About the Eastern Barred Bandicoot

Eastern Barred Bandicoots are small, nocturnal Australian marsupials that like to live amongst tussock grasses. At night they emerge to feed on underground insects, leaving small cone-shaped (nose-shaped!) holes as evidence of their visit.

In my backyard?

The natural habitat of Eastern Barred Bandicoots is grassland and grassy woodlands, however many of these areas have been cleared for agriculture. This has forced the bandicoots to survive in small patches of remnant native vegetation or dense weedy areas on farms, or shift into urban areas, including backyards and nearby bushland reserves. So far they’ve coped surprisingly well, despite many being killed by dogs, cats, cars, brushcutters and mowers.

Why keep them safe?

They are vulnerable. Less than 50 years ago, Barred Bandicoots were also common in Victoria, but now face extinction. They too were forced into urban areas, with urban threats, however they suffered under an extra predator – the European fox. Tasmania is the last stronghold for the species, however the devastating recent arrival of foxes in Tasmania will mean that if uncontrolled, our bandicoots will suffer the same fate as Victoria’s. Bandicoots have no defence against foxes.

		Little Aussie Digger
A little smaller than a rabbit Big ears to listen for predators. Strong claws to dig holes. Pink-tipped, long, pointy, whiskered nose with a well developed sense of smell to detect food underground. Cone-shaped (nose-shaped) feeding holes made when they feed at night in grassy areas. You’ll find more just after rain, when digging’s easier and their food moves closer to the soil surface.				Three to four distinctive pale-coloured stripes or bars across rump (hence its name). Strong hind legs to bound or run at a rapid gallop, clearing up to a metre in a single leap! Short, thin white tail Tracks: front foot track: hind foot track: Scats: Next to feeding holes you sometimes find their black, narrow droppings:
Food: Bandicoots are omnivorous. They eat worms, spiders, beetles, bugs and larvae. They drink by lapping water like a cat.

Busy Breeders

Barred bandicoots have a very fast breeding rate, however they live for less than three years, with many dying from predation or disease before reaching adulthood. Breeding occurs between May and December, with up to four litters produced each year. One to four bandicoots are born per litter – a maximum of 16 young a year!

After a bandicoot egg is fertilized it takes just 12 days before the young bandicoot is born – one of the shortest pregnancies recorded for any mammal. At birth the bandicoot is a little smaller than a jelly bean. It attaches to a nipple inside its mother’s rear-opening pouch and grows rapidly on her rich milk. At nine weeks old, the young bandicoot leaves the nest and becomes independent.

Bandicoot nightlife

Bandicoots emerge from their nest to begin foraging within two hours of sunset. They are most active between 1 and 4 am, travelling between 70 and 300 metres a night. If disturbed, they either ‘freeze’ or, if chased by a predator, will take off in a ‘bouncing run’, trying to avoid capture by sudden turns.

Did you know?

How the bandicoot got its name
Bandicoot is derived from the word ‘Banda Couta’, which is southern Indian for ‘pig rat’. The name was given to our bandicoots due to their superficial resemblance to the large Indian ‘pig rat’ rodents.

There are other bandicoots
Australia had 11 bandicoot species – three are now extinct. Tasmania is also home to the Southern Brown Bandicoot, which is dark brown and has no body stripes. It lives in forest and heathland across the State and also makes cone-shaped feeding holes.

Bandicoots make noises
When foraging, barred bandicoots make snuffling, snorting sounds. If two adults forage near each other, one will often chase the other away while ‘grunting’.

Bandicoots help farmers and gardeners
Bandicoots eat pasture pests (corbies and cockchafers) that feed on the roots of crops and lawns. Their small diggings do not cause any long-term damage to lawns, gardens or farmland – in fact, you might feel privileged to have these native marsupials visiting.


If you find an injured or sick bandicoot please contact the Department of Primary Industries and Water’s Injured and Orphaned Wildlife Program on 6233 6556.