A Parks Victoria monitoring program has spotted the brush-tailed phascogale, a small nocturnal marsupial which is listed as a threatened species.

Cameras were set up to catch a glimpse of the critter, which is losing habitat and nesting spots because of illegal wood harvesting.

The phascogale is also falling victim to attacks by foxes and feral cats.

Parks Victoria installed motion-sensor cameras and nesting boxes which replicated tree-hollows.

The program, which will be ramped up during spring, is helping Parks Victoria to manage the phascogale’s recovery.

Grampians National Park chief ranger David Roberts said phascogale populations would continue to decline if people illegally harvested firewood and failed to restrain their cats and dogs while visiting the area.

“Please be aware that firewood collection is not allowed in many parks and reserves and significant penalties apply for illegally damaging trees and removing wood,” Mr Roberts said. 

“Around 80 per cent of rare and threatened native animals have been recorded living in Victoria’s parks and reserves.

“When getting out into nature this spring, make sure you leave the parks and reserves as you found them.”

Parks Victoria also detected phascogales near the Ararat Regional Park and officials are investigating evidence of its presence in Lonsdale Nature Conservation Reserve.

The brush-tailed phascogale is one of many animals that finds refuge in the Grampians National Park.

Parks Victoria said there were more than 160 species of threatened plants and animals in the park – 40 of which do not exist anywhere else in the world.