Stumpy the Devil returns to Boomajaril
7 December 2007

Stumpy is one of our old males that has been coming regularly to Boomajaril for the past four years. In March this year, just before the breeding season commenced, Stumpy was looking rather skinning and unwell and we were convinced that we would never see him again.

We didn't see Stumpy for the rest of the year. He would always return just after mating, however this time he didn't and we were convinced he had died.

Yesterday however, we were delighted to see sitting in front of ther door, our old friend Stumpy. He was letting us know he was back and wanted his chicken treat. He looked rather skinny and a little worse for wear but he was full of beans and beaming with life and still the cheeky devil we have come to love, however he has become dehumanised as he has been away for so long and it will take a while for him to settle back in.

It is my thought that he travelled a great distance outside his usual homerange to mate this year and had made the long trip home for the summer months. Another of our former male Devils "Rummy" would do the same thing.

Story by Debbie Thoy

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Devils emerge from Dens late this year.
20 December 2007

Young Devils are usually running around the Boomajaril property starting at about October. This year however, they only started coming in December.

We are not sure why this is, however we are starting to sense a slight change in the breeding patterns of the Tasmanian Devils, even up here where the disease has not taken hold as yet, the Tasmanian Devil could be adapting.