western australia

The disappearing end of a quenda

@JudyEv (382412)

Rockingham, Australia

February 7, 2022 5:20pm CST

We were sitting under my brother-in-law’s patio yesterday when this little quenda/bandicoot came investigating the area. These little creatures seem to have made a resurgence through much of the metropolitan area and there are now many reports of people seeing them. My brother is not too pleased with them as they dig little holes all over the garden and even dig out small plants. Quendas have a short snout and short rounded ears. They are marsupials. They are 16 to 20 inches in total length. The fur varies from coarse dark grey to a yellowy-brown. The tail is short and tapered. I’m hoping I might get a better photo today if I see one.

23 people like this

24 responses

@xFiacre (14790)

• Ireland

7 Feb 22

@judyev I’m sure she won’t appreciate her bum being splashed all over the internet, but she does seem like a sweet little thing.

4 people like this

@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

8 Feb 22

A Kardashian sister?

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

She obviously wasn't impressed as she didn't show up at all today.

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

@kobesbuddy I know nothing about the Kardashians really but do they present their bums to the camera?

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@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

7 Feb 22

That's a wonderful photo of a quenda/bandicoot! I have never seen one before, 'butt' already has won my heart:)

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

Haha. I didn't see it today so couldn't get a better photo. Butt..... one day I will!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

1 person likes this

@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

8 Feb 22

@JudyEv Butt, they will definitely come around again!

1 person likes this

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@FourWalls (86816)

• United States

8 Feb 22

I think this one is mooning us.

I had to look at one online. Looks like a rat mated with an anteater.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

That's a good description!

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (174652)

• United States

8 Feb 22

Wildlife do interesting things at times. It should have tried chasing after you just to hear you yell and watch you run.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

They are cute little things. Sorry to disappoint you but I wouldn't have run.

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (174652)

• United States

8 Feb 22

@JudyEv *sigh* You spoil all my fun.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (135910)

• Marion, Ohio

8 Feb 22

Its kind of cute. But does look like a rat

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

They are quite rat-like.

1 person likes this

@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

8 Feb 22

It looks like an extra large rat. I don’t believe we have Quendas here. I’d never heard of them.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

I think they are another of our unique Australian creatures. And yes, it does look much like a rat

1 person likes this

@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

8 Feb 22

@JudyEv Wecould have them here but I’d never heard of them.

1 person likes this

@kaylachan (84834)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

8 Feb 22

They do look kinda cute.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

I think so too.

@sjvg1976 (42727)

• Delhi, India

8 Feb 22

Do they look like pigs?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

Not really. More like rats. They're not very big.

1 person likes this

@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

8 Feb 22

Wow like moles or something..I had never heard of them..they also resemble prairie dogs what we have here.

1 person likes this

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@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

8 Feb 22

@JudyEv I wonder what is drawing them there

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

@RebeccasFarm Maybe there are less feral cats around.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

It's funny that they were once so rare but now seem to have made a go of surviving in suburbia.

1 person likes this

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@franxav (14592)

• India

8 Feb 22

It looks like he's looking for his food.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

He was. He was running all over the place looking for things to eat.

1 person likes this

@sunrisefan (28524)

• Philippines

8 Feb 22

It looks like a pig or a rat in the photo.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

Yes, it does. I'm hoping I'll get a better shot one day. It looks most like a rat.

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

@sunrisefan It might be a while!!

They aren't very good at posing for the camera!

@sunrisefan (28524)

• Philippines

8 Feb 22

@JudyEv Looking forward to seeing a front shot of the quenda.

1 person likes this

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@Kandae11 (57230)

•

8 Feb 22

What does their diet consist of - plants or small animals.?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

Certainly smaller animals and insects but probably some vegetation as well.

@arunima25 (93194)

• Bangalore, India

8 Feb 22

Looking from this angle, we from India might mistake it to be a regular rodent. It is interesting to know that it's a marsupial.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

They are certainly rat-like but now people are getting to see them more and aren't so afraid of them. They are harmless little creatures.

1 person likes this

@arunima25 (93194)

• Bangalore, India

9 Feb 22

@JudyEv I guess that I recently saw one news channel where they mentioned about them increasing in number. I don't remember it clearly as I was talking on phone when the TV was on. But I do remember that they mentioned that this creature has increased in number in Australia since the pandemic.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

@arunima25 I think these were increasing before the pandemic but I could have been wrong.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

8 Feb 22

Reminds me of armadillos we have here.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

I've always been intrigued by armadillos. We don't have them here.

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

@CarolDM Are they pests in the gardens? I don't know much about them although I researched them for Infobarrel once.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Feb 22

@JudyEv Just as well for you.

1 person likes this

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@rebelann (117262)

• El Paso, Texas

8 Feb 22

Good shot given how hard it can be to photograph wildlife. It's a shame people can't figure out how to live in harmony with these kinds of little creatures.

1 person likes this

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@rebelann (117262)

• El Paso, Texas

9 Feb 22

Yeah, animals that destroy our gardens can get on our nerves but what if he were to plant something the kritter likes that he wouldn't mind them eating?

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

My BIL wouldn't even contemplate hurting them but he does complain about them!

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@LadyDuck (502726)

• Italy

8 Feb 22

They seem to do what moles do, they dig and they eat the vegetables from the roots, but they are protected animals here.

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@LadyDuck (502726)

• Italy

8 Feb 22

@JudyEv - They do and it is annoying wen they do in your garden.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Feb 22

Certainly they expose the roots of some plants.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

8 Feb 22

I recall reading about them once before. I think they're cute. I'm sorry they're destructive.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

9 Feb 22

@JudyEv It was here. I'm sorry they dig up the garden.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

I might have written about them before - or maybe on Bubblews. It's a shame they dig up the garden.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

8 Feb 22

So far, looks a nice little beastie. Sounds a bit like foxes in the UK, they are increasing in numbers in urban areas and can be seen around here most nights and heard as well!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

Some native animals adjust well to suburbia; others take a bit more time.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

9 Feb 22

@JudyEv True. I think that part of the reason for foxes leaving the countryside is the abundance of food in cities and while it is illegal, I am sure they are still hunted.

1 person likes this

@sarik1 (7823)

•

10 Feb 22

It is wonderful photo.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Feb 22

Thanks. I'm hoping to get a better one one day.

1 person likes this

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

8 Feb 22

Interesting little creature. A bit of a pest too. Maui has an overpopulation of deer. Oahu, overpopulation of feral cats, but no mice or rat problem.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Feb 22

Feral cats become very efficient hunters.

1 person likes this

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

10 Feb 22

@JudyEv They are! Hoping, a humane approach our Legislature chooses. News, silent on it now. Only news, Legislature stopped, poison solution upon feral cats, so optimistic of future of feral cats.

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