Range

Australia is the native home of the common wombat. Here they can be found in the South-East of the country throughout Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. They are mostly found close to the coast line.

Habitat

The common wombat is found in forests, woodlands, alpine grassland, coastal scrub and heath. They are able to live in mountainous areas and have adapted to living on farmland. This brings them in to conflict with farmers who do not like the burrows which wombats dig as these can destroy crops.

Common wombats dig a burrow underground where they spend much of their life. These burrows typically only have one opening but contain many chambers underground. They may continue up to 200m (650ft) under the ground.

Reproduction

Common wombats can breed year round but there is an increase in mating throughout winter. Males will stand behind the female and sniff her rump to determine if she is in oestrous. If the male wishes to mate with the female he will chase her and then bite her rump. Mating takes place with both lying on their side.

Both the male and female will mate with multiple partners.

Common wombats give birth to one young at a time. They breed once every 2 years due to the large amount of work required to raise each young.

As a marsupial the young wombat spends the first 6-7 months of their life in their mother’s pouch. Here they attach to a teat and suckle on milk. The pouch of a wombat faces backwards to prevent it filling with soil while they dig.

Once they leave the pouch they continue to put their head in from time to time to suckle on milk for a further 3 months. During this time the mother may leave them in a chamber of the burrow lined with dried grass and leaves while they go to forage.

They are weaned at 15 months old and sexual maturity is achieved at 2 years old.

Behaviour

They are primarily solitary only coming together for mating.

Common wombats maintain a home range though the edges of this may overlap with other wombats. They may have 4 to 6 burrows spread throughout this range. If the burrow is on the edge of their territory multiple wombats may use the same burrow but not at the same time.

Across most of their range the common wombat is nocturnal.

In the colder months they will emerge during the day to bask in the sun.

They are incredibly fast capable of reaching up to 40km/h (24.9mph) over short distances.

Wombats communicate mostly through scent marking. They also vocalize.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the common wombat include Tasmanian devils, dingoes, wedge tailed eagles and humans. They have a very thick rump which helps to defend against attack.

Introduced predators of the common wombat are hunting dogs.

To defend against predators the wombat has a thick rump. If an attacker enters their burrow they will use this to crush them against the roof.

They are also susceptible to mange.

Humans affect wombats through vehicle strike, hunting (mainly as retribution for destroying crops and other land), competition with farm animals and habitat destruction.

Quick facts

Common wombats have cube shaped poo which help’s to stop it rolling off items which they are attempting to scent mark. Items they may mark include logs, rocks and mushrooms.

Wombats are the largest mammal, herbivorous burrower in the world.

The wombat has the most developed brain of any marsupial.