Fortunately, these areas are mostly left undisturbed by agriculture, being too dry, and having poor soils. Wombats are similar in size to Common Wombats, but have softer, silkier, grey fur, longer ears and fine fur on their slightly broader nose. A member of the marsupial group, females have a pouch which opens to the rear. They live in dry inland areas around the Great Australian Bight, where low scrubby trees and grasses grow on open plains. Here they dig large burrow complexes in which five to ten Wombats may sleep during the day.
Wombats breed in spring, after which females give birth to a single jelly-bean sized joey.
The joey lives and grows in the pouch for six to nine months feeding from a teat. It will the stay in the burrow, or follow its mother around at night and continue to drink milk until about one year of age. These youngsters will then reach breeding age at around three years old. Threats The Wombat's biggest threats are from being hit by cars when crossing roads, and by the clearing of land for agriculture. They have very keen senses of hearing and smell, which warn them of danger.