Please note this article contains an image that some readers may find distressing.
This month’s feature species is Dayurus maculatus – the Spotted-tailed Quoll, sometimes called the Tiger Quoll. S-T Quolls are mainland Australia’s largest carnivorous marsupial. The home range is large for S-T Quolls – 200-500Ha for females, and 400 to 4000Ha for males. In NSW, S-T Quolls occupy a range of habitats, including sub-alpine ecosystems, coastal heath, rainforest, open forest and woodland and riparian areas. This fierce top order predator prefers mammalian prey between 500g-5kg, such as gliders, possums, small wallabies, rats, bandicoots, rabbits. It will eat birds, reptiles and insects and in some areas, has a particular penchant for domestic fowl. Spotted-tailed Quolls can deliver brutal executions of entire flocks of chickens, with a special talent for mass murder by decapitation inside chicken coops. This behaviour has given the species a somewhat maligned public persona, and has led to some people (illegally) baiting, shooting and trapping this wonderful animal. Although saddened by a recent attack of one of my flock at the mercy of a very robust ST Quoll, I was personally thrilled to see this amazing animal thriving on my property.
Spotted-tailed Quolls are mostly nocturnal, but are sometimes observed hunting in daylight hours. They spend most of their time on the ground, but are also excellent climbers, which makes them fearless hunters of our arboreal species.
They seek shelter under rock overhangs and caves and crevices, but will also utilise fallen logs, hollow trees and burrows of other species. They use communal latrine sites, which are often flat rocks, cliff overhangs or along rocky creek banks. Their scats are a good diagnostic tool for ecologists, with a characteristic twisty appearance.
Juveniles of both sexes mature at around 1 year old, and are fairly short-lived, with life expectancy of 3-4 years in the wild. Mature females can give birth to up to 5 pups in one litter.
This species was once common on mainland Australia, but sadly populations have declined to the point where it is now a “Vulnerable” species in NSW, and “Endangered” Federally. Key threats to S-T Quolls include:
- loss of habitat and habitat fragmentation
- predation by feral animals like cats (which also spread disease in quoll populations) and foxes
- Culling of ST Quolls by baiting, shooting and trapping, mostly due to the impact of S-T Quolls on chooks, is somewhat unique to this native species (and more obviously to Dingoes). Perhaps a more sustainable and reasonable approach to the problem of chicken predation by S-T Quolls (and other livestock by Dingoes) is for owners to better protect our livestock – some good ideas on this may be found here:
Protect your chooks from Quolls
Another major threat to S-T Quolls (and indeed, all of our local wildlife) is vehicle strike. Particularly at this time of year when many species are mating, and animals are on the move. Many of our native mammals are nocturnal and may be dazed by your headlights, then jump out in front of your vehicle when they are shocked out of their reverie by the noise of the car. Please take care when driving during the hours between dusk and dawn, slow down and keep an eye out for our very special wildlife. Alarmingly, we have observed the death of two healthy S-T Quolls recently in the Bungwahl area. This is in addition to numerous other road strikes. All roadkill should be removed from the road and checked for live young in pouches. Leaving dead animals on the road attracts raptors and other predators onto the road and increases the potential for more car collisions with wildlife.
Image Credit-A.Martin
FAWNA is the primary provider of wildlife rescue in our area and may be contacted on 6581 4141 for any injured wildlife. Photographing dead roadkill, although somewhat gruesome, is recommended. The images can then be uploaded to Nature Mapr which feeds directly into the Bionet Atlas.
Our best chance of protecting them (and other wildlife) is to retain and protect large, forested areas with hollow logs and rocky outcrops, particularly areas with thick understorey or dense vegetation along drainage lines.
If you have a large forested property and would like to learn more about how to manage it to protect our unique biodiversity, consider signing up for Land for Wildlife
Article written by Isabelle Strachan, August 2025
