PredatorsThe common wombat does not have many natural predators other than the ones that have been introduced, such as wild dogs and foxes. When the wombat is threatened it will flee to the nearest burrow, where it may be able to defend itself by crushing the head of its predator using the rump of the wombat against the walls or roof of the burrow. In open areas an adult wombat can usually fend off a a single dog but not against a pair or pack of dogs. Young, immature or old and weakened wombats are the most likely to be the targets for most predators.
|
Parasites and DiseasesCommon wombats are vulnerable to bacterial infections that may be difficult to treat when the wombats are in captivity. In the wild the wombat will roll in the ground and so the soil will stick to the infected area, allowing it to heal over time. The same sort of behavior is seen when the common wombats suffer from mange mite, the soil is believed to help by removing the intense itchiness from the disease. In severe cases mange mite may impair the wombat's vision and its ability to feed, making the wombat weaker until it dies. When common wombats graze in areas shared with sheep, wombats can get infected by liver fluke which is a common parasite found in sheep.
|