Dead quoll tells tale of survival

A SPOTTED-TAILED quoll killed on the road near Tumut has provided valuable information about the species for threatened species experts and rangers.

State National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger, Matt White, has thanked fisheries officers who found the quoll and reported it.

“These guys contacted us and even stored the quoll in a freezer in case we wanted the carcass,” says Mr White.

“Our threatened species officers did order a post mortem examination of this animal, which confirmed it was a road-kill.

“The quoll’s body was found near the roadside about 20km south of Tumut, on the western side of the Blowering (Dam) foreshores.”

Office of Environment (OEH) research scientist, Andrew Claridge, says spotted-tailed quolls are Australia’s largest carnivorous marsupials and all sightings provide valuable information.

“Quoll breeding season began in April and concludes in July, and, during this time, they do turn up in the oddest places, including wandering through

“This quoll was in the prime of life, and, while we do not celebrate the death of any vulnerable native animal, it confirms the animals are active in this region.

“Dead quolls are also useful to researchers because tissue samples can give us insight into the genetics of populations, including whether and to what degree individual animals are related.

“Spotted-tailed quolls are recorded from Queensland to Victoria and possibly to the west, but many of these populations are isolated and researchers are concerned they may not survive.

“If you see a spotted-tailed quoll, please record details like the date, time, location and anything else remarkable about the animal or its surrounds and contact the Office of Environment and Heritage,” Dr Claridge says.

Spotted-tailed quoll sightings can be reported to NPWS on 1300 361 967 or by emailing the Wildlife Data Unit at atlas@environment.nsw.gov.au.