Wombats and Mange
The Mange Management Program aims to reduce the number of wombats and other native wildlife with mange in Canberra and the surrounding region.
What is mange?
Mange is a skin infection caused by parasitic mites that burrow into the skin, also known as scabies in humans. Mange can cause skin discolouration, hair loss, excessive scratching, skin crusting and thickening, weight loss, open wounds, and death in extreme cases due to a secondary infection and compromised immune system. While mange is mainly seen in wombats, its normal host animal is foxes and wild dogs, it can also spread to other native animals and even humans.
How you can help a local wombat suffering mange?
If you see a sickly wombat with mottled, uneven fur, chances are it has a painful skin infection called mange. It could be on public or on private land and it’s important the wombat receives life-saving treatment.