We have Southern Brown Bandicoots on our 5 acres. We don't see them much but every so often I spot some digging activity and I know they've been here. Apparently 1 bandicoot needs 8 acres on which to roam. Given the amount of development and clearing it's a wonder they have survived at all this close to town.
Like all native animals, bandicoots are a critical part of the ecosystem. When I find the information I am looking for I will do another post about their role in fire management - yes, fire management!
We do so many things so badly in this country. Ever since Europeans arrived we set out to systematically destroy the natural systems that operated for tens of thousands of years under Aboriginal care. My heart aches when I see habitat destroyed and native animals lying dead on the side of the road. I love this country. I really do love the bush, the beaches and all who live there. I get where Aboriginal people are coming from. I'm trying to preserve as much of our 5 acres in its natural form as I can - I am trying to restore the original bush - before bracken and Tea-tree took over. I want to pass it on to others if I have the opportunity.
Even though we have areas for bandicoots to hide and do their thing, there are other areas we have had to clear to build a house and maintain firebreaks. So I'm going to build some Banidicoot Bungalows in strategic spots to make sure they have somewhere to hide when the feral cats and foxes are trying to hunt them down. If you want to know what a Bandicoot Bungalow is - watch the short video.
Bandicoot image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_brown_bandicoot
I hadn't ever heard of Bandicoots before this, and I now I am absolutely an ardent fan of theirs. I am so glad that you are planning on building a bungalow for them on your land. It is heartbreaking what we humans have done to our earth and all of its inhabitants. Your efforts are what start to tip the scales in the direction of survival. Thank you. Great video.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin. I work on the block most days. My body gets sore but I love doing it. I've had a good look around and figured out some strategic spots for a couple of bungalows. And I'm rethinking the bits I am supposed to keep clear - planning little dense bush oases so they can move safely from 1 area to another (because they will only travel 5 metres without cover). I was kind of doing that already, but after watching that video I've decided to leave some of the areas of thick bracken I was going to clear until other plants grow to maintain the cover the bandicoots need.
DeleteI dont think I would have thought to research before I started changing things, good on you for thinking it through!
ReplyDeleteI can't seem to watch the video but I might be able to get it onanother computer. I look forward to updates :)
This is really interesting. I grew up in rural Albany and never saw a bandicoot until I moved into town in my mid twenties. Around suburban areas of Mts Clarence and Melville, they are everywhere in highly developed (albeit historically old) housing areas. A factor to take in is that maybe these suburbs were before Super 66 fencing and so ground dwelling critters such as bandicoots and bobtails could move freely between properties. Also, they love fruit trees, especially loquats ha ha yes they do.
ReplyDeleteWhen living in Cuthbert St and in Bob's old house, my pets had an ongoing and bipartisan relationship with bandicoots and possums. It was considered common ground for all to inhabit. The plum tree outside Bob's veranda positively reeked every November due to the possums' rutting season, and that was right in the middle of town.
I thought about this and it makes sense that you would have more encounters with bandicoots in built up areas, as long as they were adjacent to bush. Which is what Bob's house, and much of the old township is of course - stuck between to big hills with remnant bush -was, and next to that lake. They are shy so you wouldn't see them unless they were forced to come close to humans, but it's great that they are able to cohabit with the domestic animals.
DeleteThe bungalows are such a cool idea! It reminds me of my little sisters' guinea pig run and looks like some archaic witch's forest installation. Looking forward to the fire research.
ReplyDeleteI've Googled and I can't find the segment. I'm sure it was on Gardening Australia so I may have to visit their website and check out previous programs, or contact them and ask. I've reassessed our place and I think I can make use of the naturally growing flora to provide corridors for them. I ahd been doing that basically anyway, but I want to reduce the distance they have to travel across the drive. They can move around the rest of the block pretty safely and also move into the adjacent reserve. But there are so many feral cats around here, with the rubbish tip so close - it's a real worry.
DeleteHeaps of feral cats here too ... it's weird being in pristine wilderness and seeing cats quite regularly. I think the wedgetails go after bandicoots too, though they are probably entitled to a feed.
DeleteYeh I reckon it's a fairer contest between a wedgie and a bandicoot than a cat and a bandicoot, especially when cats are such good breeders. Bandicoots could quite easily stay out of the way of a wedge tail in dense scrub.
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