Q. How many young do they have?
A. Tasmanian devils have four nipples, so the females can only rear a maximum of four young. Usually there are three or four young - more, indeed, in the first year of breeding, less in the second and third year of breeding. Very few Tasmanian devils breed for four years. However, like quolls, Tasmanian devils give birth to up to twenty or thirty young at a time despite only having four nipples! Obviously, only a maximum of four of these can attach to a teat. This is an example of "selection of the fittest" right from the start.

Q. Where do they breed?
A. Tasmanian devils are of course restricted to mainland Tasmania. They breed over their whole range in mainland Tasmania. They breed in dry caves, hollow logs, burrows (particularly wombat burrows). They prefer dry and warm sites. They do not breed in exposed areas because the young are small enough that they are vulnerable to other predators and other devils.

Q. When do they breed?
A. Most Tasmanian devils mate in March, and give birth in April. Young stay in the pouch until July. The young are then denned and come out of the den gradually over October-November-December. The season is spread out over several months, not every animal giving birth at the same time. That is, they are not all synchronised. In some places where there is much food and not so many devils, the breeding season is even more extended. The breaks in breeding coincide with the pups becoming independent just before Christmas when wallaby joeys often start to leave the pouch.

Q. How long do they stay in the pouch?
A. About four to four and a half months.

General Facts
Feeding and Habitat
Devil Disease and Population

Further Information:

Contact: Wildlife Management Branch
Wildlife Management Branch
Department of Primary Industries and Water
134 Macquarie Street, GPO Box 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 6556
Fax: 03 6233 3477
Email: wildlife.enq@dpiw.tas.gov.au