It is almost 20 years since there has been any reported sighting of quenda in Jirdarup. But we are very hopeful they will return.

In July 2024, a quenda family was spotted in a Friend’s Kensington garden within a few streets of Jirdarup. At first, the ubiquitous urban rat was suspected but on closer inspection after one triggered the home’s rat cage, it was identified as a quenda-and was released back to the garden. 

Our Friend has seen two different quenda, one relatively small and the other adult sized significantly larger than a rat. Photos of their cute faces and unique diggings have been taken. 

This is the first time they have been seen here. The garden is a natural haven for quenda, with limited pruning, little mowing and many places to hide. They are attracted to weed and flower bulbs, fungi, worms and grubs. 

Previous recorded sightings of quenda scratchings in the Kensington Bushland were in 2008 by Friends weeding in the bushland and by Silver Kenny in 2005.[1]

[1] Kenny, Silver (2005). Ecosystem Health and Function of Kensington Bushland Reserve. School of Environment and Science, Murdoch University. Unpublished paper.