Wombat Burrows: Bush Estate

Описание: 📸🐾 Burrow secrets uncovered!
Infrared cameras in NSW revealed wombat burrows are more than just wombat homes, they’re wildlife hubs. 🌏✨Researchers documented 11 species using burrows, from macropods & possums to foxes & feral cats. Animals sought shelter, hunted, foraged, and even snacked on soil! This study highlights wombats as true ecological engineers, creating vital refuges that support biodiversity and shaping how diseases like mange may spread. J. M. Old, N. E. Hunter & J. Wolfenden (2018). Australian Zoologist 39(3), 409–413. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2018.006

The document presents an ecological study detailing the results of monitoring bare-nosed wombat burrows (Vombatus ursinus) to determine which other animals utilize these structures. Researchers used infrared camera traps placed at burrow entrances across three different habitats in New South Wales, Australia, as part of a larger investigation into sarcoptic mange transmission. The cameras successfully documented eleven distinct vertebrate species accessing or interacting with the burrows, ranging from native macropods and possums to invasive predators like European foxes and feral cats. Animals were observed using the burrows for purposes such as finding shelter, hunting prey, or foraging, with evidence suggesting some species may have been engaging in geophagy (soil consumption). This study confirmed the important role of wombats as ecological engineers, whose extensive digging provides vital refuge and aids local biodiversity. Understanding burrow co-use is also critical for assessing how other species might influence the spread of wombat diseases