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Dr David Hamilton

@drdevildave.bsky.social
2.8K followers 457 following 105 posts

Conservation Equollogist | Lutruwita, Tasmania | Tasmanian devil advocate & accidental quoll scientist, posting mainly science & quoll puns

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Reposted by Dr David Hamilton
Peter Santema @petersantema.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
New #ornithology paper out in @royalsocietypublishing.org! We show that female dotterels can move across large distances within a single breeding season in search of mating opportunities, visiting up to five different sites (median: 3) and travelling up to 1000 km between sites (median: 71 km). 1/n
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Fully appreciate a sustained feral cat suppression program, but this seems like a case of correlation rather than causation… I suspect devil numbers are rebounding due to lower DFTD prevalence, which will also help suppress cat populations - so still good news! www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...
abc.net.au
Tasmanian devils the winner from feral cat trapping effort
A successful feral cat trapping effort in northern Tasmania leads to a spike in the devil population.
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Paper pun goals! "I knew you were truffle when I walked in" is a magnificent title for a paper about baiting for mycophagous (fungi-eating🍄) mammals (like this long-nosed potoroo!)
A long-nosed potoroo, tiny T-Rex arms displayed proudly
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Tasmanian Devil Average Birthday also seems like a good day to highlight a new paper from Dr Douglas Kerlin, which uses different field measures of devil tooth development & wear to estimate age - besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Integrating multiple field measurements in a Bayesian parallel regression framework to estimate Tasmanian devil age
The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial, endemic to Tasmania, that is threatened by a transmissionable cancer. This paper introduces a novel method to incorporate multiple measures of devil si....
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Happy Tasmanian Devil Average Birthday, to all those who celebrate! 🥳 Devils have an annual mating season, which goes from late Feb until late April. That means, on average, devil joeys are born on 1st April. So if you wish a devil Happy Birthday today, you’ve got a good chance of being correct!
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Random Delightful Fact of the Day - Eastern quolls go grey as they get older! A juvenile (~6 mths old) on the L, & a 4 yr old on the R (Worth noting that 4 yrs old is oooooold for an eastern quoll)
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Calum Cunningham @calxcunningham.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
It's bizarre. I can think of at least 3 scientific publications that predict (i.e., model) the uncontrolled explosion of deer across Tas. None of them were referred to in the report. weirdddd
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Jo Potts @analyticaledge.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
“No anticipated” except by all of us that have been saying for ever that the #feral #deer management plan is pathetic. 🌎 #wildoz www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...
abc.net.au
'Not anticipated': New survey shows deer population boom in Tasmania
The first survey for feral deer in Tasmania in five years reveals an unanticipated increase of nearly 20,000 to the population.
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
“Not anticipated”, if you’ve been living under a rock for the past 5 years… www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10... Feral deer are a huuuuge problem in Tasmania that’s only getting worse. Legislation catching up with reality would be a good start - incredibly, they’re still a partly protected species…
abc.net.au
'Not anticipated': New survey shows deer population boom in Tasmania
The first survey for feral deer in Tasmania in five years reveals an unanticipated increase of nearly 20,000 to the population.
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Reposted by Dr David Hamilton
Jack Ashby @jackdashby.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
The measure for how excellent a city is should be how quickly you can see something wonderful. It took less than an hour after arriving in #Hobart for @drdevildave.bsky.social and me to see a #platypus, which is of course the most wonderful thing there is. #Tasmania #MammalWatching #WildOz
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
A dangerous(ly adorable) predator approaches…
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
As part of eastern quoll translocation work, we use supplementary feeding stations that are meant to exclude Tasmanian devils. The devils disagree…
A Tasmanian devil standing pensively outside a tube containing food. The tube is CLEARLY too small for the devil to fit into…Oh wait, no it isn’t… The devil has comically managed to insert the entire front half of his body into the narrow tube. It looks like he is entering another dimension
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Reposted by Dr David Hamilton
Lauren Brent @ljnbrent.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
I'm guessing this is probably very well worth the read! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Ecology needs a causal overhaul
Ecology has yet to embrace causal inference, yet most questions in ecology are causal. Despite the common use of terms that imply causation, such as “shapes”, “drives”, or “impacts”, many studies shy...
