something special, local wildlife (film)

[Belinda Wilson <>]

Hi David, 

I'm Belinda Wilson, the eastern quoll reintroduction researcher at Mulligans Flat. This is incredible footage! From what I can tell (and it's always a bit hard without having a close look) this is an older female that we have caught in the past - that's why it has a biopsy hole in its ear. 

I haven't put radiocollars on any of the quolls since 2018, but if you saw a healing patch of skin on its back that is likely to be a mating wound. Mating in eastern quolls is quite intense, and a male will hold the female in place by biting the back of her neck.

Eastern quolls only have a lifespan of 2-4 years, and in their twilight months they sometimes forage during the day. Depending on her age, this quoll may also be carrying six little pouch young, which would have been born in late June!

Amazing capture once again, and if you see any more interesting behaviours or capture footage like this please send me a message because we still have much to learn!

All the best, 

Belinda

On Sat, 11 Jul 2020 at 10:47, David Rees <> wrote:

Here is something special, especially so 'cos it happened in daytime.
Something moved in some long grass in the corner of my eye while I was
wandering around Mulligans Flat yesterday afternoon, also the Noisy
Miners were a bit more upset about something than usual.

That 'something' turned into an Eastern Quoll, out and about looking for
food. It was aware of me but not overly worried and actually we both sat
watching each other for about 15 mins at one stage in this encounter.

The film here has it moving about, when you can actually see the whole
animal, rather than just spots in the grass, or ears and a nose. Not
hard to see why foxes would have no trouble 'nailing' one of these in
open country like this.  Looks like this animal had had a radio
transmitter on its back at one stage or something, its not there now,
also evidence of a ear tag, also absent.

https://vimeo.com/437298967

David


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