The spotted-tailed or tiger quoll, is mainland Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial, and there’s a distinct population in the Southern Highlands. 

The spotted-tail quoll, which can be distinguished by its short legs and pointed face, has been under close observation by ‘Team Quoll’ over recent years. 

The once plentiful creature and cousin of the Tasmanian Devil, is now considered endangered, with estimations that there are only around 20,000 left in the wild. 

Team Quoll is a group that describes itself as “an intrepid quiver of researchers and citizen scientists from the University of Wollongong on a daring quest to find and conserve the spotted-tailed quoll”.

The group works together to monitor quoll sightings and conservation projects within the Illawarra and Southern Highlands, and particularly the Budderoo National Park. 

Team Quoll principal scientist Dr Katarina Mikac said she and her colleagues had been working to track the location and numbers of the spotted-tail quoll in the Southern Highlands and Illawarra since 2014. 

“There are three ways that we have been finding the population of these quolls, and a lot of that relies on community engagement,” she said. 

The first way spotted-tailed quoll populations have been studied is through camera traps. 

“We put a camera on a tree or a post and if an animal goes by it triggers and a photo is taken,” Dr Mikac said. 

Another method is DNA analysis of the creature, as well as spotlight surveys. 

“With spotlight surveying we can see what animals the quolls are feeding on, and that helps us to ensure their conservation,” she said. 

Dr Mikac said citizen scientists played a major role in the research and conservation of these animals. 

“Citizen scientists are ordinary people from the community who do an activity each month that gives us data about the animals,” she said. 

The spotted-tailed quoll is most active between May and July, as it is mating season, and Dr Mikac said this was the perfect time for the community to become involved. 

“If you see The Spotted-tailed Quoll we really encourage you to report it,” she said. 

“If the landholders agree we can then set up cameras on their land and see what we capture over a four to six week period.”

The Office of Environment and Heritage has also come on board to promote conservation and research into this species. 

Team Quoll also hosts a variety of community events, including walks and spotlight surveys, which people are more than welcome to attend. 

For more information, or to report a sigthing vist Team Quoll on Facebook, or call Dr Mikac on 4221 3307.