Bandicoots

The Long-nosed Bandicoot Community Education, Engagement, Monitoring and Research Project

The Long-nosed Bandicoot Community Education, Engagement, Monitoring and Research Project (Long-nosed Bandicoot CEEMR Project) is a collaborative research project between Manly Council and the University of Sydney’s School of Biological Sciences. The Project was initiated to meet Manly Council’s research, education and monitoring responsibilities under the Draft Recovery Plan for the Long-nosed Bandicoot population of North Head.

The project commenced in November 2012 and involved many volunteers and residents from Eastern Hill, along with Manly Council and Sydney University staff. A final report for the Long-nosed Bandicoot CEEMR Project, which covered the first 2 trapping sessions, as well as the results of a habitat manipulation experiment, online survey and Radio-tracking, was published in February 2014. Some of the key findings are listed below, and a link to the final report (Long-nosed Bandicoot Project - Final Report Feb 2014) is included at the bottom of this page.

 Key Findings

  • The Long-nosed Bandicoots on Eastern Hill, constitute approximately 15-20% of the total North Head population.
  • Eastern Hill is functionally important for the ongoing viability of the North Head Long-nosed Bandicoot population, providing habitat for approximately 25% of the populations’ breeding females.
  • Long-nosed Bandicoots were observed over the entire area identified within Council’s Development Control Plan (2013) as requiring an Assessment of Significance Report (previously a ‘Seven Part test’) for the endangered population of Long-nosed Bandicoots to be submitted as part of Development Applications.
  • Some male Long-nosed Bandicoots traversed large areas of the urban environment within a single night, whereas females tend to move smaller distances.
  • The Long-nosed Bandicoot population within the urban environment appears to have a high turnover of individuals, indicating that both the risk of mortality, reproductive output and possibly immigration are relatively high in comparison to the bushland portion of the Bandicoot population on North Head.
  • Eastern Hill residents are generally supportive of Long-nosed Bandicoot conservation across Eastern Hill, and keen to participate in conservation activities.
  • The trapping component of the project is ongoing under the name ‘Nosey Little Neighbours’, and the most recent trapping results can be viewed in the summary report for May 2014 (Long-nosed Bandicoot, Trapping Summary report for May 2014). The next trapping session will be conducted in November 2014, with a report to be published in February 2015.

Long-nosed Bandicoots – How we can all help!

  • Long-nosed Bandicoots and other native animals should never be fed as it may cause them nutritional problems, hardship if supplementary feeding is stopped, and it may increase predation.
  • Feral cats or foxes should never be fed or food left out where they can access it, such as rubbish bins without lids or pet food bowls, as these animals present a significant threat to Long-nosed Bandicoots and other wildlife.
  • The use of insecticides, fertilisers, or snail baits should be avoided on the property. Garden insects will be kept in low numbers if Long-nosed Bandicoots are present.
  • Dead Long-nosed Bandicoots should be reported by phoning Manly Council on 9976 1500 or Office of Environment and Heritage on 131 555.
  • Please drive carefully as vehicle related injuries and deaths of Long-nosed Bandicoots are one of the most significant threats to the population.
  • Cat/s and or dog/s that currently live on the property should be kept indoors at night to avoid disturbance/death of native animals. Ideally, when the current cat/s and/or dog/s that live on the property no longer reside on the property it is recommended that they not be replaced by new dogs or cats.
  • Report all sightings of feral or stray; rabbits, cats, dogs and foxes to Manly Council.

Long-nosed Bandicoot

The Long-nosed Bandicoot occurs throughout a range of habitats along the east coast of Australia and until the early 1960s was abundant throughout the Sydney region. However rapid urban development coupled with threats such as feral animals and road mortality have reduced the distribution of the species down to only a handful of small populations, of which North Head is one.

The North Head bandicoot population is highly important because it is an isolated population (being away from the mainland) that scientists believe may be genetically distinct. The population has also been the subject of a number of scientific studies and is therefore an important reference population.

The North Head population of Long-nosed Bandicoots Peramales nasuta is now listed as an endangered population on Schedule 1, Part 2 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Management of the population is the joint responsibility of the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) and Manly Council. The Long-nosed Bandicoot Recovery Team has drafted a recovery plan which will be implemented once finalised. 

In 2004, a survey completed by the DECCW, formerly the Department of Conservation and Environment (DEC), found the population to be between 130 and 160 individuals. With major habitat loss the population is confined to a relatively small area of North Head on public and privately owned bushland and adjoining residential areas – including some backyards. 

Major threats to bandicoots include habitat loss, feral animals such as cats and foxes, and cars – road kill in North Head is common (of several other animals as well). To address these threats, DEC currently carries out fox baiting programs to reduce fox numbers, and the gate into the National Park is closed at night time in an attempt to reduce road kill. 

Bandicoot Biology 

  • Bandicoots are nocturnal, living in burrows in the scrub during the day. In urban areas, they often use wood piles or other man-made structures as shelter.
  • Bandicoots only roam in a small range of approximately 1 acre, generally around their nest site. This is a relatively small area in comparison to a cat that can roam up to 16km in one night.
  • The Long-nosed Bandicoot makes a distinctive ‘squeaking’ noise when threatened.
  • Bandicoot habitat is primarily dry woodland, scrubs and coastal heaths.
  • Bandicoots are omnivores and feed on many things including beetles, insects and larvae, spiders, fungi, seeds, cockroaches & fungi.
  • Long-nosed Bandicoots are solitary animals which breed throughout the entire year. Female bandicoots give birth to an average of two or three young after 12.5 days gestation. 

Bandicoot Development Considerations

If you are submitting a development application in the area where Long-nosed Bandicoots occur (refer to the map below titled Penguin and Bandicoot DCP) you need to address Council’s requirements for assessment of the proposal. For more information, please see the Bandicoot Threatened Population Considerations Fact Sheet found here 

pdf format Fact sheet bandicoots (48.17 KB)

pdf format Penguin Bandicoot DCP.pdf (111.57 KB) 

Where can I get more information?

Further information on the Long-nosed Bandicoot population can be found at the Office of Environment and Heritage threatened species website : http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx