Meet Sami, a baby wombat weighing just 3.2 kg with mange that was rescued on Saturday, 23rd November, on a rural property at Rossi. The landholder’s daughter, Samantha first noticed the wombat on his own, with no mother around and told her mother about it. Samantha could get very close to the wombat and touch him. Which is not normal.
Luckily her mother called the Wildcare Helpline and Elena Guarracino, Wildcare’s wombat mange co-ordinator, was in the area. Elena headed straight there to see if she could find this little wombat. Unfortunately, when Elena arrived, the baby wombat was nowhere to be found, however, his mother was out, near a big burrow and she had severe mange.
Burrow flaps were set up to treat the mother, as she was too wary to be treated directly with Cydectin or Bravecto.
The mange co-ordinator had grave concerns for the baby wombat, which she knew could not be treated by burrow flaps and was too small to survive for much longer.
Luckily, when Elena returned later to set up a camera to monitor the burrow and immediate area, Sami was out and was rescued.
Elena said Sami did not attempt to run away, was very ‘flat’, had red inflamed skin, and scabs, and was unresponsive and looked miserable.
Elena took Sami to Wildcare wombat carer Shelby Hinde who offered him electrolytes in a bottle, as he was very dehydrated. However, it was clear that Sami was in a very bad way, would not drink properly and needed urgent veterinary assessment and treatment.
Sami was taken to Canberra Veterinary Emergency Services where he was seen by director Dr Frazer Boneham.
Wildcare is grateful the very generous and thorough assessment and treatment Sami was given and time taken to discuss and explain Sami’s situation with Shelby.
Sami was put on intravenous fluids and has already started to pick up, drinking milk from a bottle and eating some grass. While it is early days the signs are positive.
Please report wombats with mange to the Wildcare Helpline (02) 6299 1966
Wildcare’s mange program is funded by the NSW government in partnership with the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife.