Crocodiles, snakes, spiders, and even dingoes and feral pigs. There are plenty of creatures that grey nomads have good reason to be wary of … but it might be time to add wombats that list.
A woman has spoken of the night feared she would die after being attacked by a wombat while walking her dogs in Canberra. Fairfax Media reports that Kerry Evans was left with more than 20 bites and lacerations across her body after being set upon by what she initially thought was a ‘large boulder’ in a southern suburb of Canberra.
She approached the wombat with her dogs, Murphy and Pirate, and only realised what it was once it was too late. The wombat reportedly charged one of her dogs and, as Mrs Evans became tangled in the two leads and fell to the ground, she was attacked.
“I was laying screaming for help, I couldn’t get away from it, every time I managed to get up it attacked me and bit me and knocked me to the ground,” Mrs Evans told Fairfax Media. “I really thought I was going to lay there and die that night because I just couldn’t see how I was going to get away from it … it just wasn’t stopping its attack.”
A nearby resident and a passing motorist eventually came to Mrs Evans’ aid … and the wombat made a run for it.
The victim was treated in hospital for three slit-like bites from the wombat’s “buck-teeth”.
“When I was in hospital I had to have quite a few bags of IV because they don’t know enough about the risk of infection from wombats,” Mrs Evans said. “They even had to go and make sure I didn’t have rabies.”
The wombat responsible for the attack is apparently still at large, and Mrs Evans has warned others to avoid wombats at all costs.
I am a voluntary rescuer and carer for WIRES (native animals) in NSW.
Wombats are wild native animals.
NEVER approach .
If a wombat is running towards you, stand still and wait. Just before it collides with you, step to one side. Wombats are very slow to turn / change direction.
But they can move/ run VERY FAST in a straight line!
Even if you think the wombat has died, do NOT go anywhere near it. Contact WIRES or a Wildlife Rescue group in your state.
WIRES Sydney contact 02 8977 3333 and wait for telephonist to answer, Please be patient, Thankyou
All native animals are under threat from having their habitats destroyed by dogs, wild cats, humans etc.
I would be fighting back as well
Poor old wombat. Just trying to protect its self from the dogs. All wild animals will try to protect themselves if you are foolish enough to take your dog/dogs into there space.