What Do Bandicoots Eat?
Bandicoots are small Australian marsupials that live on the ground
and survive mainly on feeding invertebrates from the soil. These typical
omnivore animals eat many different things. Their diet mainly consists
of insects, worms, beetles, grubs, which they dig out of the ground
quite easily.
Bandicoots are known to locate their food using their well-developed
sense of smell. They use their strong claws and pointed nose to dig
small conical holes from which they extract food. A common food for
bandicoots living near suburban area is the larva of scarab beetles
better known as ‘lawn grubs’. By eating these grubs, bandicoots actually
take good care of the lawns and reduce beetles population.
Bandicoots do not need much water and can go for weeks without drinking.
Amongst the favourite treats that human give them are peanuts and
raisins. What sounds bit interesting is that they are very partial to
cooked chicken and sausages and has the capability of reducing the bones
of the chicken to almost nothing within a matter of minutes.
The change of coat colour from golden to dark brown happens when they
are stepping towards adult stage. During this time, you can increase the
amount and variety of solid food. You can also gradually increase the
amount and variety of solid feed as the animal matures. However, avoid
providing them yeast products as this may cause stomach disorders in
them.
Basically, their diet consists of insects, worms, plants but they also
eat lizards and small animals such as mice. They also feed on fruits
such as apples and peaches and underground bulbs. If there is any
scarcity of food, there is a chance of female bandicoots eating their
young ones. The Large Short-Nosed Bandicoot is a nocturnal forager,
which uses their keen sense of smell to find food that is either in the
open or hidden underground. Bandicoots are often seen on dusk and
occasionally early mornings at the front of your chalet feeding on
provided specialized feed pellets - sometimes nibbling on the bird
seeds.
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