The sun came out yesterday and so did a wombat. Just as well he spent most of the day sleeping, as he needed his energy to stay up all last night, scuffling up and down the verandah, banging into things, knocking over the garden furniture and pooping everywhere.
Oh my, oh my you really are tempting us with the cutest wildlife ever. But oh dear, I had no idea they suffered from mange. Such an unpleasant disease. I suppose it’s hard to treat infected wildlife. How very sad.
It’s one of those things I wish I had never learned, as now I know it, I can never unknow it. However, I was told a group of volunteers come every Saturday to treat this colony for mange. Of course, it’s not that easy to catch your wombat and I don’t know how they do it. I read an article where a hessian sheet soaked in the solution is hung at the front of the burrow, so it is forced to rub against the fur as the wombat enters and exits. Not sure if that is what they do at Bundanon. The property is dotted with wombat burrows, it would be a full time task, and I didn’t see any evidence of it. Some of the burrows are actually under the guest bedrooms, and this is mating season. Wombats are very vocal in the act. Let’s just say, they are not ‘pillow biters” if you get my drift.
Ah yes, mange is one of the many downers from Mother Nature. It’s hard to witness little critters in distress. On the plus side sounds as though their mating season is a spirited affair and at least the males don’t end up being eaten by their partner.
Ah, now you have reminded me of the myriad of baby huntsman spiders that had to vacate the bathroom on our arrival. Although, I think that is one spider species where the female does not make a meal of her mate.
Over at another cottage, they were letting the team down by not eating enough of the mosquitoes which had arrived with the damp conditions.
All in all, quite an array of nature accompanied our retreat!
I can’t imagine a huntsman biting. At least, I’ve never heard of it. But Bill is in your camp. He’d kill them if I let him, but now settles for getting them on a broom or some such and launching them over the balcony into our neighbour’s garden. They are best mates (Bill and the neighbour) so it is an inside joke. One time, the poor spider had no sooner got his bearings than a bird swooped down and ate him.
Now you are distracted by a wombat? So much for getting away from the hustle and interruptions of home and going to the serenity of the country to write/
I like the little square poops those wombats leave behind. We have bushland opposite our place, and they come out of there to visit our front yard and leave their cute calling cards.
I thought you were supposed to be on a writer’s retreat. Or does that mean on a retreat from writing. But it is very lovely to see all the new friends you are making.
Sadly, I don’t think this new friend will be with us much longer. This property is festooned with wombat burrows, but apparently they all have mange. Anyway, we leave in the morning (Sunday). On the upside, I got 98% through another iteration of Louisa’s Legacy.
The Reluctant Retiree 
Oh my, oh my you really are tempting us with the cutest wildlife ever. But oh dear, I had no idea they suffered from mange. Such an unpleasant disease. I suppose it’s hard to treat infected wildlife. How very sad.
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It’s one of those things I wish I had never learned, as now I know it, I can never unknow it. However, I was told a group of volunteers come every Saturday to treat this colony for mange. Of course, it’s not that easy to catch your wombat and I don’t know how they do it. I read an article where a hessian sheet soaked in the solution is hung at the front of the burrow, so it is forced to rub against the fur as the wombat enters and exits. Not sure if that is what they do at Bundanon. The property is dotted with wombat burrows, it would be a full time task, and I didn’t see any evidence of it. Some of the burrows are actually under the guest bedrooms, and this is mating season. Wombats are very vocal in the act. Let’s just say, they are not ‘pillow biters” if you get my drift.
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Ah yes, mange is one of the many downers from Mother Nature. It’s hard to witness little critters in distress. On the plus side sounds as though their mating season is a spirited affair and at least the males don’t end up being eaten by their partner.
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Ah, now you have reminded me of the myriad of baby huntsman spiders that had to vacate the bathroom on our arrival. Although, I think that is one spider species where the female does not make a meal of her mate.
Over at another cottage, they were letting the team down by not eating enough of the mosquitoes which had arrived with the damp conditions.
All in all, quite an array of nature accompanied our retreat!
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Arrgghhhh – spiders!!! I know a huntsman won’t kill you, but they do bite don’t they and they are SPIDERS. Too much nature for me.
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I can’t imagine a huntsman biting. At least, I’ve never heard of it. But Bill is in your camp. He’d kill them if I let him, but now settles for getting them on a broom or some such and launching them over the balcony into our neighbour’s garden. They are best mates (Bill and the neighbour) so it is an inside joke. One time, the poor spider had no sooner got his bearings than a bird swooped down and ate him.
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Mange is terrible, so distressing to see them in such distress.
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I felt so broken hearted for the poor creature.
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Now you are distracted by a wombat? So much for getting away from the hustle and interruptions of home and going to the serenity of the country to write/
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He was SUCH a distraction that night that I had to put my earplugs in 🙂 So much for the serenity of the country.
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And his sleeping enabled you to catch him with your camera
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Sadly I learned today that spotting wombats so easily in the daytime is a very bad sign. This one definitely has mange and must be a very sick puppy.
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Oh dear
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Gorgeous, the wombat looks utterly adorable.
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He does Marion. x Gwen
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I like the little square poops those wombats leave behind. We have bushland opposite our place, and they come out of there to visit our front yard and leave their cute calling cards.
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His was more than square, Yvonne. Not a well animal I now realise. Poor bubby.
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I am so sorry to hear that Gwen.
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It was distressing news. But it does explain why he was so restless last night. The warm day must have sent the mites into overdrive.
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It must be dreadful for the creatures.
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Enjoy! Nothing like that here!
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Thank you. It was a VERY interesting week.
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I thought you were supposed to be on a writer’s retreat. Or does that mean on a retreat from writing. But it is very lovely to see all the new friends you are making.
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Sadly, I don’t think this new friend will be with us much longer. This property is festooned with wombat burrows, but apparently they all have mange. Anyway, we leave in the morning (Sunday). On the upside, I got 98% through another iteration of Louisa’s Legacy.
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