Quoll Attacks

[Roast]

In Tasmania, Australia (where I am), we get Quolls, eastern ones, or to be exact Dasyurus viverrinus!

They are protected and so when faced with a Quoll attack. What do you do?! I lost 3 hens in one night to a Quoll. I asked around and found out the only way to counter them is to make your coup IMPENETRABLE! I had to reinforce all the wire around the shed, so the Quoll couldn't nudge his way under it. I had to strengthen and put springs on the coup's hen-doors as well. It was a lot of work, but I haven't lost any more featherfriends (fingers crossed, touch wood!).

 

[ozark hen]

wow, I had never heard of this animal before. Thanks, and it is a nice looking animal though as a predator, it wouldn't be too nice to have around. By the way, welcome!!

 

[Scrambled Egg]

I thought you had really bad spelling, lol!! Never heard of a quoll but it looks like a mouse, hamster mix, kind of cute, doesn't look too predatory though, must just eat the chicks food? Looks like a rat trap should take care of him, but then again, he is soooo cute.......

 

[jjthink]

And they look so innocent!

You did the only thing that you could really do - make the coop inpenetrable. I've read that they are nocturnal (that said, there is always the occasional exception) so as long as your feathered friends are locked up tight at night hopefully they will be okay.

I'm so sorry for your hens that got taken and hope that you never have any more problems......Did you see the quoll when you lost your hens, or just the only likely suspect where youu live?
JJ

For those interested in knowing more about quolls, an excerpt from an Australian government publication:

"Quolls are carnivorous marsupials with a pointed snout, a long tail and brown to black fur distinctively spotted with white. They are lively, attractive animals, with bright eyes, a moist pink nose and many sharp teeth.

The largest species, the spotted-tailed quoll, eats birds, reptiles and mammals such as bandicoots, possums, echidnas and rabbits. The smaller quolls eat mainly insects, birds, frogs, lizards, snakes, small mammals and fruit. Quolls also eat carrion (dead animals), and sometimes scavenge around campsites and rubbish bins.

Like most Australian mammals, quolls are mainly active at night. Typically, they spend the day in one of their many dens, although spotted-tailed quolls and northern quolls sometimes forage and bask in the sunshine. "


Foxes, dogs, roadkills, landowners, and illegal poisoning & trapping have caused declines to the extent that quolls are now protected by law, as you noted.

 

[SpottedCrow]

The cutest beasties are the most wicked...sigh...
You're doing what you can...sorry for your losses.

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Quoll Attacks

Could not figure what in the world had attacked! You live and learn. Amazing little animal. Sorry for your losses!​

 

[gritsar]

Sorry for your loss. Y'all got those things and the devils too? Just out of curiosity...are the devils a problem with chickens too? or are they so rare as to not be a problem?

 

[tx_dane_mom]

That's amazing! This board is a great place to be! Too bad you can't ship one here....it's SO cute! Ok..I know...YOU don't think that. So, do you have flooring on your pens too, or can't it dig under & come up that way?
Kristi

 

[Hotwings]

Thanks for posting the picture. I have never heard of one before and I am somewhat knowledgeable on alot of different animals. If it is protected will your government re-inburse you for your livestock loss? Here is the U.S. the gov. sometimes re-inburse ranchers over wolf kills if they are in a protected area. Are the Tasmanian Devils a problem for you as well?

 

[Flufnstuffs~FluffySilkies]

I also never heard of this animal.
I thought you mispelled something " Quolls '

Do you all have the havaheart traps over there?
We trap a lot of animals and relocate them.

Mostly Squirls & Chipmunks in the small cage and I cought 3 coons in the big cage.

My husband drove one coon 60 miles away
I told him that was a bit of an over kill.
I drove one coon the the area of the local dump.
I thought if he had lots to eat he would not come back.