22-02-2025
Important truth behind peculiar item spotted in Aussie bush: 'Saves lives'
WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES: Mange is a pervasive and often fatal disease that severely impacts Australia's wombat populations. If left untreated, it can lead to a slow and agonising death for the iconic creatures.
The disease is especially concerning for the common wombat, with up to 80 per cent of the population in some regions, particularly in NSW and Victoria, being affected. The widespread issue has contributed to high mortality rates and can also result in severe secondary infections, dehydration and further health complications.
Marie Wynan, director at the Wombat Protection Society Australia, is on a mission to reverse the devastating impacts of mange. She explained that it's caused by mites, which burrow into the wombat's skin, causing intense itching, hair loss and lesions. Speaking to Yahoo News, Wynan, from NSW, said "burrow flaps" are one simple way people can help protect wombats from the deadly condition.
Mange in wombats is believed to be caused by an introduced parasite — the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. While the exact origins of it in Australia is unclear, it is widely thought to have been introduced by Europeans and their livestock, particularly sheep, cattle and dogs, which are known carriers of the mites.
The flap — installed outside a wombat's burrow — is coated with Cydectin, and when a wombat pushes through, the treatment transfers onto its fur, allowing for consistent dosing without handling the animal.
Unlike direct injections or oral treatments, burrow flaps do not require capturing the wombat, making the process far less invasive. Since burrows are often shared, multiple wombats passing through the flap can receive treatment, improving effectiveness in affected populations.
It's been proven to have a real impact, Wynan said. "It's a death sentence otherwise," she told Yahoo. "If they don't get treated, they will die. And it can wipe out entire populations."
There's a number of ways they can become infected.
"They can get it from another wombat that has mange," Wynan said. "They can get it from walking past a dead wombat, [but] direct contact is the main form of transmission. If they get it, there is no return. Untreated, they will die a slow death.
"They literally scratch themselves to death — it's really, really awful." And while the outlook might seem bleak, conservationists like Wyan are working tirelessly to treat as many wombats as possible.
She encouraged people to install the burrow flaps if they have wombats in their local area, but critically, to do so in the proper way.
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Wynan said, first, you must find out if they have mange in the first place, which can be determined by sending photos into the Wombat Protection Society or similar agencies.
Then, it's best to follow instructions from the professionals — which can be found here. Though it is generally illegal to interfere with native animals without proper permits, when it is part of official conservation programs or when it's carried out under the guidance of wildlife authorities and experts, a real difference can be made.
"You need to confirm that it is mange because it might be attack wounds, or it might have been injured in another way. The best thing is to take photos," Wynan said. "We need to be doing everything we can to help these wombats."
From a conservation standpoint, the installation of burrow flaps is seen as a form of active protection for wombats, especially in regions where mange is widespread and causing significant harm.
Since the flaps are designed to help manage and treat a disease rather than disrupt the natural behaviour, they are typically considered a necessary intervention in cases where the species' survival is at risk.
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