Wildlife

Bandicoot Welfare in Urban Environments

Several bandicoot species have adapted to suburban environments but face severe welfare threats from domestic cats, fox baiting and urbanisation.

Key Facts

Long-nosed bandicoots persist in some Sydney and Brisbane suburbs despite heavy predation pressure
Eastern barred bandicoots were declared extinct in the wild in Victoria — reintroduction is ongoing
Bandicoots create conical foraging pits in lawns — a sign of a healthy garden ecosystem
Cat and fox predation is the primary cause of bandicoot mortality in urban areas
Bandicoot populations can recover quickly if predation pressure is reduced

Welfare Considerations

Bandicoots attacked by cats suffer puncture wounds that introduce bacteria causing fatal septicaemia even when the initial injury appears minor. Fox baiting with 1080 poison is highly effective for predator control but risks non-target species. Urbanisation removes the ground cover vegetation bandicoots depend on for cover and invertebrate food. Cat curfews and catio requirements in bandicoot areas would significantly reduce predation mortality.

What You Can Do

Keep cats indoors at night to protect bandicoots in your neighbourhood
Report bandicoot sightings to local council wildlife monitoring programmes
Support 1080 baiting programmes targeting foxes in council-managed nature reserves
Create native ground cover plantings in your garden to provide bandicoot foraging and shelter habitat