What a fauna spotter catcher does
A fauna spotter catcher, often shortened to FSC, is a trained and permitted person who checks habitat before and during clearing, finds animals that could be harmed and relocates them to safe habitat nearby. On most sites the spotter works directly with the plant operator, walking ahead of the dozer or excavator, inspecting each tree before it falls and calling a stop when an animal is found.
Fauna Spotters crews also inspect hollows, logs, rock outcrops and burrows for breeding places, rescue animals from dewatered dams and open trenches, and keep a daily record of every animal sighted, captured, relocated or injured. Those records support the reporting your environmental approval or wildlife permit requires.
Koalas and threatened species
Where koala habitat is mapped, sequential clearing rules and approval conditions usually require a qualified koala spotter on site. Fauna Spotters provides koala spotters, thermal drone surveys and threatened species specialists, and can prepare the Fauna Management Plans and Species Management Programs that sit behind the field work.
Projects Fauna Spotters supports
Mine and processing plant expansions, exploration drill pads and tracks, wind and solar farms, transmission and pipeline easements, road upgrades, residential and industrial land development, and council works. Crews mobilise from regional bases and support DIDO and FIFO rosters.
When to call Fauna Spotters
- Your approval, permit or environmental management plan names a fauna spotter catcher.
- Vegetation clearing, grubbing or soil stripping will disturb habitat.
- Dams, pits or trenches could trap wildlife.
- Koala habitat, hollow-bearing trees or threatened species are mapped on or near the site.
