The Latin genus name, Dasyurus, means ‘hairy-tail’. This charismatic native animal has a very cute face but don't let it fool you, as it has a mouthful of menacing teeth. This meso-predator is the size of a domestic cat and is Western Australia’s largest endemic carnivore (apart from the Dingo).
The Western Quoll or Chuditch (Local Noongar name) is “Near Threatened” on the ICUN Redlist and was once found across 70% of Australia. Unfortunately, due to threats such as feral animals, land clearing, and human inhabitance, it is now only found in a small area in Southwest Australia. Quoll populations have been impacted directly through predation and by reduced availability of suitable habitat, prey species and hollow logs suitable for dens.
Western Quolls are solitary animals with very large home ranges; a reflection of their carnivorous feeding habits. Their diet is made up of large invertebrates and a variety of reptiles, birds and mammals (up the size of bandicoots and parrots). As they are quite adept at climbing trees, they can easily climb up high, snatching sleeping birds at night. Quolls will also feed on carrion and are sometimes seen scavenging around campsites, rubbish bins, and roadsides. Unfortunately, this increases their risk of being hit by cars.
Animals are primarily nocturnal, hunting at night and sheltering in hollow logs or burrows during the day. Young are born between May and September and are independent at about six months of age. Individuals become sexually mature at one year of age and usually do not live beyond three years. This den-dwelling marsupial has a thick brown coat and has between 40-70 white spots on the body apart from on its tail. These spots look a little bit like dappled light as they move around at night. The Western Quoll's body length is around 26-40cm and the tail, which has a black brush on it, extending from halfway down their tail to the tip is around 21-35cm long. Males average 1.3-2 kg and females 0.9 kg. It has the same appearance as the Eastern Quoll but has five toes on its hind feet whereas the Eastern Quoll has four.
If you spot a Chuditch within our catchment, please contact us know we'd love to help protect them.
The Western Quoll or Chuditch (Local Noongar name) is “Near Threatened” on the ICUN Redlist and was once found across 70% of Australia. Unfortunately, due to threats such as feral animals, land clearing, and human inhabitance, it is now only found in a small area in Southwest Australia. Quoll populations have been impacted directly through predation and by reduced availability of suitable habitat, prey species and hollow logs suitable for dens.
Western Quolls are solitary animals with very large home ranges; a reflection of their carnivorous feeding habits. Their diet is made up of large invertebrates and a variety of reptiles, birds and mammals (up the size of bandicoots and parrots). As they are quite adept at climbing trees, they can easily climb up high, snatching sleeping birds at night. Quolls will also feed on carrion and are sometimes seen scavenging around campsites, rubbish bins, and roadsides. Unfortunately, this increases their risk of being hit by cars.
Animals are primarily nocturnal, hunting at night and sheltering in hollow logs or burrows during the day. Young are born between May and September and are independent at about six months of age. Individuals become sexually mature at one year of age and usually do not live beyond three years. This den-dwelling marsupial has a thick brown coat and has between 40-70 white spots on the body apart from on its tail. These spots look a little bit like dappled light as they move around at night. The Western Quoll's body length is around 26-40cm and the tail, which has a black brush on it, extending from halfway down their tail to the tip is around 21-35cm long. Males average 1.3-2 kg and females 0.9 kg. It has the same appearance as the Eastern Quoll but has five toes on its hind feet whereas the Eastern Quoll has four.
If you spot a Chuditch within our catchment, please contact us know we'd love to help protect them.
We acknowledge the Minang and Koreng people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present, and emerging and to the wider Noongar community.
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