Wombats dumped.

Below is a letter from The Chief Minister dated 2010. I observe hearsay, misinformation and no idea..The omission being, in the ACT we leave the wombat to rot.

““Observations by researchers and rangers suggest the incidence of wombats with obvious signs of manage is lower in the ACT than in some other areas. Severely infested wombats that are brought to the attention of rangers are euthanased. Whilst medications are available to kill sarcoptic mites, the experience of rangers is that wombats given medications, such as Ivermectin, recover from mange in the short term but subsequently become reinfested.”

Jon Stanhope MLA Chief Minister
Bulletin31 Wombat Protection Society of Australia 31 June 2010″

Mange Management has this to say on Disposal.

Procedure for the Disposal of a Wombat Body

If you see a mangy wombat get advice from an informed authority such as the Mange Management Group, your local Wildlife Shelter, Help for Wildlife ( In the ACT phone: Canberra Connect.)

It is sad that sometimes the kindest outcome for a mangy wombat is to euthanize to stop prolonged suffering. This would be evident if the wombat has open wounds and a dead rotting smell which would indicate secondary infection. This can be carried out humanely by a trained wildlife carer/rescuer.
When a mange infested wombat has died, the mange mites will be looking for a new host. These mites are active for up to three weeks after the wombat has died. Be aware that if you leave the body exposed for any period of time the mange mites will spread. It is important to dispose of the body immediately and always wear gloves. Mange can be transferred to humans, but if appropriate caution is taken this is unlikely. If infected treatment is available from the chemist.

Remember any animal that attacks/investigates the dead wombat’s body is likely to become infested with the mites and the cycle will start all over again.

If you find a mangy dead wombat on your property it needs to be disposed of immediately. Disposal of the wombat’s body is the landowner’s responsibility. Body bags can be supplied by the Mange Management Group or your local vet.
Option 1. Bury or burn the body completely. Lime will help with the decomposition.
Option 2. Most vets will dispose of the body free of charge if placed in a body bag and
sealed. Check with your local vet beforehand.
Enquiries: Mange Management Group Ph:03 59 428 518 or email:Maryknoll@aapt.net.au

“http://www.mangemanagement.org.au/ :(VIC) The Future of the Wombat is in our hands. We can’t as a responsible nation let mange continue its destruction of the wombat population and do nothing to ease the suffering. Mange Management is here to educate and provide support with help, knowledge and the tools for mange treatment.”

Here’s hoping the fox got infected at least.

I ask myself several times a day, “did this person actually go to primary school?” Here is another great example. Ask any little kid why we bury dead people and they’ll give you a handful of good answers. Ask them what else they should bury if they are out in the forest and again they know about poo, biodegradable rubbish and so on. Or at least, we were taught such things in redneck primary school as part of “General Studies” as required by the Victorian education department. Are these guys actually finding worse schools to attend or is a primary school education considered something best avoided when hiring?

So you suggest they dont shot the sick animals, but instead let them die a slow and painful death? Your logic is flawed.

The “bat” is only a couple day old. Mange was introduced with foxs and dogs. The first documented case was in London in the 1850s with a pet wombat. Whilst treating a wild population for mange might be dificult, land owner who have put in an effort have had some very good results.

The issue here is that the ACT government dumps ALL wombats shot, on site, in the open. This is in public recreational places. This is within the range of other burrows. This wombat has a massive load of mange, that can infect other hosts, in a large dose. The cycle continues. Ask a vet what he would do with an mange infected carcus. Ask a farmer. Leaving wombats to rot in the open is maintaining mange.

And your problem is what exactly? That bat has been there for quite some time by the looks and I have seen thousands of wombats with mange over the years and the best thing for them is a bullet

Was this type of mange always prevalent in native animals, or was it introduced?

If a wombat was found with mange in a less developed stage than this poor creature, could it be treated? I know dogs affected with mange can be treated.

This is just disgusting.

Not the culling/euthanising of sick animals. I have no problem with that at all.

But to then allow an infected animal carcass to just rot away and continue spreading the disease you are culling for in the first place is at best irresponsible and at worst criminal.

gazket, I got to know a couple of members of the cast of A Country Practice. They were terrified of Fatso, who, like most adult male wombats, was aggressive and very strong.