Range

Australia is the native home of the eastern quoll. Here the only major wild populations are found in Tasmania.

They are considered extinct in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria but reintroduction areas have been ongoing in recent years and small populations with varying levels of success have been established here.

Prior to reintroduction efforts the last mainland sighting dated to 1963 in the New South Wales suburb of Vaucluse.

Habitat

They make their home in rainforest, heathland, alpine areas and scrub showing a preference for dry grassland and forest mosaics. These preferred habitats provided an abundance of pasture grubs, a favored food.

Within their home range they will form a number of den sites in hollow logs, burrows and crevices.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place in early winter.

Females have a short 21 day gestation period. Following this up to 24 underdeveloped young are born. They are as small as a grain of rice. These climb up to the pouch where they begin to suckle and develop. There are only six teats in the pouch meaning the first six joeys to arrive will survive.

By 10 weeks old they are old enough to be lest in a burrow while the mother goes to feed. During this time the mother may move them between dens often by piggybacking them.

Around 18 to 20 weeks old they will be weaned and can begin to hunt their own food.

Sexual maturity is reached at one year old and they will breed in the next season.

Behavior

Eastern quolls are active by night (nocturnal) when they will emerge to hunt.

Most of their day is spent climbing but they are capable climbers and can be seen in the trees.

Predators and Threats

Humans have impacted the eastern quoll through the introduction of the eastern quoll which is both a predator and competitor. Domestic dogs and the introduced red fox also effect them.

They also suffer from habitat destruction, vehicle strikes, illegal poisoning and trapping. A number of introduced diseases have also affected their population.

Recently the red fox has been introduced to Tasmania and it is unclear if this will effect the population of the eastern quoll in to the future.

Quick facts

The eastern quoll is one of the six quoll species. Four live in Australia while two live in Papua New Guinea.