# Burrow Watch — Interview Transcripts, Month 3

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## Transcript A — Volunteer Ranger, Zone 3 ("Participant R1")

**Interviewer:** How has patrolling Zone 3 been since the mange cases were confirmed?

**R1:** Honestly, heavier than any of us expected. We went from checking
that zone every ten days to every three, and we just don't have enough
rangers who know the terrain well enough to do it safely at night. A
couple of us have picked up almost double our usual shifts.

**Interviewer:** Has that been sustainable?

**R1:** Two people have already said they need to step back next month.
I don't blame them — this isn't what they signed up for as a weekend
thing. If we lose even three more rangers before the vet visits scale
down, Zone 3 coverage falls apart.

**Interviewer:** How's the treatment side going, from what you've seen?

**R1:** Suresh has been amazing, honestly — he's out there most weeks now.
But even he said he can only chase confirmed sightings, not the ones we
suspect but haven't actually laid eyes on. We think there are more cases
than we've logged.

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## Transcript B — Contract Vet, Dr. Suresh Okafor ("Participant V1")

**Interviewer:** How would you describe the disease situation right now?

**V1:** Contained but not controlled. Three burrow clusters confirmed,
treatment response has actually been better than I expected in two of
them. Zone 3 is the concern — density is higher there and the terrain
makes follow-up treatment harder to schedule.

**Interviewer:** What would help most right now?

**V1:** More of my time, bluntly. One day a week isn't enough once you're
in active outbreak management rather than routine monitoring. I've been
doing unpaid callouts because I don't want to watch an animal deteriorate
waiting for the next scheduled visit, but that's not something the
program can rely on long-term.

**Interviewer:** Any positive surprises?

**V1:** The rangers' early detection has genuinely been excellent. Cases
are being caught earlier than in most volunteer programs I've worked
with, which massively improves treatment odds. That part of the system is
working.

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## Transcript C — Landholder bordering Zone 2 ("Participant L1")

**Interviewer:** How has having patrols on your property been?

**L1:** No complaints, really. They're respectful, they call ahead, and
frankly I like knowing what's happening with the wombats on my own land.
My father would've liked this program.

**Interviewer:** Any friction at all?

**L1:** Only once — a new volunteer came through a gate that should've
stayed closed and a couple of sheep got into the front paddock. Nell
sorted it out fast and it hasn't happened again. I'd say communication
after that got better, if anything.

**Interviewer:** Would you support the program expanding to more of your land?

**L1:** Yes, easily. Actually I've mentioned it to my neighbour on the
east side — he's been noticing more burrow activity near the creek and
might be open to letting you patrol there too.