Treating wombats for mange is difficult and expensive. Richard Kemp wonders if there’s a better way.
By Richard Kemp
This story starts with Laribee, a wombat who lived on my friend Liz’s place in The Gurdies. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen an animal covered with mange? This poor animal was covered in this horrible infestation of the sarcoptic mange mite. You know they are sick when they come out in the daylight to feed. It was pitiful to see him continuously scratching and almost blinded by scabs all over his body and face. The mange looked like caked on mud.
This story starts with Laribee, a wombat who lived on my friend Liz’s place in The Gurdies. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen an animal covered with mange? This poor animal was covered in this horrible infestation of the sarcoptic mange mite. You know they are sick when they come out in the daylight to feed. It was pitiful to see him continuously scratching and almost blinded by scabs all over his body and face. The mange looked like caked on mud.
Permits are required to treat mange in wombats, both in the wild and in captivity. Working with Antoinette and Ryan from Mange Management, we tried to help this poor animal.
Mange can be treated with a very expensive chemical called Cydectin (Moxidectin). I believe a small bottle of this treatment cost about $90. It has to be poured on the wombat’s back, much as you would give your dog or cat a flea treatment. But the trick is getting close enough to pour it on. I managed to get a couple of shots on Laribee using a small container attached to an extendable painting rod.
At his burrow we rigged up a device using a small cup of Cydectin incorporated in a flap made from an ice cream lid hinged from a stiff wire bridge. As he entered the burrow the lid would swing and tip the chemical on his back.
After Laribee’s successful treatment, I wondered if a cheaper treatment was available, like a sheep dip that could be sprayed on, so I designed and made up a cheap spray unit, mostly from scrap material. The only parts I bought were the pump and the movement sensor.
At his burrow we rigged up a device using a small cup of Cydectin incorporated in a flap made from an ice cream lid hinged from a stiff wire bridge. As he entered the burrow the lid would swing and tip the chemical on his back.
After Laribee’s successful treatment, I wondered if a cheaper treatment was available, like a sheep dip that could be sprayed on, so I designed and made up a cheap spray unit, mostly from scrap material. The only parts I bought were the pump and the movement sensor.
The copper support ring gets pushed in the ground at the burrow entrance, a poly ring is attached by zip ties and has adjustable spray nozzles in several positions to give the wombat a good soaking. The solution is contained in the white bottle. An adjustable movement sensor at the top triggers the electric pump, which is powered by a battery.
I haven’t tested the equipment in the field and adjustments will need to be made. The copper ring legs may need extending for large wombats. The ring could be made of steel and a smaller solar powered battery would reduce the weight. Sprays need to be suitably adjusted and light sensor adjusted to optimum usage settings. The only thing now is to obtain a suitable cheaper chemical to use.
I haven’t tested the equipment in the field and adjustments will need to be made. The copper ring legs may need extending for large wombats. The ring could be made of steel and a smaller solar powered battery would reduce the weight. Sprays need to be suitably adjusted and light sensor adjusted to optimum usage settings. The only thing now is to obtain a suitable cheaper chemical to use.
During Laribee’s treatment, I set up a night vision camera at the burrow entrance and watched the action. The night life was interesting. Visitors included mice, bush rats, foxes and a wallaby.