# Burrow Watch — Program Background

## Overview
Burrow Watch is a grassroots volunteer organisation monitoring and
protecting common wombat populations across Wandarra Valley, a rural
region in south-eastern Australia (fictional). The program began after a
severe bushfire season damaged habitat across the valley and was followed
eighteen months later by a sarcoptic mange outbreak — a highly contagious,
often-fatal mite infestation — detected in three of the valley's five
monitored burrow clusters.

Burrow Watch runs volunteer patrols to spot and log mange cases, coordinate
treatment with a part-time contract vet, monitor burrow occupancy as
habitat recovers, and maintain relationships with the landholders whose
properties border patrol zones.

## Structure
- **Coordinator:** one part-time paid staff member, Nell Ochoa
- **Volunteer rangers:** ~22 active volunteers across five patrol zones
- **Contract vet:** Dr. Suresh Okafor, one day per week plus emergency callouts
- **Funding:** a mix of a regional biodiversity grant and public donations,
  administered by the Wandarra Wildlife Trust (the funding foundation)
- **Regional partner:** Wandarra Regional Wildlife Authority (government
  liaison contact: Jae Lindqvist)

## Key stakeholders / standing distribution list
- **Board:** board@burrowwatch.org.au (placeholder)
- **Regional wildlife authority contact:** Jae Lindqvist
- **Funding foundation:** Wandarra Wildlife Trust, contact Priya Sandhu

## Coding framework
Interviews and field notes are coded against six categories:

| Code | Captures |
|---|---|
| DISEASE | Mange sightings, treatment, spread, vet capacity |
| HABITAT | Burrow condition, occupancy, bushfire-damaged terrain, corridors |
| VOLUNTEER_CAPACITY | Patrol coverage, fatigue, training, recruitment |
| LANDHOLDER_RELATIONS | Access agreements, attitudes, conflicts or goodwill |
| FUNDING | Grant status, donor sentiment, resourcing gaps |
| UNEXPECTED | Anything relevant that doesn't fit the above |

## Reporting cycle
A "State of the Burrows" report is produced quarterly for the board,
the regional wildlife authority, and the funding foundation, combining
coded interview themes, quantitative patrol/mange/funding data, and a
current external context brief on wombat conservation news.

## Timeline this cycle
- Month 1: Mange first confirmed in Zone 3
- Month 2: Vet contract expanded to weekly visits; volunteer patrols
  increased in affected zones
- Month 3 (current): First full round of stakeholder interviews conducted;
  quarterly report due