By Brendan Rees
They’re cute little critters that can be found around Cranbourne mostly at night, making small cone-shaped diggings in the soil when feeding on underground fungi and insects.
Sadly, the southern brown bandicoot, a native Australian mammal, is endangered due to urban development and introduced predators, such as feral cats and foxes but a group of researchers are hoping the community can help save their population.
The School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University is conducting a survey which asks Cranbourne residents what features they have in their backyards and whether bandicoots have been visiting – with all information provided voluntary and anonymous.
The results will provide some great background information to help shape the bandicoot outreach program at Cranbourne Gardens.
To thank people for their contribution Deakin University is offering participants the chance to win one of 10 $50 vouchers to the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens Café, Boon Wurrung.
The 10 to 15 minute survey can be accessed at https://researchsurveys.deakin.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_b9HIPTni1LZu6Hz
