Get to know our models in real life!
Big ears, speedy feet and a very special story! 🐾
Discover the fascinating world of these long-eared Aussie natives — from their clever burrowing ways to their important place in our outback landscape.
Fun facts about the bilbies
FUN FACT 1
Bilbies are one of Australia's most unique marsupials! They have big rabbit-like ears, a long snout like an anteater, and a bouncy tail like a tiny kangaroo. How cool is that?
Long ago, bilbies lived across much of inland Australia. Today they are much rarer and are found only in small pockets of remote desert country.
That's why protecting bilbies is so important!
FUN FACT 2
Bilbies are nature's little gardeners! As they dig for tasty insects and plant roots, a single bilby can move tonnes of soil every year. All that digging mixes healthy nutrients into the ground, helping plants grow strong.
Their burrows don't just help bilbies either – they also become cool, safe hiding places for other native Australian animals. How clever is that? Every little bilby helps keep the bush healthy!
FUN FACT 3
Bilbies are amazing Underground Builders!
A single bilby can have up to 12 burrows to call home. Some of these twist and turn for 3 metres underground and can be 2 metres deep – that's taller than most grown-ups!
These cosy tunnels keep bilbies cool on hot days, safe from bushfires, and hidden from hungry predators. Even better, when a bilby moves out, other native animals can move in and use the burrow as their own safe home!
Fun facts about the bilbies
FUN FACT 4
Have you ever wondered why bilbies have such big pink ears?
They're built-in air conditioners!
Warm blood flows through their ears, helping them cool down on hot days in the Australian outback.
Bilbies are also night-time adventurers. They come out after dark to sniff out yummy seeds, roots, fungi and insects. The clever part? They get almost all the water they need from their food, so they never need to stop for a drink.
FUN FACT 5
Bilby mums have a backwards-facing pouch – how cool is that?
Because bilbies are always digging, their pouch opens towards their tail, so it doesn’t fill up with sand while they're making tunnels. That keeps their tiny joeys safe, clean and cosy!
Baby bilbies stay tucked inside Mum's pouch for about 75 days before they start exploring their underground world. They learn all the important bilby skills they'll need to survive.
FUN FACT 6
Bilbies have a tiny pink spur at the end of their white-tipped tail…and guess what?
Nobody knows what it is for!
Their bright white tail tip can actually make them easier to spot at night, so when they run, they zig-zag across the ground to help confuse hungry predators. Clever escape artists!
Bilbies also have a surprising favourite flavour – they love sour foods! One of their favourite bush treats is the bush onion, which has a tangy taste that bilbies can't resist.
A note from a bilby...
“Thanks for joining me on the Bilby Art Trail! I hope you’ve had fun discovering my story, learning a little more about bilbies, and meeting all my artistic friends along the way. And if you think I make a pretty fantastic model… well, I have to agree! Don’t forget to tell everyone how fabulous I am!”
#bilbyarttrail