Bandicoots

​There are only two types of bandicoots here in Tasmania, the brown bandicoot and the eastern barred bandicoot. The brown bandicoot is also over on the mainland, mainly the east coast. Some of the other kinds are in more desert regions and they may dig burrows, but not the ones here. What these guys normally do is find a depression and pull grass over themselves and spend the day there. The eastern barred bandicoot is only found in some parts of Tasmania and is considered at risk. Where we are is one of the areas where they are more common so that’s what we are doing to make more habitat for them, places to hide and be safe so as to build up their numbers. We already see both kinds at our place, lots of the little holes they dig, and as recently as last night I saw two of the eastern barred variety near the gate to the back paddock. For the free 350 plants we got, we just have to have them all planted out by the end of May, then the guy comes around to have a look and maybe checks on them a year later. We don’t get any new bandicoots delivered, it’s just to encourage the ones that are already here.

I did the close mowing of about 150 more of the spots that I had sprayed earlier and managed to get another 50 planted on Monday, but we have had a bit of rain the last couple of days so I didn’t do a lot outside. I’ve decided from now on I won’t cut out a square of turf and flip it over and all that, instead just cut a small square hole with my digging stick and put the plant straight in. All the grass is dead and with the little square weed mat they give you it should be OK. There was one batch they had to pick up from the depot while I was there 3,500 plants for a big property, and I’m sure they don’t plan to do all the faffing about that I have been doing or it would take them forever. My new refinement should mean I can plant up to 100 in a single day if I am well organised. I am already halfway through the 300 plants I initially picked up, 150 to go, then I have to pick up the next 50 in a couple of weeks.