31/07/2025
We all have that one drawer we chuck all manner of assorted random things in, but there’s nothing more random than opening it to find one of these little cuties has crept inside and made itself at home – a beautiful little northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)!
Karen and William, from Canonvale in Queensland’s Whitsunday Region, found themselves exactly that situation recently. They’d had fleeting glimpses of these cat-sized carnivorous marsupials hanging around outside for weeks before this one was discovered chilling out in a drawer. Karen writes, “It was not overly bothered by people, even looking for food and water in the kitchen sink.”
Northern quolls are listed as Endangered nationally under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. They’re Australia’s smallest quoll species, averaging just 60–70cm in length (including the tail) and weighing just 300–1200g. Northern quolls are distinguished from larger spotted-tailed quolls (D. maculatus) by ranging further north (although the distribution of Queensland's two quoll species overlaps in Tropical North Queensland) smaller size, pointier nose, and absence of spots on the tail. They also dine on smaller prey, such as insects, frogs, small reptiles and rodents, whereas spotted-tailed quolls prefer possums, gliders and even wallabies.
We guess this cute native house guest will move on eventually, now that his hideout has been exposed, but until he does, Karen and William’s junk drawer will remain than a little bit random. If you see a quoll in Queensland, whether a spotted-tailed quoll or a northern quoll, please do report it to our Quoll Seekers Network sighting form at https://form.jotform.com/220651840231849
📷: William Winton
