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Bandicoots
Bandicoots of
the northern Sydney suburbs.
Long-nosed
bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)
Northern-Brown
bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)
Giant
Brindle bandicoot (Isoodon torosus)
Eastern
Barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii)
Bandicoot Management
Some bandicoot links
The bandicoot is a small brown/grey marsupial with a short rat-like tail and long snout. This bandicoot was snapped at a campsite west of Townsville, QLD. If anyone can identify this individual's species, please let me know.
Bandicoots of the northern Sydney suburbs.
Bandicoots were once abundant in the backyards of suburban
Sydney, but like many other native mammals their numbers have
declined for several reasons. With their population already
displaced by urban development, feral and domestic animals have
become additional threats. The owl and the quolls are natural
predators but their numbers have also declined.
As they nose through damp leaf litter in search of grubs and
worms, bandicoots make themselves prime candidates for collecting
all stages of the paralysis tick. For measures against the
problem of bandicoots introducing ticks see Prevention.
The northern beaches area, Manly to Palm Beach, is one of the
last strongholds for bandicoots in the Sydney region. There are
two significant populations- one on Pittwater and the other on
the coast near Newport. There are also smaller fragmented groups
throughout the remainder of the area.
Long-nosed (Perameles nasuta), Southern brown
(Isoodon obesculus) and Northern brown (Isoodon
macrourus) bandicoots are found in these areas.
Long-nosed bandicoots are the most common. Their habitat varies
greatly from rainforest through to wet and dry woodland. This
diversity of habitat is found throughout the northern beaches and
adjacent hinterland.
Bandicoots can provide a service to residents through their
appetite for grubs, snails and garden pests. They eat insects,
earthworms, insect larvae and spiders and will occasionally feed
on plant tubers and roots as a supplement to their diet.
Bandicoots roam over a comparatively small range- less than half
a hectare (1 acre) around their nest.
Bandicoots are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife
Act, 1974.
There are several species of bandicoot in Australia.
Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)
This bandicoot is more common in the Blue Mountains area. A dull grey-bron coat and cream underbelly distinguish this bandicoot. It is predominately a nocturnal forager. Its nest is a shallow hole in the ground lined with leaf liter. The nest is often located under debris which hides i from predators and protecs it from the rain and the sun. Weight under 1 kg. Social Habits: Solitary, territorial. Breeding: throughout the year, Winter to Summer. Litter size average 2 to 3 after a 12.5 day gestation. Status: Common to scarce in some areas due to habitat destruction and predation by domestic animals. Schedule 12 animal, report location to NPWS. Habitat: Range of habitats from coastal heath to rainforests.
Northern-Brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)
The Northern-Brown Bandicoot is found north of the Hawkesbury River. Weight 1-3 kg. Social Habits: Solitary, territorial. Breeding: Winter to Summer. Litter size average 2 to 4. Status: Common to scarce in some areas due to habitat destruction and predation by domestic animals. Schedule 12 animal, report location to NPWS. Habitat: Range of habitats from coastal heath to rainforests. Natural Diet: The Northern Bandicoot is more omnivorous, eating grass seeds, berries, insects, beetles, worms, beetle larvae etc.
Giant Brindle bandicoot (Isoodon torosus)
No information here
Eastern Barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii)
Head & Body length: up to 340 mm. Tail: 100 mm. Weight: up to 1 kg. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is armed with long claws which it uses to dig shallow pits to catch earthworms, insects and their larvae. It also finds bulbs and tubers quite tasty. While using their nose to dig into the ground, the bandicoots leave their mark in the form of a small circle of twisted grass... A mysterious crop circle. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot will often eat berries, and rarely drinks water, instead obtaining its moisture from its food. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot has a remarkable breeding cycle, and is able to gestate in 12.5 days. Female bandicoots have eight teats, and often have two litters of young nestling within their pouch. It is when laden with up to eight babies that the female Eastern Barred Bandicoot becomes easy prey for predators. Captive breeding colonies have been established at Healesville Sanctuary & Melbourne Zoo, where there has been success in rearing these marsupials. Captive release programs are underway to establish pockets of Eastern Barred Bandicoots back into the wild. At Hamilton in Victoria, local farmers have begun helping this species by building fences to protect grassy areas from sheep, to provide bandicoot habitat. But, if the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is to be returned to its former habitat, we must first eradicate introduced predators such as the fox and the cat.
Bandicoot Management
The following information is extracted in part from "Bandicoots, A disappearing part of Sydney's environment, produced as a combined effort by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Pittwater Council, June 1995; NPWS 43 Bridge St Hurstville 2220 tel 02 95856333; Pittwater Council 11/5 Vuko Place, Warriewood 2102 tel 02 99707222).
Bandicoot Yard Management
A yard close to bushland can be made less attractive to tick hosts such as bandicoots. Regular garden maintenance by controlling tall grasses and weeds helps. Removing leaf litter and controlling snails and slugs should also help. Wear gloves, long sleeves, long pants and use a high grade insect repellant when performing such yard maintenance. Removing the noxious weed lantana (Lantana camara), which seems to be a favourite site for ticks and their hosts, is also useful. It is possible to live side by side with the native wildlife that visits our gardens. The native animals that may, from time to time call your garden a sanctuary, can be accomodated in purpose-designed areas. Establish a separate area in the garden which provides shelter and food for native birds and animals while your family and pets can use a more formal, manicured area. Your native animal animal habitat area should be located so it is not a major family or pet thoroughfare. Then, if ticks are present, they are less likely to attach themselves to passing people or pets. An alternative is to construct bandicoot-proof fencing around the yard. Use fine galvanised wire mesh or any other material with gaps no larger than approximately 20 mm. The foot of the mesh should be buried at least 150 mm and it should rise at least 500 mm above the ground.
Garden Pesticides
Whilst a yard may be sprayed with malathion or pyrethrin products the effect is usually short lived and many normal and desirable insects and arachnids will be destroyed [some of which may actually be predators of tick stages]. A "natural" alternative to chemical sprays is a mixture of chilli (cayenne powder), garlic and vinegar. After being left to brew for a few days, the mixture, sprayed around the garden , will discourage most pests. Please remember, it is illegal to trap or kill bandicoots unless authorised by NPWS.
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