Wildlife , who cares?

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Araminta
Araminta's picture
Wildlife , who cares?

Nobody seams to care about the Wombat in my garden,just like nobody cared some time ago, about the Koala in my tree. The poor Wombat has mange, and it is getting worse. She is blind and can't hear.She spends "all" her afernoons behind my house.I rang Wildlife Victoria, they gave me numbers to ring wildlife carers close to me. They were notified by Wildlife Vic to come and shoot the animal. Friday they said Saturday, Saturday they had visitors, today they had visitors, but asked me, can you keep an eye on where the Wombat is. I did.They just rang, it is pitch dark outside, I can't see it anymore. They now asked if I could ring again tomorrow.
I AM UPSET!!!! I can't do anything, I don't have a riffle. It makes me furious, aren't they supposed to care??? Plese, has anyone any idea, what else I can do ???? I live in Gembrook.
( the local vet said to me, catch it and bring it in. O yea, put it in the car next to me, and ask it nicely to sit still?)
All a bunch of wa...rs!!!! The Wombat needs help, before she gets worse!! M-L

Woko
Woko's picture

These delays are really distressing, Araminta. Is there anyone from a local hunting group that might be able to put the wombat out of its misery?
I'd be very wary about putting a sharp-clawed wombat in the car with you. I'm far from convinced that a seat belt would secure the animal sufficiently.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Thanks Woko, the hunting group is not a bad idea.The problem is ,they have to come within a few hours, not only can't I tell the wombat to sit in the car,but it's also hard to tell her, can you please wait here. A neighbour came with his riffle, got about 3m to it, and his riffle didn't shoot. Someone said to ask the local Council and their ranger.I have met them, i don't think they can shoot anything.The police??I can't avoid it from leaving our property, there are lots of big dogs everywhere, because it's blind and deaf, it's an easy target.(My dogs barked at it before, and it didn't even look up) I will have to think harder!
Thanks for caring Woko, M-L

M-L

Qyn
Qyn's picture

Have you tried the Emerald, Avonsleigh or Pakenham vets - even the Monbulk vet? I know they do go out to put down a horse or stock so why not a wombat - maybe even the RSPCA. Police du have weapons and have shot dangerous dogs - I would give them a call.

Have you got some spare fencing or something (timber) you can use to stop it from wandering off until someone with a method to do it humanely is able to help? If it has stayed around over the past few days and is getting worse I doubt whether it will be going too far.

I care Araminta, I just don't know what else to offer.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Owen1
Owen1's picture

That's a good idea qyn. She wouldn't be able to make a fence for it because it would dig straight under it in a matter of minutes!

Cheers, Owen.

Qyn
Qyn's picture

One other thought is to maybe throw an old blanket over the wombat - at least it will be warm and if nothing else it may calm the animal. I know you said it was already blind but maybe the blanket will block out light until someone finally does come to help.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Qyn
Qyn's picture

Here are some other contacts

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/plants-and-animals/native-plants-and-animals/wildlife-rehabilitation/rehabilitation-organisations

I think normally you would be correct, Owen, but sick, debilitated and blind animals often just bump into and move away from obstacles that they would otherwise dig under.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

sparrow
sparrow's picture

Araminta,If you don't have luck with the "proper channels" ring the closest gun shop and tell them of the situation and see if the can put you in touch with someone who can help

sparrow
sparrow's picture

The only hunting club i would suggest is the Victorian field and game.

Windhover
Windhover's picture

Incidentally, I have just completed macropod and wombat rescue training this weekend. Shame I live in Sydney. The problem with wombats is that they are very heavy and THEY BITE. They are capable of biting an enormous chunk out of your body, wherever they may latch on. from what I've seen of the photos you sent me Mary-Louise it appears the animal may have mange, which is a type of parasite perhaps. Hard to tell from photos though. It is possible to catch a wombat and while we didn't get to practice on a live/dead animal they explained that we would need to sneak in behind the animal and grab them around the ribcage below the front legs and make sure the animal is FACING away from us. The hind legs cannot this way do much damage, though claws on all four feet are very thick and potentially hazardous. Of course, all I am saying it’s possible and I would do it if I were there, but if you are not comfortable then DO NOT try to handle the animal. If you were to catch it, to house a wombat for transport you’d need a VERY SOLID wire cage (not cat or rabbit carrier type) and a thick, dark blanket to throw over it; otherwise the animal will get very stressed and fight to get out of the cage, even tearing off its own face. Perhaps it’s best to shoot the poor creature to put it out of its misery. The brain sits flat on top of the head. The best point to aim for is draw a line from opposite ears to the eyes (make a X) and shoot in between. Perhaps aim a little higher than this intersecting point. This should ensure a quick death. Shoot low over the nose and between the eyes and you miss the brain! Easy to quite from a book, but that’s the best I can suggest. And again, it’s not what I recommend at all. If I could, I’d catch the wombat and take it to a vet for you for a quiet euthanasia.

Windhover
Windhover's picture

If you get a shooter, please make sure they get AS CLOSE TO THE HEAD as possible when aiming. No point shooting from 10m or more away. Sounds like a pistol could even perhaps do it from point blank range. Not nice, but better than have the animal suffer. :-(

sparrow
sparrow's picture

that's why I suggested the field and game to get someone who knows what there doing not just some idiot with a gun.
Very sad hopefully the people you have already rang will turn and do whats in the wombats best interest!

Araminta
Araminta's picture

I thank everyone who cared about "my wombat",I remembered a lovely young man (about 60 years young), he has a native Nursery in Tonimbuk. He is a Deer Hunter. We rang him this morning. When we saw the Wombat, 5 minutes later, he was here,with his riffle. There was no question about it not having Mange. It was an old female, no Baby. The Mange had taken up the side of her face completely, the hair had all fallen out, and it was all white and leathery. She was blind and deaf! He could walk up to the poor animal and shoot from very close, she had no idea what was happening. The man who shot her had a bunch of flowers for me, because he knew that I was upset. (but ,I'm glad the Wombat is not in pain anymore)
Thanks Akos for all the information. I wouldn't have captured the animal, I know how dangerous they can be. I do have a very large cage, and a big box with all sorts of things to help insured wildlife though. It's all in the back of my car.
Again, thanks to everyone who cared!! M-L

M-L

Qyn
Qyn's picture

Hugs Araminta,

I am sorry the poor wombat was in this very sad situation. Thank you for helping to end her suffering and giving us this update - I have been thinking about it all day.

Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi, from my personal "wildlife park", no idea, why I get all those animals?LOL This afternoon I found a Koala in one of my trees. Thank God, it looks healthy !!! No doupt, it will move on!? But, if it's still there tomorrow, I will take some photos!M-L

M-L

edward
edward's picture

Hi Araminta,

Sorry to hear about the wombat.

We have a few on our property as well, fortunately have not seen any with mange, however it made me think about what to do if I found one.

My internet search found the wombat protection society - perhaps these guys maybe able to help if you see another (and unfortunately the mites spread rapidly so it could well happen)
http://wombatprotection.forumotion.com/t151-treating-wombat-mange

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Don't be sorry Edward, she was old and very sick. I'm only sorry, it took me so long to find someone to shoot her. Yes, you can treat mange, you have to spray the animal, but then you have to find the burrows, put up barriers with the spray on it, so every time the animal comes in, or goes out, it brushes past it. Then there are all the holes under the fences,so the other wombats won't catch it. Mange is very hard to treat. Well, since yesterday, a new big fat wombat has taken over, I found lots of droppings around the dog run.No doubt, it'll all start again!!!
I did contact some of the wombatprotection organisations,none responded. Sad, isn't it?

M-L

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