it led to the discovery of another critically endangered species, the Smoky Mouse ( Pseudomys fumeus). Two males (with three recaptures) and one female were captured in 250 trapnights in November 2015 and an additional male in 600 trapnights in December 2015. The capture of this enigmatic species is highly significant as it is the first live capture of the species in the park and it is only the second locality in which live captures have been made in New South Wales since 2001. The location of the Smoky Mouse in spoil dumps further emphasises how these areas provide existing and potential habitat for native fauna species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]