According to Backyard Buddies, a free program run by Australia's Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, the bandicoot breeding season can leave gardeners scratching their heads at all the mess left in their yard.

Often bandicoots get into scuffles during breeding season as they protect their territory, which means backyards and gardens become bandicoot boxing rings.

"This little marsupial inhabits many urban areas but it is not very well known," Susanna Bradshaw, chief executive of the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife said.

"It's true that the bandicoot can be a little messy when it comes to foraging for food.

"It's not uncommon to see leaf litter tossed about or the odd hole in your lawn when there's a bandicoot around.

"The reason they do this is to dig out and eat many of our unwanted garden bugs and grubs, helping to protect your plants".

To encourage bandicoots in your backyard set aside an area of your garden with plenty of mulch and small shrubs or grasses.

This will also keep the little creature from tearing up the garden.

Leave a small shallow dish of water out for them when it gets hot and check areas of long grass before mowing or whipper snipping as bandicoots nest in grasses to sleep in during the day.

More information, backyardbuddies.net.au.