Wombats Are 'Accidental Heroes' For Sheltering Animals In Their Burrows During Bushfires

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BY ANDREA POWELL

The only safe place for wild animals to hide during a bushfire is underground.

Countless animals were able to take shelter in deep burrows all over Australia, thanks to wombats.

The native marsupials are excellent diggers and unintentionally saved other wild animals in their large, interconnecting burrows. Their burrows can be up to 100 feet long with multiple entrances and sleeping chambers.



The temperature-controlled tunnels were safe havens for multiple species, including wallabies and echidnas. A family even believes their indoor cat took refuge in a vacant burrow for seven days as flames destroyed the area.



Wombats are solitary animals and prefer to live alone. Thankfully, the burrows have multiple entrances which allows animals to seek temporary refuge when disaster strikes.

Documentary filmmaker Peter Hylands visited the scorched grounds of Cobargo Wildlife Sanctuary and shocked to see wild animals unharmed by the flames. There was only one explanation- wombat burrows. “You’ve got animals that are completely unscathed and those must be the animals that have been under the ground, it’s the only explanation when the fire zones are so extensive,” Mr Hylands said.



“There are quite a few wombats in that region, and there’s quite an extensive network of burrows. What was particularly amazing is it’s clearly not only wombats who are using those burrows in the firestorm.”

Wombats are being called heroes but it was all unintentional. “Wombats aren’t benevolent. They’re accidental heroes,” stated The Conversation.

Even though many lives were saved thanks to the burrows – the battle is far from over.



Bushfires have decimated the food and water sources, so the surviving animals are in need of help. Wombat Rescue has partnered with the Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary to set up food and water stations for the surviving animals. “So we found more wombats, bearded dragons, butterflies, skinks, birds, wallabies and kangaroos alive,” posted the sanctuary.



The group plans to continue to fill the food and water stations until the vegetation grows back. A few sprouts have appeared and it is a sign of hope for all the volunteers and rescue workers. “We are seeing the flora very slowly starting to regenerate..little bursts of green leaves everywhere which is just beautiful. Birds are coming back – we have seen rosellas, cockatoos, magpies, a fantail and some lyrebirds so far. A lot of redneck and swamp wallabies are following the food stations and just love the hay,” wrote the sanctuary.

A video posted by Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary showed a wombat and butterfly together in a burrow. Watch it below and don’t forget to share.

https://www.facebook.com/SleepyBurrows/videos/2640577916024495/



https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/wombat-fire-heroes

[csziggy]

1. In this area (US Southeast) the gopher tortoise fills the same niche

They dig burrows and other creatures use them for shelter and homes. Since the native mixed soft and hard wood forests burn regularly on their own, many land managers do controlled burns to prevent out of control wildfires and to increase habitat for the most favored wildlife. Same as with the wombat burrows, the gopher tortoise burrows provide shelter for many species during the burns.

Gopher Tortoise Commensals

The gopher tortoise’s presence is important to more than 350 species that benefit from the burrows gopher tortoises dig. Because gopher tortoises alter their environment in a way that benefits other species, they are recognized as a keystone species. Animals that obtain food, refuge, and other benefits from the burrows are known as gopher tortoise commensal species. A healthy and widespread gopher tortoise population is necessary for commensal species populations to exist.

Dependence on gopher tortoise burrows varies among commensal species, but for some the burrows are essential. Burrows provide a relatively constant microhabitat that offers protection from fire and inclement weather. Species that are believed to depend significantly on resources provided by the gopher tortoise burrow or its community of inhabitants are known as priority commensals.
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/gopher-tortoise/commensals/

I'm glad Australian wildlife have an equivalent species to aid them during the disasters they have been experiences.

[Harker]

2. Hooray for wombats!

Yes, I'm listening to the presentation of Rep. Crow.

Also, I have wombats on my mind.