Discover the Charming Common Wombat

Common wombats are robust, low-set animals with small ears, small eyes, and a prominent, hairless nose. Their thick, coarse fur varies in colour from light brown to shades of grey and black. Among the three subspecies, the Flinders Island wombat is the smallest, measuring around 75 cm (30 in) in length. The Tasmanian wombat is slightly larger, averaging 85 cm (33 in) in length and weighing about 20 kg (44 lb). The mainland common wombat is the largest, typically reaching 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in length and weighing approximately 27 kg (60 lb), with some individuals growing up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) and weighing 35 kg (77 lb).

These animals are equipped with short, powerful legs and long claws, making them highly proficient diggers. Unlike other marsupials, wombats possess a single pair of continuously growing upper and lower incisors, a unique adaptation among their kind.

The common wombat was first documented by George Shaw in 1800. There are three currently recognized subspecies of the common wombat, officially confirmed in 2019:

• The Bass Strait wombat (Vombatus ursinus ursinus), the nominate subspecies, was once widespread across the Bass Strait Islands but is now confined to Flinders Island, north of Tasmania, and Maria Island, east of Tasmania, where it was introduced. As of 2023, its population was estimated at approximately 74,000 individuals.
• The hirsute wombat (V. u. hirsutus) is native to the Australian mainland. This subspecies represents the most widely distributed wombat across mainland Australia.
• The Tasmanian wombat (V. u. tasmaniensis), found exclusively in Tasmania, is smaller than the mainland hirsute wombat. The population of this subspecies was estimated at around 840,000 in 2023.

Additionally, Hackett’s wombat (Vombatus hacketti) was a now-extinct species within the genus Vombatus that inhabited southwestern Australia. Similar in size to V. ursinus, with an average weight of 30 kg, V. hacketti became extinct at the end of the Late Pleistocene, during the Quaternary extinction event.

The mainland subspecies is the largest, with some individuals reaching up to 1.2 meters (3 feet 11 inches) in length and weighing up to 35 kilograms (77 pounds). As herbivores, common wombats primarily feed at night and reside in burrows. Like other marsupials, their young, known as joeys, develop in the mother’s pouch for about five months after birth.

Distribution and Habitat

Common wombats are widely distributed across the cooler, more temperate regions of southern and eastern Australia, including Tasmania and Victoria. They are also present in mountainous areas extending as far north as southern Queensland. In Tasmania, they tend to prefer habitats such as heathlands, coastal scrub, and open forests.

These adaptable animals are found at various elevations in the southern parts of their range but are restricted to higher, mountainous regions in the northern parts. Their habitats are diverse, ranging from rainforests and eucalyptus forests to woodlands, alpine grasslands, and coastal zones. In certain areas, common wombats have even adapted to agricultural landscapes, often seen grazing alongside cattle and sheep in open fields.

Behavior

Common wombats are often regarded as ecological engineers due to their burrowing activities, which contribute to soil turnover and aeration, promoting plant growth and creating habitats for various invertebrates and vertebrates.

These marsupials are solitary and territorial, with each individual establishing a range where they live and feed. Within their territory, wombats dig extensive tunnel systems, which can vary from 2 to 20 meters (about 7 to 66 feet) in length. These systems include multiple side tunnels and often have more than one entrance. Wombats construct nests within their burrows using sticks, leaves, and grasses, and it’s not uncommon for multiple wombats to share a burrow.

Wombat burrows are also utilized by a wide variety of other animals, including reptiles, rodents, rabbits, echidnas, wallabies, birds, and even koalas. Wombats generally tolerate non-threatening species that make use of their burrows. They are known to switch the burrow they sleep in every few days, typically every 1 to 9 days.

Although wombats may remain in the same burrow throughout their lives, they can be displaced by farmers, other animals, or if their burrow is destroyed. While primarily nocturnal, common wombats may venture out during the day in cooler weather, especially in the early morning or late afternoon.

Diet

Common wombats are herbivores, primarily feeding on grass, snow tussocks, and other vegetation. Foraging typically occurs at night. Unique among marsupials, wombats possess teeth that continuously grow, a trait that enables them to maintain a self-sharpening edge. This adaptation is particularly useful for their diet, which is primarily composed of tough native grasses. In captivity, their diet is often supplemented with a variety of vegetables. Notably, wombat dung is cube-shaped, a distinctive feature that helps mark their territory.

Breeding

Common wombats primarily breed during the winter months. They typically reproduce every two years, giving birth to a single joey. Mating behavior is unique, with wombats often mating sideways. The gestation period lasts approximately 20 to 30 days, after which the joey stays in the mother’s pouch for around five months. Upon emerging from the pouch, the young wombat weighs between 3.5 and 6.5 kg (7.7 to 14.3 lb). Weaning occurs at about 12 to 15 months, and the joey becomes fully independent around 18 months of age. In the wild, common wombats have an average lifespan of 15 years, extending to 20 years in captivity.

Threats

While the bare-nosed wombat is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, it still faces significant threats, primarily due to human-related activities. Habitat loss, roadkill, and the prevalence of sarcoptic mange are the most pressing issues for this species. Sarcoptic mange, a widespread affliction within the population, poses the greatest challenge, with wildlife carers frequently administering low-risk moxidectin treatments to affected wombats in the wild.

In addition to mange, wombats are known to carry various parasites, including ticks and associated pathogens. Their natural predators include Tasmanian devils and eagles.

Despite these challenges, there was a notable increase in the overall wombat population across Tasmania from 1985 to 2019. However, a decline in numbers was observed in the West Tamar region during the last decade of that period.