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Common Wombat | FF0017 |
Ian Temby, Flora and Fauna Branch
September, 2003 |  |
Problem
Wombats may cause problems on farms by damaging rabbit-proof fencing, allowing entry by rabbits, kangaroos and wallabies. Wombat burrows in pastures can be hazardous to farm vehicles and stock, and burrowing may worsen soil instability problems along cleared creek banks and weaken dam walls. Wombats occasionally undermine the foundations of buildings by burrowing.
Background
The past history of the Common Wombat as a vermin species, for which a bounty was payable, has influenced the way in which this species is regarded by some people, and the mere presence of wombats is equated with damage being caused. However, it is important to see whether actual damage is occurring, and its extent, so that damage control efforts, if required, can be judged from an economic viewpoint rather than an emotional one.
A survey by a group from Monash University indicated that many landholders' perceptions of damage by wombats were not borne out during on-ground inspections. Erosion, for example, was due to a number of factors, including past over-clearing of steep slopes, compaction of the soil by hard-hoofed animals, and over-grazing (for which rabbits would be partly responsible), leading to excessive runoff. The role of the wombat in this particular scenario is minor, and probably not relevant. There would be few instances where action against wombats for this reason could be justified.
Female wombats are able to breed at two years, and can produce a maximum of one offspring per year. Wombats use as many as ten holes within their home range, although only two or three of these will be used regularly. A count of holes is not a reliable way of estimating wombat numbers in an area. A wombat's home range varies from 5 to 25 ha, depending upon habitat quality.
Killing wombats to reduce damage to boundary fences is not only futile, but may be counter-productive. The interface between pastures and adjacent bush is a highly productive habitat for wombats. High birth rates (most females capable of breeding, do so) and high survival are likely under these conditions. This ensures that, in most areas, there is a reservoir of young, transient wombats ready to replace any established animal that is removed. Because of this rapid replacement, destruction of wombats near bush boundaries is not likely to resolve a problem of damage to netting fences (and subsequent entry of rabbits and kangaroos), initiated by wombats. Destruction may be effective and appropriate where, for example, an individual wombat is burrowing in pasture, dam walls or under buildings.
Common Wombats are declared unprotected in 193 parishes in eastern Victoria (see list below), where they may be destroyed only by centre-fire rifle of .222 calibre or larger. Fumigation of wombats is illegal and inhumane, and could leave the user liable to prosecution for cruelty and misuse of chemicals.
Solution
Erect a two-wire electric fence, 30 cm outside the existing boundary fence, with the wires at 15 and 30 cm above the ground. Both of the wires should be live, powered by a standard electric fence energiser. Observations at one site demonstrated that this fence configuration could keep a number of wombats from their traditional feeding area over a six-month period. Install swing gates at regular wombat access points to relieve damage to netting fences (see design below).
For these gates to work, two or three well-used holes must be chosen and all other holes within a few hundred metres must be repaired daily. After about a month, the wombats should be using only the selected holes. The frame for the gate is then erected around the hole and left for the wombats to become accustomed to it before the gate is hung. When the gate is in place, it should be left partly open so that wombats passing through must lift it slightly. After another week or two, the gate can be allowed to hang vertically. Such a gate will exclude rabbits and kangaroos, and reduce greatly the incidence of fresh wombat holes being made in fences.
Place a post next to a burrow in pasture to mark its position, so that vehicles can avoid it. Alternatively, shoot the individual involved and fill in the burrow to remove hazard to stock and farm vehicles.
Prevent access to the spaces under buildings using heavy gauge reinforcing mesh or the two-wire electric fence described above. The mesh may also be used to prevent burrowing in dam walls.
Destroy the individual wombats responsible for burrowing in dam walls and around or under buildings by shooting.
Any destruction of wombats in parishes where the Common Wombat is protected, can only be done under the conditions of an Authority to Control Wildlife, issued by DSE (for an application form contact the Customer Service Centre on 136 186).
Maps showing parishes in which the Common Wombat is unprotected. Please read the conditions relating to the unprotected status of Common Wombats in the Governor in Council Order below.
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Governor in Council Order declaring the Common Wombat to be unprotected.
Common Wombat
This species is declared to be unprotected wildlife in the Parishes listed in Schedule 1 (below) in the Governor in Council Order published in Victoria Government Gazette G22, 5 June 1997.
The Order states:
(1) “Common Wombats may be taken or destroyed in the parishes listed in Schedule 1 by a landowner or occupier who is engaged in rural production and by the permanent employees of that landowner or occupier.
(2) Common Wombats may be taken or destroyed by a person specified in Paragraph (1) only by the use of firearms conforming to the specifications in Paragraph (3).
(3) Wombats may be destroyed only by a centre-fire rifle, fitted with a telescopic sight. The rifle must have centre-fire case capacity of at least .222 Remington. The ammunition must have an expanding projectile (soft or hollow point) of not less than 324 mg (50 grains) and provide a minimum muzzle energy of 1542 Joules (1137 footpounds). Note: .222 Remington with 50 grain projectile must be loaded to achieve a muzzle velocity of 975 m/sec. (3200 ft/sec.) to reach this minimum energy. Standard factory loads conform to this specification.”
Schedule 1
Parishes in which the Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) is declared to be unprotected wildlife
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
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