Wildlife Tails

30th Jul 2024

Quolls and their devastating visits to poultry pens.
Caring for native animals can be a challenge for volunteers but also very rewarding when you encounter healthy animals. Northern Tablelands Wildlife Carers rescue and re-locate native animals which turn up in undesirable places.
A recent call to visit to a chook run was one such case. Quolls are a known local animal species and have a devastating reaction to pens of domestic laying hens and chickens. What sets them off on a killing spree to kill most and eat only one is unknown.
These local native quolls can climb like cats and gain entry to all but the most secure pens and attack they after dark.
Their usual diet is small mammals, birds and arthropods (insects) found on forest ground.
This image is of an adult male quoll which was recently caught and released again well away from habitation. It is the biggest challenge rescuers face when trying to safely release a caught animal.
This quoll was captured in a fenced chook pen close to Armidale recently by NTWC.
It is not unknown for quolls to come in from the East and invade pens close to urban areas in search of food. NTWC recommends some strengthening up of chook pens and making sure the top is netted to avoid unwanted visitors.
Northern Tablelands Wildlife Carers can be contacted on 1800 008 290 if you find a sick or injury native animal.
Julia Rose

click for larger image

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