Species · GBIF taxon 2440301
Common Wombat
Vombatus ursinusAlso known as Bare-nosed Wombat, Coarse-haired Wombat, Island Wombat
Common wombats are sturdy, burrow-dwelling marsupials that use their powerful claws and backward-facing pouches to excavate extensive underground tunnel networks. They produce distinctive cube-shaped droppings, which they deposit on elevated surfaces like rocks and logs to mark their territories. While solitary by nature, their complex burrows often provide critical refuge for other wildlife during bushfires.
NocturnalBurrowingMarsupial
- diet
- Herbivorous (grasses, roots, bark, and sedges)
- family
- Vombatidae
- threats
- Sarcoptic mange, habitat fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and dog attacks
- life Span
- 10 to 15 years in the wild, up to 30 years in captivity
LC
Can charge or bite if cornered; maintain a respectful distance and do not block burrow entrances.
Equipped with powerful jaws, sharp claws, and a heavily reinforced cartilage rump used to crush predators against burrow walls.
Never attempt to touch, feed, or corner a wild wombat; back away slowly if one approaches.- Keep your distance: Wombats may look slow but can run up to 40 kilometers per hour when startled.
- Watch the ground: Look for distinctive cube-shaped droppings on rocks and logs to locate active territories.
- Avoid burrow entrances: Never stand over or block a burrow, as a returning wombat may charge.