What’s threatening our bandicoots?

Eastern barred bandicoots have no defences against cats, dogs, cars or loss of habitat, but with our help we can all help keep them safe from these threats.

Cats 

Cats are an ever-present threat for bandicoots. During the day they are attracted to the scent of bandicoot nests and can play with, attack or eat sleeping bandicoots. At night they can stalk foraging bandicoots. Even well-fed cats continue to hunt because it’s instinctive. 

Many cats also carry parasites in their gut that can cause a deadly disease in bandicoots and other marsupials called toxomplasmosis (toxo). There is no ill-effect to the cat. The disease is spread when the parasite’s microscopic eggs are deposited in cat faeces and on cat hair. Bandicoots get infected when they accidentally eat the eggs while foraging where cats have been. 

Toxo can have ill-effects on pregnant women and people with low immunity. If concerned, talk to your doctor and/or vet.

How can you help?

• For your cat’s safety and the safety of our wildlife, don’t let your cat roam during the day or at night, just as you would your dog. Confine your cat to an outdoor cat run or keep it indoors.

• Under the Cat  Management Act, a cat owner must ensure their cat is desexed and microchipped by a veterinary surgeon from six months of age. 

• Microchip your cat, fit them with a collar, two bells and an ID tag.

• Get your cat de-sexed to avoid unwanted kittens and stray cats.

• If you see a toxo-infected bandicoot (wobbly walking, blindness and a loss of natural instinct to avoid predators) contact Bonorong Wildlife Rescue Service on 0447 264 625.

• Never dispose of kitty litter in your garden as this can spread toxo. Put it in your wheelie bin.

For more information check out the Tassie Cat website.

Dogs

Dogs are attracted to the scent of bandicoots in their grassy nests and love to explore them, sometimes injuring or killing sleeping bandicoots.

How can you help?

If you have bandicoots visiting or living in your garden, secure the area from roaming dogs, but remember to allow access for bandicoots.

If walking your dog in bushland in an off-lead area, don’t let your dog wonder into the bush. Use an extender lead to safely extend your dog’s range.

Cars

Cars don’t kill bandicoots, drivers do. Bandicoots explore large territories during the night, which may require them to cross roads.

How can you help?

Slow down when driving at night, particularly in bush or rural areas. It’s easier for us to slow down, than tell animals they should not cross roads!

Snail pellets

Snail pellets are poisonous. They can kill bandicoots, other wildlife and pets.

How can you help?

Avoid using pellets. There are safe alternatives, such as picking up snails after rain or making barriers with copper wire or lime (which snails won’t cross).