WOMBAT
 
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The wombat lives in hilly forest country and it likes
to burrow underground. A burrow can be as long as 20 metres. Wombats quickly dig
complicated tunnels with their strong legs and sharp claws, and then they push loosened
soil away with their hind feet. Did you know that a wombat likes to live alone?
Wombats live alone in their burrows, but other wombats may be in a tunnel close by, or
sometimes burrows can interconnect. Wombats are very shy animals. They usually rest in or near their burrows during the day and come out at night to eat. Farmers consider wombats pests because they damage crops and fences, and cattle may break their legs by stepping in wombat burrows. The burrows also provide shelter for rabbits which also damage crops. For these reasons, farmers are often eager to rid their farms of all wombats. The hairy-nosed wombat lives in dry, grassy regions of Australia. This kind of wombat uses its burrow to control its temperature. By staying in its burrow during the day, the wombat keeps cool and conserves water in the summer, and stays warm in the winter. |