Mammals

Mammal – Marsupial, Family Peramelidae
The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is probably the most eye-catching of the seven surviving species of bandicoot in Australia. On their back, they have coarse yellowy brown/grey fur, with three to four pale bands across the rump, and a slaty grey belly and tail. This bandicoot is slenderly built, weighing 500-1000 grams, and they can grow to 35cm.

Conservation Status:
12 Eastern Barred Bandicoots were released at Mt. Rothwell over spring 2004, and they’re in dire need of protected habitat where they can breed in safety. This species is listed nationally as being “Critically Endangered”, and they are one of Victoria’s most “Endangered” mammals. Strategies to conserve these bandicoots have included captive breeding, translocating wild stock and managing the land to provide more suitable habitat like feral animal-proof fencing. A few reintroduced populations in Victoria have not been as successful as hoped and Mt Rothwell is currently the only truly successful site in the recovery program. The reason, feral proof fence that is monitored and visually checked daily. Due to the once fox-free status of Tasmania, these bandicoots are widespread and moderately common in that state, although local reductions in parts of their range may be greatly exacerbated by the deliberate and illegal introduction of foxes early this century. Tasmania’s bandicoots are genetically distinct to those now left on the mainland and reflect the evolution of new subspecies. In addition to feral predation, the other major threat is habitat loss with only 0.01% of EBB’s volcanic plains grassland habitat remaining.

Habitat, Diet & Breeding:
Formerly widespread across Victoria’s basalt plains where the native grasslands and grassy woodlands were most favoured by this bandicoot. Following European settlement, more than 99% of these vegetation communities have been cleared or radically altered. With this catastrophic loss of habitat, the few remaining Eastern Barred Bandicoots are found in farmland, parkland, rubbish tips and where exotic weeds can provide shelter. What little is known about their population dynamics shows an average density of 1.5/ha and up to 8/ha have been found. Male bandicoots often have larger home ranges at 13 - 20ha, compared to 2.5 - 4ha for females. Eastern Barred Bandicoots are solitary and nocturnal, building grass-lined nests to rest in during the day. On dusk, this omnivorous feeder digs conical holes in the earth with its sharply clawed forelimbs, searching for earthworms, beetles, cockroaches, crickets and caterpillars, as well as opportunistically eating bulbs, tubers and fruits. 

Mating occurs year round, except for late summer when breeding is depressed, and the gestation period is about 12.5 days. Females have 8 nipples in their pouch, yet most litters in the wild only average 2 to 3 young, though up to 5 may be born. Young remain in the pouch for about 55 days, and are left in the grass nest before weaning at 70 - 80 days. In favourable conditions, females can fall pregnant while lactating and give birth to another litter as soon as the preceding one is weaned, having up to 3 litters per year, or as many as 10 to 12 young per year. Young disperse on independence at around 3 to 5 months of age and are capable of breeding themselves when only 4 months old. Their fecundity comes at a cost, being quite short-lived at 18 - 24 months.

Interesting Facts:
Eastern Barred Bandicoots are an iconic species of the basalt grasslands and an important addition to Mt Rothwell. The successful recovery of the mainland’s population from the edge of extinction hinges upon having wild and free-ranging animals producing lots of offspring, to source further reintroductions at other sites. Mt Rothwell provides an optimal haven, as the sanctuary’s remnant native grasslands and old-growth woodland are free of feral predators and will remain so thanks to the surrounding feral-proof fencing. Many other threatened basalt fauna species are being protected at Mt. Rothwell and several kinds of grassland flora like the Button Wrinklewort.