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Quoll beans!! These tiny eastern quolls are only around 5 weeks old, & just starting to get their spots
A marsupial pouch full of tiny, pink eastern quolls. Their distinctive spotted pelage is starting to become apparent
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Tasmanian Land Conservancy @tasland.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
#GardensforWildlife members, here is a survey just for you! Your garden is the missing link in a new @utas.edu.au Honours research project. Honours student Millicent Biggs is studying how backyard gardens support #Tasmanian #wildlife. Start the survey here: lnkd.in/gChGeTAa
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Please enjoy this antechinus sproinging* away * technical term
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Cameron Dodd @kultarrcam.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
The kultarr is officially three species! So proud of this work and a big thanks to Australia's amazing museum network and my great supervisor team @kennytravouillon.bsky.social @reneecatullo.bsky.social @planigale.bsky.social bakerecologylab.wordpress.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Cryptic Kultarr: Integrative Taxonomy Reveals Unrecognized Species of Carnivorous Marsupial (Dasyuridae: Antechinomys) in Arid Australia
Conservation is impossible if we have not described all of the species we aim to conserve. This paper reviews the taxonomy of the kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) a small arid-zone specialist native to....
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mr dog @firstdogonthemoon.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Echidnas! Everyone loves echidnas. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Long-beaked echidnas? Yes please! A cartoon for people who cannot bear any more news about anything dreadful | First Dog on the Moon
Let the echidna discourse begin!
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Jack Ashby @jackdashby.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
You can date a display of Australian mammals by whether the distribution maps recognise recent extinctions. Eastern #quolls went extinct in mainland Australia in the 1960s, but they're still on this historic display at @hunterianglasgow.bsky.social Zoology Museum. #taxidermy #extinction
A display of taxidermy of several species of Australian mammal, with a big green map of Australia. A taxidermy eastern quoll. The map on its label suggests the quoll lives in Tasmania (where it still does live today) and the southeast of the mainland (where it became extinct)
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Cath Dickson @cath-dickson.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Busy start to #ICCB2025 - sharing @tasland.bsky.social ten year fauna camera data set - pre & post-fire at Five Rivers. Huge shout out to coauthors including @drdevildave.bsky.social & Jo Potts
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
📣 New quoll science, looking at the genetic outcomes of a translocation of eastern quolls in Tasmania! 🧪🧬 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🧵Thread below ⬇️
An eastern quoll peeking out from a nest of dry grass
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Erin Thomas @erinbthomas.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Come chat about quolls, puns, and finding any excuse to draw animals for science at my poster at #ICCB2025 Monday at 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM in Great Hall 3 & 4 See you there!
Quollity Control
Identifying eastern quoll behaviours to increase translocation success
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Dasyurid feet of various sizes! 👣 Tasmanian devil Spotted-tailed quoll Swamp antechinus
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
#WhereWhereWedgie 🦅 surveys near Hamilton today - - 6 (!!) x wedge-tailed eagles - 1 x white-bellied sea-eagle - 1 x brown falcon - 200 cockatoos!! An excellent day for science! @catmyoung.bsky.social @clawkins.bsky.social #citizenscience 🌿🪶🧪 #Tasmania #conservationscience
A person looking to the sky through binoculars, diligently searching for eaglesSuccess! A wedge-tailed eagle soaring high!
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
That awkward moment when you catch a devil pooping on camera… In all seriousness, Tasmanian devils make latrines, where lots of individuals will poo in the same area. Then any devil wandering along can have a sniff, & know who’s around 💩 @tasland.bsky.social
A Tasmanian devil standing in front of a camera. Suddenly, a poo appears behind it!
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
On the trail of the Manumea (tooth-billed pigeon) in Samoa! @catmyoung.bsky.social
A view of a forested valley from a bird hide in Samoa - most wreaths the hilltops
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Cat Young @catmyoung.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Chat GPT tells me - If an echidna were casting a vote in the 2025 Australian election—motivated by instincts to protect its habitat, ensure clean air and water, and avoid human-caused extinction—it would most likely lean toward the Greens. Make good choices today Australia! #auspol
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Has anyone asked the echidnas their views on this election? 🎤
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mr dog @firstdogonthemoon.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
An exciting adventure in the forest with First Dog on the Moon. Moss! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
I went to an ancient rainforest with 90 artists and lived! Despite my endless cynicism I had a lovely time | First Dog on the Moon
I saw the world’s tallest moss and camped beneath a 500-year-old myrtle tree
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
There’s antechinus, & there’s ANTECHINUS!! Antechinus are small (usually…) relatives of the Tasmanian devil. This chonk of a male was caught at Inala Jurassic Garden, for quick samples to help out with vaccine research for Devil Facial Tumour @wildimmunity.bsky.social Pic- @catmyoung.bsky.social
An absolute unit of an antechinus - he knows he’s the king. Pic - @catmyoung
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Anna MacDonald @annamac.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Quoll AND devil alert! I’ve got better phone reception so can upload #CameraTrap videos. Video 1/6 is a spotted tailed quoll. Dasyurus maculatus is listed as Near Threatened by IUCN Red list and in Australia the population in #Tasmania #Lutruwita is Vulnerable #marsupial #WildOz #quollity
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Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Science & knowledge advance by collecting evidence to challenge ideas. Conservation may improve, in turn. Challenges to key ideas are crucial, but if not done in a robust way they can be reckless, promote nonsense, & have real world consequences. Example 👉 theconversation.com/extinctions-...
theconversation.com
Extinctions of Australian mammals have long been blamed on foxes and cats – but where’s the evidence?
