They call them the ‘bulldozers of the bush’ but this baby Common Wombat’s earth moving skills are yet to be fully tested as she makes a recovery from a car accident that killed her mother near Moruya.
Despite the name, the Common Wombat is not that common around the Eurobodalla Shire coastal strip.
‘Edna’ the 7-month-old baby wombat was badly injured after her mother was hit by a car along Araluen Road, near Moruya.
The staff of the Moruya Veterinary Hospital stabilised Edna and treated her wounds which are healing well.
“She was in a very poor condition when found and needed rehydration, pain management, tick removal and a week of antibiotic treatment” said Vanessa Place of Moruya Veterinary Hospital.
“Our vets did a great job to keep her alive.”
Edna has now come into the care of WIRES volunteers Tony de la Fosse and his wife Helena Barlow, residents of Malua Bay.
Photos provided by Tony de la Fosse
Mr de la Fosse (above) said that raising a baby wombat is full of surprises “She’s got a very playful personality and loves her backside being scratched,
“She likes to give a playful nip to our toes and never strays more than a few feet from us. It’s almost like there is a heavy soccer ball constantly following behind your feet. We need to be very careful not to trip over her.
She also likes to climb over anything that is in her way.”
“She’s also very muscular and, like most wombats, strong willed. If she wants to do something, she’ll do it.
We’re slowly introducing her to life outside the house and she loves digging in the garden.” Mr de la Fosse said.
Edna is currently bottle fed three times a day but over time she will be introduced to more solid foods which she will find in the wild.
Edna will stay in the care of WIRES for around 4-5 more months until she is ready to commence a WIRES pre-release program and is ready to be returned to the wild.
For rescue help please call WIRES Rescue Line 1300 094 737.
