Orphaned wombats find a loving refuge
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AUGUST 2016 | Elizabeth Douglass
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DEBBIE EVERSON has been involved in wildlife rescue and care for about 30 years. From Queensland to the UK and now in Birralee, she fosters injured or orphaned wildlife until they can be released back into the wild.
Bare-nosed wombats are Debbie’s speciality now, although she takes in any animal that needs care.
She explained that by concentrating on one species she is better able to anticipate the needs of young wombats, especially when in poor health and thus can increase their survival rate.
Her home and its environs can also be thoroughly wombat-proof as well. Enclosures can be reinforced against digging and unlike wallabies or possums, wombats do not need high fences or aviaries to keep them in!
Debbie also assists in the effort to reduce the prevalence of sarcoptic mange in the Tasmanian wombat population.
Passed on by a small mite that survives in old burrows and reinfects later occupants, untreated mange can precipitate a slow and painful death. Insecticide wipes can be placed at the burrow entrances or fence crossing points to swipe passing wombats and hence combat the infection.
At home, Debbie currently has five wombats in residence though this has sometimes increased to 10. From babies as small as 100 grams, Debbie will look after them until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
When wombats are sufficiently independent, they are given a ‘soft’ release — the door of their enclosure is left open and they are free to come and go.
Eventually, a grown wombat should wander off and make a new life in the wild.
Nevertheless, some wombats never really leave. Jack, who was released three years ago, still comes back most nights for dinner — he knows he is always welcome. Debbie’s in-residence wombats are Tucker, a grumpy 13kg, and two half-grown girls, Blossom and Maddie, both about 8kg.
A third girl, Poppy, was recently released but has decided to hang around for now.
Baby Harry, pictured with Debbie is only 1.5kg, so has a lot of growing to do before he is ready to venture off on his own. And with all this love and attention, who could blame him if he keeps coming back for more!
Debbie can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wombat4rescue or on 0438 003 543 for 24/7 wombat rescue.
[udesign_icon_font name="fa fa-camera" color="#000000"] Mike Moores
