They are very strong and determined animals which sometimes gets them into trouble with farmers. Presented with a fence they will often push their way through and leave a hole large enough for less desirable intruders such as Dingoes and rabbits. While Wombats are a protected species, there are still some areas particularly in Victoria where they are shot as vermin. There is a subspecies of the Common Wombat which is now only found on Flinders Island in Bass Strait. It was found on other Bass Strait islands but is now extinct there. It is smaller than its mainland cousin and has the scientific name Vombatus ursinus ursinus.

he orthern airy-nosed ombat

The nose of these animals (see pic) is  covered with fur. This fur is soft and short, usually white or brown. The nose is soft and a bit like a pig's. Where these animals live you can see on the map.

The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii): should be considered to be on the brink of extinction. The fossil record indicates that this animal was once widespread in inland Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. By the beginning of this century the only two known populations were near Deniliquin in southern New South Wales and in the Moonie River area of Queensland. These animals died out in a drought early in the 1900s. This was probably not due to drought alone but to competition from introduced grazing animals such as cattle and sheep. The Wombats have a narrower preference of food species. At this stage extinction was assumed. In 1937 a small population was discovered in Epping Forest in Queensland near Clermont. It took until 1982 (to our shame) to exclude cattle from their area and give them a chance to increase in number. In 1971 there were only 35 individuals counted, but 1995 there were about 80. A recent report suggested this number had dropped again to about 60 but this is unconfirmed. They will remain in great danger of extinction until there are sufficient numbers to repopulate other areas, since a single location is too vulnerable to a chance catastrophe that may wipe them out.

he outhern airy-nosed ombat

The nose of these animals (see pic) is  covered with fur. This fur is soft and short, usually white or brown. The nose is soft and a bit like a pig's. Where these animals live you can see on the map.

The Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus latrifrons): is an arid climate animal and only lives in a few areas of southern South Australia and Western Australia. Its range was much wider before European settlement. It is well adapted to it's harsh environment where it must survive without water in high temperatures. The available food tends to be fibrous and low in water and protein. It lives in extensive warrens where the atmosphere is cool and humid during the hot daytime. Its body temperature falls to conserve both energy and water. The resting metabolic rate is slower than Common Wombats and food is thoroughly ground up and passes very slowly through the gut (8 days) for maximum nutrient extraction. Its burrow system is more social than for Common Wombats where 5 to 10 animals consisting of both sexes may live together. A warren system consists of a central set of burrows often occupied by the males and smaller warrens within about a 150m radius where females reside for varying periods. Hairy-nosed Wombat breeding is more seasonal and male aggressive behavior is usually restricted to that season. Young are usually born September to December and spend the next six to nine months in the pouch. Sexual maturity occurs at about 3 years of age. Hairy-nosed Wombats require a minimum of three good seasons to increase their population. In arid areas this is not common, so it pays to be long lived (and patient) to make the most of the good times when they occur.