In Tasmania, populations inhabit open grasslands and areas of pastoral development with patches of dense groundcover (Seebeck 2001, Seebeck and Menkhorst 2008). On the mainland, the species formerly occupied the native grasslands and grassy woodlands of the western volcanic plains of Victoria. Reintroduced populations have been established in grasslands and grassy woodlands, often dominated by exotic plant species (Maxwell et al. 1996). Females give birth to between one and five young (but usually two or three) (Seebeck and Menkhorst 2008). Reproduction can occur throughout the year, but may be depressed during extended low rainfall periods (Hill et al. 2010). Under favourable conditions, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is highly fecund, with females able to produce up to 4-5 litters per year (Seebeck 1979).

At the time of European settlement, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot occurred from the far south-east of South Australia through near-coastal south-western Victoria to near Melbourne, and across most of Tasmania (other than high altitude areas and the higher rainfall south-west and west of the island). The last record from South Australia was in the late 1800s (Kemper 1990), and the last wild Victorian subpopulation was extirpated in about 2002 (Hill et al. 2010). On the mainland, its present range is restricted to two reintroduced subpopulations within predator-proof fencing (mainland islands): Hamilton Community Parklands (1 km²), and Mt Rothwell (4 km²). Its Tasmanian distribution is still relatively extensive, but it has disappeared from substantial parts of its former range (Driessen et al. 1996; Mallick et al. 1997ab). The species ranges in elevation from sea level to 950 m in Tasmania, but it is usually found much lower there and on the mainland (Seebeck 2001).

Eastern Barred Bandicoot occurs in protected areas. The most important conservation measure for the species as a whole is the control of fox populations in Tasmania.

Recovery efforts on the mainland are complex, multi-disciplinary, and involve many organisations and individuals; several research projects are under way, including collaborative projects with universities, covering biology and ecology of reintroduced populations, establishment at new sites, and population dynamics of foxes at bandicoot release sites; there is considerable community interest and involvement in the recovery program, especially with releases onto private land. A Recovery Plan for the mainland subspecies has been developed (Watson and Halley 2000; Hill et al. 2010).

Management actions underway for the mainland population include: captive breeding, ongoing since 1988. The Zoological Parks and Gardens Board (ZPGB) now manages this aspect of the recovery program, and bandicoots are bred at facilities in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. There are four reintroduction sites in Victoria, but only one, Woodlands Historic Park near Melbourne, has a reasonably secure population (>700 animals). The others are small, highly vulnerable, and will rely on supplementary releases for the next few years. Not all of these sites contain sufficient habitat for populations to be self-sustaining in the short- to medium-term; habitat management through fencing, tree planting, native grassland management, weed and rabbit control variously occur at all sites; intensive predator control is maintained at all release sites, with regular poisoning, shooting and destruction of dens and other refuges.