Wombat Day

Today is Wombat Day!

This day was started by wombat enthusiasts in 1975 as a celebration of the critters, as well as promote wombat conservation and education of their importance to the Australian ecosystem. In 2005, it would spread thanks to online campaigns by wombat enthusiasts.

Wombats are native to the mountains, forests, and heaths of southern and eastern Australia. They are marsupials, and talented burrowers. They have backwards-facing pouches, which is believed to allow them to dig around without getting dirt in their pouches. Their burrowing abilities have given them a reputation of being pests by Australian farmers. 

The name "wombat" actually comes from the Aborigines, in particular the Dharug, who originally inhabited the area that was now Sydney. Early settlers often referred to wombats as "badgers" because they were similar to badgers in size and habits. 

Wombats are mainly active during the dusk and at night. As a result, they are not often seen by people during the day. They are herbivorous, mainly feeding on grass, bark, and roots. They are also not exactly quick to grab their next meal. Due to having slow metabolisms, they can take between one and two weeks to digest meals. But don't let that fool you. When threatened with predators or intruders to their terrain, they can run at speeds of 25 mph.

In the early 20th century, wombats would become symbols of Australia, right up there with kangaroos and koalas. All three species of wombat are protected under Australian law, with the Northern hairy-nosed wombat being the most critically endangered. 

So, yeah. I hope you learned something neat about this little critter. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!