Residents of the Coffs Harbour Jetty precinct say they have recently seen an explosion in bandicoot numbers.

Small holes dug in lawns and gardens are evidence of bandicoots in an area.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is reminding people bandicoots are a protected native species that can't be eradicated.

Parks spokesman Lawrence Orel said the presence of large numbers of bandicoots is a good indication that fox controls are working.

"One of the first signs that the fox control is working is when you start to see wildlife coming back," he said.

"Or wildlife that you hadn't noticed before, and bandicoots are a bit of a classic example.

"Certainly in urban areas where people start to notice maybe some little divots in their lawn as bandicoots start to breed and come out and feed on grubs that might be in people's back gardens."

Mr Orel said residents annoyed by bandicoot damage to their lawns are reminded they are a protected species.

"Bandicoots are a native species and protected and indeed that's one of the reasons that we undertake pest control, like fox control, is to help our native species recover," he said.

"People need to be aware of that and remember that what we're seeing is bandicoots coming back and getting a better balance in a natural eco-system which is indeed what we're looking for and it is a great thing."