Mammals
Quolls & Tasmanian Devils
Sighting 4484439

Dasyurus viverrinus

2 Eastern Quoll at Forde, ACT

Dasyurus viverrinus at Forde, ACT - 25 Apr 2023 01:46 PM
Dasyurus viverrinus at Forde, ACT - 25 Apr 2023 01:46 PM
Dasyurus viverrinus at Forde, ACT - 25 Apr 2023 01:46 PM
Dasyurus viverrinus at Forde, ACT - 25 Apr 2023 01:46 PM
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Identification history

Dasyurus viverrinus 25 Apr 2023 BelindaWilson
Dasyurus viverrinus 25 Apr 2023 pjpiper

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User's notes

At Mulligans Flat. Quoll was visible only for a few seconds. I have never seen one before.

3 comments

MatthewFrawley wrote:
   25 Apr 2023
Only the second ever sighting of an Eastern Quoll on Canberra Nature Map.
BelindaWilson wrote:
   25 Apr 2023
Thanks for the observation @pjpiper! Eastern quolls are primarily nocturnal during their adulthood, so it is worth noting that any adult that is out during the day is generally not fairing very well.

There has been an increase in daytime sightings in the last month, which is likely due to males shifting their territories ahead of the breeding season in late-May and early winter to maximise the number of females they have access to (since they are polygamous). Dominant males will secure these high-value territories, while subordinate males can be outcompeted and forced into less suitable habitat, sometimes causing them to need to forage in the day if they can't get their needs met at night.

Eastern quolls are in the same family as antechinus, in which males only live for one year due to their 'suicidal reproduction' strategy. Being closely related, it follows that male eastern quolls have short lifespans - typically 1–3 year in the wild. This, in combination with territorial disputes, often leads to an increase in male (and sometimes female) mortality at this time of year. However, since each female can raise up to 6 pups by the following summer, their breeding more than makes up for this!

Please keep sending through these interesting records, and don't hesitate to contact me or the Mulligans Flat team if you have any burning questions. Thanks!
pjpiper wrote:
   25 Apr 2023
Thanks Belinda, keep up the great work trying to bring these beautiful creatures back from the brink. Cheers, Phill

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