Did you know the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is one of Australia’s most endangered marsupials? Cats, foxes, and loss of natural habitat have contributed to this devastating decline, leaving these nocturnal creatures struggling to survive in the wild. But by creating your very own bandicoot bungalow in your backyard, you can play a crucial role in their conservation and help ensure their survival for generations to come.
Building a bandicoot bungalow is also a fantastic, family-friendly activity—perfect for the upcoming Easter holidays. It’s a fun, hands-on project you can do with your kids while teaching them about the importance of wildlife conservation and how they can help protect these fascinating creatures.
Before you start building your bandicoot sanctuary, there are a few simple steps you can take to make your garden even more inviting and supportive for these cute creatures:
Cozy Nesting Spots: Plant native grasses (e.g., tussock grass, sagg, flax lily) for safe, hidden resting spots and cover from predators.
Food & Foraging: Maintain lawns, leaf litter, and logs to attract insects and worms—food for bandicoots.
Safety from Predators: Add prickly shrubs (e.g., native currant, prickly mosses, hakea) as natural barriers against predators like cats and dogs.
Privacy & Overhead Cover: Include larger shrubs and trees (e.g., manuka, bottlebrush, silver banksia) for privacy and protection from aerial predators.
Access & Water: Avoid solid fencing and provide a shallow water source (e.g., small pond or bowl) for hydration.
Now that you've made your garden an inviting place for these little creatures, we can build a simple, predator-proof nest.
Creating the Bandicoot Bungalow
Materials You’ll Need
- Wooden pallet
- Garden stakes or sticks
- Hammer
- Assortment of bark, small logs, and branches
- Bedding materials (straw, dry leaves, or hay)
How to Make
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Choose the Right Spot: Pick a quiet, sheltered area away from foot traffic, close to dense shrubs or grasses, and free from predators like cats and dogs.
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Prepare the Bedding: Place a pallet on the ground and secure it by driving four garden stakes or thick sticks into the ground at the corners. Then, line the inside of the pallet with straw, dry leaves, or hay to create a warm, comfortable space.
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Build the Walls: Once the pallet is secure, hammer sticks into the gaps around the outer edges. Leave a few small gaps (8-10 cm) that are big enough for a bandicoot to pass through but small enough to keep larger predators out. Tip: To reduce hammering, you can use one or two logs the length of the pallet to create walls on one or two sides.
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Build the Roof and Camouflage: Place logs on top to secure the pallet, then cover it with bark, leaves, and branches for weather protection. Blend the structure into the surroundings with mulch, sticks, and leaves to hide it from predators.
Watch this clip from Gardening Australia for a visual guide.
By building a bandicoot bungalow, you're directly helping one of Australia’s most endangered species. With a little effort, your backyard can provide a safe, predator-free space where these nocturnal creatures can thrive.
Every small action counts in conservation, and by creating a welcoming environment, you're ensuring a home for bandicoots for generations to come. So, gather your materials, get the family involved, and help make a difference!
