The Wombat

The wombat is the largest burrowing herbivorous (plant eating) mammal and it is a marsupial (animal with a pouch).

Early settlers called it a 'badger', a term that is still heard today.

The closest relative of the wombat is the koala.

With its short tail and legs, characteristic waddle and 'cuddly' appearance the wombat is one of the most endearing of Australia's native animals.

A wombat is a fairly large (1 - 1.2 meters in length and 27 - 35 kilograms in weight) and looks a little like a bear, with small ears and eyes, a large nose, short legs, large paws and long, strong claws used for digging burrows. It is quite 'handy' and can pick up food with one foot and pass it to its mouth. The color if its thick fur may be sandy brown, gray, black, or flecked with a lighter color.

Wombats feed at night eating mainly grasses, some shrubs, roots, sedges, bark and herbs, moss seems to be a treat. They cut their food with a single pair of upper and lower incisors (front teeth). These teeth never stop growing. Sometimes when it is cold they come out during the day to either graze or bask in the sun. They eat for 3 to 8 hours a night, often traveling many kilometers.

Burrows can be up to 20 meters long and more than 2 meters below the ground, and have lots of tunnels and entrances. Wombats make nests in the burrows from sticks, leaves and grasses. If threatened, a wombat will dive into a burrow or hollow log, leaving its very tough, thick skinned rump exposed as protection from the teeth and claws of its attacker.

Wombats mate mostly during winter. One young is born 30 days after mating. The baby goes into the mother's pouch which opens backward to prevent dirt coming in while she burrows. The baby remains in the pouch for 6 months, and does not leave its mother until it is 18 months old. Wombats can have babies when 2 years old and live for more than 5 years in the wild.