Recent University of Melbourne research shows that rakali, Australia’s native water rat, are quietly thriving in waterways across Melbourne, from creeks and lakes to surprisingly urban habitats. These elusive, water-loving mammals are about the size of a possum, with webbed feet and a distinctive white-tipped tail, and can be active during the day as well as at night. While rakali can be easy to miss, Blackburn Lake provides the kind of freshwater habitat they use, so patient visitors who slow down and pay attention may be lucky enough to spot a “furry splash” on the water, a white-tipped tail, or even the remains of a meal left neatly on a waterside log or rock. You can read about the research here: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/australias-elusive-rakali-is-quietly-thriving-in-melbournes-waterways?fbclid=IwdGRjcATbtyVwZG9mBWZkaWQWULtGLRvNjfa_aRsMxUmFqptfmrTrhmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6Olbvh5Pln9pV5nU39Vd2VKa8zv1QUCmn495l2dtmnUZqo9PGrc3IQlWg0wQ_aem_n1kFn5F5OblhglmoqRDuwQ