Small things done now will be disproportionately important in decades to come.

NEXT MEETING   Annual General Meeting - 7pm Thursday 16th November at Sunnybank Hills library     
Level 2 Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown
Cnr. Calam Rd. and  Compton Rd.  Sunnybank Hills

Guest speaker Zoologist Shaun Fitzgibbon  will discuss the spectrum of responses to urbanization among the native mammals of Brisbane. Sean will also look at how we can enhance the conservation of this diverse wildlife group in the expanding urban landscape of South-East Queensland

QUEENSLAND’S QUOLLS

Australia is home to four species: the spotted-tailed, eastern, northern and western quolls.  Two-hundred years ago, you could theoretically have found at least one species of quoll anywhere on the continent.  Today, the situation is vastly different. Over much of the continent, a night time search would now reveal only introduced carnivores: cats, dogs and foxes. Quoll populations have contracted to the wetter and more productive continental margins of the continent and, even there, they are patchily distributed as isolated and threatened population.

Two of these species, the spotted-tailed and northern quoll, are found in Queensland, a third species, the western quoll apparently became extinct in the state in the early 1900’s. Both surviving species are classed as endangered at the national level.

The spotted tailed quoll (dasyurus maculates) is also known as the tiger quoll, tiger cat yarri and burrunbil. It is a carnivorous marsupial and the largest of Australia’s quoll species.  All quolls are spotted, but the spotted-tailed, as its name suggest , is the only species in which the spots continue from the body onto the tail.  This, and its large size (head-body greater than 75cm: body weight >1.5kg; hind foot length greater than 55mm), distinguish this species from all other quoll species.

The presence of spotted-tailed quolls in your area is most easily established by the characteristic scats that the species leaves on prominent rock outcrops, creek beds and escarpment lines within its forest and woodland habitat, and sometimes on verandahs. These scats have a distinctive musky smell and have a twisted ropey appearance. Otherwise, the first sign of the presence of a quoll may be repeated attacks upon caged poultry.  Quolls kill birds, consuming only the head, or parts of the neck and blood on the first night.  Contrary to popular opinion, this is not wasteful behavior, if the crime scene is not interfered with, the quoll will return to these carcasses day after day until they are consumed.
 
Spotted-tailed quolls have a single litter of up to 6 young each year which are usually born between May and August.  Young are initially carried in a rudimentary pouch.  When they become too large, they are left behind in a nursery den while the mother forages.  Young quolls become independent at about 100 days.
           
Spotted-tailed quolls are opportunistic predators and scavengers of anything of animal origin.  They hunt on the ground and in trees for their main prey of rodents, bandicoots and possums.  Females and juveniles eat smaller prey than the larger males, and include more reptiles and birds in their diet than do males.  The opportunistic nature of quoll feeding can bring them into conflict with poultry owners and may also mean that they consume meat baits laid for dog or fox control.

There is conflicting evidence on the response of quolls to baiting campaigns.  One line of thought is that quolls benefit from baiting campaigns because they have a natural tolerance to the poison 1080 and benefit when dog and fox populations crash.  On the other hand, there is circumstantial evidence that some quoll populations have crashed as a result of poison baiting.
           
In Queensland, spotted-tailed quolls occur in the Border Ranges and the New England Tablelands in the extreme south, and the mountains and tablelands between Townsville and Cooktown. They appear to be making a comeback in some areas, notably the western and southern outskirts of Brisbane.
           
The single greatest threat to quolls is land clearing.  Killing at chook pens, accidental road deaths, consumption of cane toads and subsequent poisoning are also potentially significant threats, as well as 1080 meat baits targeting wild dogs.  Predation and competition by dogs, cats and foxes are probably minor threats, but may contribute to overall suppression of populations. Known predators include wedge-tailed eagles, dingoes, and cats (on quoll young only). Pythons, large forest owls and goannas probably also prey on quolls.
           
You can greatly help increase knowledge of quoll populations by reporting your sightings to scottburnett@wildlife.org.au or by phoning Wildlife Preservation Society on 3221 0194

                             Spotted-tail Quoll                                                                                Source Scott Burnett

BUSH WALK and BUSH BREAKFAST – NOVEMBER

The November bush walk will leave from Acacia Road picnic area Acacia Rd Karawatha at 7am.  The walk will be followed by  a sumptuous breakfast consisting of fresh fruit, damper and sausage sizzle. The breakfast commences at 9am immediately after the walk so come along and enjoy the forest and the good company. 
Cost $3. Ph 3272 3292

EMAILED NEWSLETTER

With the latest influx of membership renewals it is interesting to see that many more people now have email addresses.  If you would like to receive your newsletter by email and help us save postage please let us know on jane@cajdler.com.

We are aware that emails become overloaded with spam so we will not put you on this list unless you let us know you want to be included.

DATES TO REMEMBER - NOVEMBER

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
The Oxford dictionary definition of ‘CONSUME’ is to eat, drink, destroy, use up, spend, waste away or to destroy by or like fire: cause to vanish.
Question.   What is a consumer?

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