Wombats are one of my favourite Australian animals…pipped at the post by the platypus because they’re adorable and can poison you, but I digress…the wombat is my favourite Australian alpine animal.
Alpine wombats (typically the Bare-nosed or Common Wombat) are highly adapted to freezing mountain environments, featuring a thick, coarse fur, they have a backwards-facing pouch to keep dirt out while digging and using their powerful claws to forage for roots and tubers deep under the snow, and they live in deep, complex burrows—up to 20 meters long—which maintain a stable, warm temperature even when it snows outside.
While they range across the Victorian High Country, wombats are frequently spotted in and around alpine and subalpine parks. As a child in the 80’s, I can frequently remember seeing wombats roaming around the runs at first lifts as they returned to their burrows after a night of foraging.That is, after all, how Wombats Ramble got its name.
These remarkable marsupials manage the harsh alpine conditions using specific physical and behavioural traits:
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Insulation: alpine wombats are often smaller and better insulated than their warmer climate counterparts.
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Daytime Foraging: While mostly nocturnal, they frequently come out to graze during the day in winter, as the sun provides much-needed warmth.
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Slow Metabolism: They take 4 to 6 days to digest their food, conserving energy and extracting maximum moisture from the tough native grasses and roots.
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Cube-Shaped Poo: Their unique feces prevents rolling away on steep alpine terrain and acts as a scent-marker for territory.
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The Iron Rump: A wombat’s backside is made of thick skin, fused bones, and tough cartilage with practically no tail. When threatened, they dive head-first into their burrows and use their rear end as a literal shield to block the entrance from predators like dingoes or foxes.
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Ever-Growing Teeth: Similar to beavers, wombats have continuously growing incisors that prevent their teeth from wearing down while chewing through roots, tough bark, and compacted clay.
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Surprising Speed: Despite their short-legged stature, wombats are formidable runners. When threatened, they can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h, maintaining speed for about 90 seconds to outrun danger.
If you share my love of these unique Australian mammals, come in store and see my wombat homewares and gifts. Because don’t we all deserve something adorable to make us smile?
You can see what’s happening in store on Instagram and Facebook. Come give @spot.sir.spotsalot the dog a pat & a dog treat.
Cheers, Nyree
Above Foodworks, turn right through the public seating, head towards the bathrooms & up the short flight of stairs.