I think the woman and her plants should be culled, not the Bandicoots!
While on the topic I believe Long-nosed Bandicoots have came along way over
the past 200 years. The poor creatures have endured conflict with humans on
and off throughout this time.
It was common in the 1940's & 1950's for gardeners along the East Coast
(especially Sydney) to 'gas' or 'smoke-out' the poor bandicoots from their
homes, where they would be killed. This was only because they were thought
to cause damage to lawns and garden beds - the poor animals were only doing
what came natural! Bandicoots don't cause half as much damage to lawns as
European Rabbits do!
Not long after their persecution for destroying gardens, came their
persecution (and execution) for apparently harbouring "deadly" ticks (any
sort of tick bite was believed to have caused Lyme's disease at this time).
Sure bandicoots may have carried a few ticks but no more than any other
animals (namely foxes and cats).
"...some people associate bandicoots with ticks, this may be because humans
tend to pick up ticks most easily in long grass or thick scrub – which also
happens to be the type of habitat favoured by bandicoots." - NSW NPWS
Other threats to these innocent Australian icons over time have been the
introduction of cats, dogs, pigs and rabbits. While the main two impacts on
bandicoots has been the introduction and proliferation of foxes and the
clearing of natural habitat.
Long-nosed Bandicoots now have a restricted range in city areas like Sydney,
however as a result of increased awareness of the bandicoots plight, the
baiting of foxes and maintenance of bushland, Bandicoots are making a
comeback, and I am all for them.
Kurtis Lindsay
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