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Wombat Protection Society of Australia

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19.01.2022 FIRE WOMBAT As the flames of a bush fire approach, one small wombat shelters with other animals in her burrow. But that is just the beginning of their journey to safety. Jackie French author of many children’s books has just launched her latest book ‘The Fire Wombat’ based on events witnessed by Jackie during the 2020 fires, and co-created with award-winning illustrator Danny Snell, this is a story of courage, compassion and survival, which saw people across Australia come to...gether to save our wildlife from devastation. Thanks to Jackie and Harper Collins Publishers, a portion of the proceeds will go towards supporting the Wombat Protection Society. This is a story for every member of the family, and is now on sale, at most well-known bookstores.

19.01.2022 Interesting Aboriginal Folklore Part of a transcript of Aunty Fran Bodkin explaining the uses of Mentha satureoides (small native plant). Common name Native Penny Royal . "this little insignificant plant has many uses including relieving stomach cramps, the discomfort of colds and other pain. It also stops lice in children’s hair. Down our way we’ve planted it in all the schools and the moms just pick some and rub their kids head with it and it repels lice. It also helps the wombats - how we discovered it was that, the wombats used to roll in it to stop the mites that gave them the mange but when the white men came the cows really loved it and so they ate it all..and now there’s only tiny little pockets of it left which is why the poor wombats are still suffering from the mange".

18.01.2022 DID YOU KNOW MANGE IS A DEATH SENTENCE? Unless treated a wombat with mange faces a miserable existence. The mange mite buries itself under the wombat’s skin triggering extreme itchiness which makes the wombat scratch, causing open wounds and scabs to form. These become infected, the wombat loses condition, becomes dehydrated, malnourished, and after many months slowly dies. GOOD NEWS. Mange can be treated. The product approved to treat mange in wombats is Cydectin/moxide...ctin ‘pour on’ for cattle and red deer. The treatment is simple and can be administered by informed volunteers. Contact us for details or a wildlife organisation in your state for advice and assistance. www.wombatprotection.org.au/mange-disease

16.01.2022 INTRODUCING BUDDIES Young orphaned joeys usually benefit from having a buddy, it helps them to learn wombat behaviour. Socializing is an important part of their development and being able to hang out with others of a similar age helps them to learn they are wombats, a bit the same as it is for young children. George the older wombat had been extremely sick and in care for quite a while, he has a gentle nature and is keen to have Wags as a friend. Wags came into care showing... scars from a possible encounter with a dog or fox and although smaller, is a confident little wombat and already knows all about wombat rough and tumble and is very keen to have George as a pal. Introducing buddies always needs to be done slowly allowing the wombats to accept and adjust to their new friend. The carer needs to be attentive and observe for any adverse situations. Sometimes it can take a few days or even weeks. See more

15.01.2022 WARNING Many people treating wombats with mange are under the impression that Bravecto spot on for dogs can be used as a one-off cure to treat ‘in field’ wombats. Unfortunately, as much as we would all like this to be the case Bravecto has not been developed at this stage for ‘in field’ treatment. Experienced carers have discovered that although there seems to be an initial particularly good response, sadly, the mange is not cured, and the infestation slowly takes hold aga...in. There are still many questions that need answering. There are concerns that using a one-off treatment multiple times can cause serious health outcomes. As Bravecto spot-on stays in the body for up to 3 months there is the complication of when to re dose and not overdose. Treaters can see the mange returning well within the 3-month cover but are unsure of when it is safe to re-treat. FACT applying a spot-on with a carrier does not ensure the required amount of medication will reach the wombats blood stream which is needed for the Bravecto to work. Adding other products could cause toxicity. Check out these photos of a wombat treated with a one-off dose of Bravecto. It shows the initial good response and then unfortunately mange is coming back. This is not a case of re-infection. This has occurred because the mange infestation was never completely eradicated. See more

14.01.2022 Another example of how clever wombats are. This wombat has been released for many years and is only seen on rare occasions but recently he has been the target of another male wombat and when his foot became infected he knew where to go for help. He's certainly looking relaxed lying flat out on his back. There is so much we don't know about these remarkable animals

14.01.2022 NORTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT FACTS It is suspected that prior to the arrival of Europeans in Australia, the northern hairy-nosed wombat was thinly scattered throughout its range. Based on the few confirmed records the species’ range covered a narrow inland arc from the Victorian-New South Wales border to central Queensland (see map). Its preference for deep alluvial soils with a year-round grass cover would have further restricted its distribution within this area. To the eas...t it would have been outcompeted by the bare-nosed wombats, and conditions further west would have been too dry and hot. There is no evidence that aborigines hunted the species, although the wombat’s grass diet would have made them good eating. They would have been much more difficult to catch than kangaroos and wallabies. In south-western Queensland, the species was known as the Yaminon by the local aboriginals. See more

13.01.2022 Something is rarely seen - Stamps; but how often do you see stamps with wombats

10.01.2022 Scratching is an important part of a wombat’s everyday routine. They are in fact masters at it, being able to reach all the difficult places without much effort. Just look at Wags. When Wags arrived, he was covered in bite marks which are healing and feeling quite itchy.

