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JR FACT FILE
Common Wombat
Vombatus ursinus
At a Glance Their burrows can extend 20 or 30 Wombats are a solitary animal in the
metres below the ground. Burrows wild. They are particular about their
Size: are usually made by digging into a feeding grounds which they mark by
Grows to an average length of one hillside or creek bank. leaving scent trails and their unique
metre and 27 kilograms in weight. square droppings around the
The Common Wombat grows to an
boundaries. They confront intruding
What It Eats: average of one metre in length and
wombats with a series of snorts,
27 kilograms in weight. Although
Grasses, tree bark, leaves, roots and screeches and even a chase.
they can grow slightly longer and
fungi.
weigh up to 36 kilograms. They are Generally only one wombat lives in a
Life Span: solidly built with a squat, round, bear burrow; however the overlap of
like body, small ears and eyes, and a home ranges does occasionally result
Wombats live to around five years in
large hairless nose. in joining burrows and a number of
the wild but can live up to 27 years
Wombats using the same burrow.
in captivity. Their thick, coarse fur varies in
colour from sandy brown to grey and Wombats are mainly nocturnal,
Habitat:
black, and is sometimes flecked with spending most of the day sleeping in
Dry and wet forest, woodland and lighter brown. a burrow. However during winter in
coastal heathlands. cooler areas they are sometimes seen
As well as the Common Wombat,
out during the day. As the sun goes
What Is a wombat? there are two other species of
down wombats come out to graze
Wombat found in Australia. The
The Common Wombat is the worlds when temperatures are lower. They
Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat and
largest burrowing herbivorous (which graze and forage for three to eight
the endangered Northern Hairy-
means plant eating) mammal. It is hours, travelling many kilometres and
Nosed Wombat. The closest relative
so good at burrowing that early visiting up to four burrows within
of the wombat is the koala.
settlers called it a ‘badger’. They use their home range to rest.
their strong front legs with short Where Do Wombats Live?
As part of their daily activity, they
flattened claws to dig, and their back
The Common Wombat is found enjoy rubbing against logs or
legs to push the loose earth and
throughout most of Australia. It branches. If used often enough, these
rocks away.
inhabits coastal scrub and heath, rubbing posts can be recognised by
dry or wet forest and woodland. their worn or polished appearance.
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Junior RangerS www.juniorrangers.com.au
Common Wombat
Vombatus ursinus
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