Dozens of Australian mammal species have declined and gone extinct since European colonisation – and introduced predators are often blamed. But evidence is lacking.
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
A ptunarra brown butterfly from March surveys at @tasland.bsky.social’s Vale of Belvoir These endangered endemic butterflies rely on native Poa grasslands & only fly for a few weeks in March
A ptunarra brown butterfly sitting on a paper daisy in the midst of a grassland
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mr dog @firstdogonthemoon.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Turbo chooks! Everyone loves turbo chooks! Especially the BABY ONES!!! omg so cute www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Turbo chooks moved into our garden and had babies without telling us! What a dilemma | First Dog on the Moon
The chickens aren’t really happy about it either – whomst would be a chicken
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Dr swift parrot @teamswiftparrot.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
We just published some new #science on forest habitat loss in Tasmania! here's a quick thread! Swift parrots are Critically Endangered because of habitat loss. Until now, nobody has quantified the amount and trends of forest loss and degradation! 1/8 🧵 🦜🧪
two swift parrots sitting in the palm of my hands
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Stumbled across a flock of migrating swift parrots at @tasland.bsky.social’s Five Rivers Reserve in the Central Highlands of Tasmania These critically endangered parrots breed in Tassie over summer, then head north for winter - a very sensible approach!
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Happy Tasmanian Devil Average Birthday! 🥳 Tasmanian devils breed annually during late Feb/Mar, & have a very short gestation (~21 days). This means the average birth date for devils is 1st April So wish any devils you know a Happy Birthday! &, on average, you’ll be right on the money 🥳
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
Thoughts on ecological restoration by Jane Rawson - www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Can we recreate a lost world? In Tasmania, anything could happen
The thylacine might walk again. Or Lake Pedder might rise again. The possibility of ecological restoration in the island state plays into the appeal of going back in time
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Tasmanian Land Conservancy @tasland.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
This gorgeous video was shared by our new #LandforWildlife members, Laurie Goldsworthy & Kristina Nicklason at Western Creek. Our Dr Dave Hamilton believes this is likely a litter of #easternquolls playing together. Eastern quolls can have up to 6 in a litter, so their #mum has done brilliantly!
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Quoll feet are the best feet! 👣 These are the hind feet of a spotted-tailed quoll - those striated pads provide extra grip when they’re climbing
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Quick as a quoll! ⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ 💨💨💨
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Nothing better than a box of quolls! Spent yesterday at one of the sanctuaries that make up the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program, helping conserve both eastern & spotted-tailed quolls in the wild @utas.edu.au @tasland.bsky.social
A group of quolls denning together in a nest box at a wildlife sanctuary
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University of Tasmania @utas.edu.au · 03/03/2025
Celebrating a wildlife win on World Wildlife Day, with quoll-ity conservation outcomes 🤩 Our scientists joined with several partners to kick off one of the biggest eastern quoll conservation efforts ever seen in Tasmania! More: brnw.ch/quoll (Follow @drdevildave.bsky.social for more quoll BEANS)
David Hamilton releases a quoll into the wild 
Photo credit: Cath DicksonA close up of quoll feet
Photo credit: David HamiltonA close up of a quoll in an enclosure 
Photo credit: Chloe Frick
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
A quollity piece of news for your Monday morning! www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a... Slow-mo eastern quoll for tax
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
DYK that quolls can go grey too? This is the tail of a 4 year old eastern quoll - 4 is a good innings for this species, & her tail looks magnificent!
The tail of an eastern quoll - the rest of her body is black with spots, but her tail has turned completely grey
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Nothing better than coming across a big ol’ Tasmanian devil poo! 💩
A hand pictured next to a Tasmanian devil poo to indicate size - it’s big!!
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Nothing to see here, just a suspiciously spiky rock
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Tasmanian Land Conservancy @tasland.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
We are pleased to be partnering with Federation University to offer a #paidinternship to a post-graduate student interested in completing their #MastersbyResearch, with Dr Birgita Hansen, investigating the characteristics of Latham’s Snipe habitat. More info at federation.edu.au/research/gra...
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Cath Dickson @cath-dickson.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
This is a fantastic opportunity for those looking for a funded Masters by Research shorebird project, including a paid internship with our Science Team at @tasland.bsky.social - details below or get in touch! @drdevildave.bsky.social
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Dr David Hamilton @drdevildave.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Time for your annual reminder that it’s Tasmanian devil dispersal season! This means young devils out finding their way in the world are particularly vulnerable, & often drawn towards roads for easy passage & food. So watch your speed on Tassie roads this season & keep an eye out 👀
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