09.01.2022 Australia is extremely fortunate to be home to all 3 wombat species. The Northern Hairy Nosed, Southern Hairy Nosed and the Bare Nosed wombat. They are each unique in their own way and found in different parts of our vast country. All wombat species are under threat. Most recently the destruction of millions of hectares of wildlife habitat as a result of the recent catastrophic bushfires. Disease in the form of mange, which is a death sentence if not treated. Road trauma, p...redation and competition for food are also a concern. To find out more about our wombats check out www.wombatprotection.org.au/care-facts Today is world wombat day, so let’s celebrate this iconic native Australian species by acknowledging their uniqueness, how special they are to this continent, to continue to raise their profile to the world, to protect their homes, to stop the cruelty they often face, and to continue to fight for their right to be treated for mange to maintain their survival as a species. We Wombats. Let us not forget the desolation of last summer’s catastrophic bushfires and make our voices heard by our government authorities. They need to listen and take notice of what our ecologists/ environmentalists are recommending and not wait any longer to make changes. As individuals, we can contribute by moving towards a more sustainable future by changing the way we live our lives and use resources

08.01.2022 NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. The theme for 2020 is biodiversity a concern that is both urgent and existential.

06.01.2022 TREATING MANGE SUCCESSFULLY Treating mange comes with many challenges. Unfortunately, there is not a one treatment regime that will fit every situation as every wombat will present with differing stages of mange. Also, consideration of the degree of dehydration and malnutrition the wombat is presenting with, along with the availability of food, weather conditions and the list goes on. All of these factors point to the need of a quick recovery and this can be done using an ...appropriate dose of Cydectin/moxidectin applied 5 7 days apart which makes sure the medication remains in the therapeutic level within the wombats body and so enabling the mange mites to be eradicated. A wombat with severe mange is likely to need more treatments than a wombat with mild mange and so on. With the more appropriate dose wombats with severe mange can recover in 4 6 weeks. This shorter treatment time is far more achievable than trying to treat over a period of months where the wombat is likely to disappear. The photos show a wombat treated with Moxidectin over a 5-week period showing a full recovery.

04.01.2022 HOW DO I KNOW A WOMBAT HAS MANGE? Mange usually presents with crusty scabs around the wombat’s shoulders, sides, and legs and often around the eyes and ears. These wombats are frequently seen grazing in daylight hours and often appear to be blind and deaf. Sight and hearing are one of the first things to return as the wombat recovers. Hair is usually still seen down the middle of the wombats back and rump and is often referred to as a ‘mohawk appearance’. This is the healt...hiest area and where the medication is applied. HOW DO I TREAT MANGE? If the wombat is approachable it is best to use a pole and scoop device this way the wombat will receive the desired dose and there is no stress for both the wombat and the volunteer. If the wombat is not approachable a burrow flap can be set up at the entrance to the wombat’s burrow. WHAT ELSE LOOKS LIKE MANGE? Sometimes wombat attack wounds can be mistaken for mange infestation. There is a noticeable difference though and is confirmed by where the scabs or fur loss is seen. The back and rump of a wombat with mange is usually still covered in fur. Whereas this is the area territorial attack wounds are seen. Wombats dart down their burrow and the rump is used to defend themselves and often gets a battering. Unfortunately, sometimes a wombat can be suffering from both mange and attack wounds. It is always best to get a confirmed diagnosis before treatment starts. For more information on how to treat a wombat with mange checkout our website www.wombatprotection.org.au/mange-disease

04.01.2022 DID YOU KNOW a wombat with mange is more likely to spread mange after it has died? The mange mite is quite happy living on the wombat until the wombat dies and then it has to find a new host to survive. Mites are able to stay alive on the carcass for a period of time after the wombat has perished and this is when mange is likely to spread. Many people believe mange is spread in the wombat’s burrow, but this is only one of the ways. Unless a wombat with mange dies down the ...burrow the burrow should not be infected with mange mites. Wombats sick with mange are not behaving like healthy wombats and many do not return to their burrows. They become dehydrated and need easy access to water and feed, they may also be avoiding encounters with healthy dominant wombats that may be in the area. Often these severely sick wombats are found deceased in or under sheds or above ground lying in the paddock. So, if a mange ridden carcass is left lying in the open or thrown down a gully or ditch, the next unsuspecting animal that comes along will very likely be infested with mange. This could be another wombat, a farm dog or fox and so the mange cycle continues. To stop the spread of mange the infested carcass needs to be disposed of properly. It can be buried deeply (lime will help with the decomposition), burnt, or sealed in a thick plastic bag (marked wildlife) and taken to the vet for disposal (check with your vet first). If you are a wildlife rescuer, park ranger or farmer and are required to euthanize a wombat with mange, make sure the carcass is disposed of properly. This is the only way to reduce the spread of mange. See more