10 facts about wombats!

Check out these cute, clever creatures…

There’s more to these Aussie animals than meets the eye! So come on gang, let’s find out some fantastic facts about wombats…

Facts about wombats…

1) Wombats are marsupials

Like their tree-climbing cousin, the koala, wombats are marsupials. This means that they are part of a particular group of mammals, who have pouches where their newborn young develop.

Wombat babies are born super small and helpless, so the pouch is a safe place for them to grow up and get ready for the world!

Did you know? Kangaroos, koalas, and wombats might not look alike, but they’re all marsupials! Plus, their adorable babies are all known as joeys.

2) There are three different species of wombat

These are the common wombat (also known as the bare-nosed wombat), the Southern hairy-nosed wombat, and the Northern hairy-nosed wombat. All three species live in Australia, including on the island of Tasmania. They have a variety of habitats, including mountains, forests, and grasslands!

3) Wombats aren’t as small as you might think!

An adult wombat usually grows to about a metre long – the same as a medium-sized dog. They can weigh up to 40 kilograms, and have wide, strong feet which are great for digging!

As well as being bigger than expected, wombats also live for a surprisingly long time. The oldest wombat ever, a large male known as Patrick, was 32 when he died!

4) Wombats are mostly nocturnal

These clever critters spend their nights foraging for food, or digging new tunnels, entrances, or exits for their ever-expanding burrows! They are herbivores, so most of their time is spent grazing on native grasses.

Wombats usually spend their days tucked away in their underground homes. However, they do sometimes come out to sunbathe and warm up, especially when the weather is very cold.

Facts about wombats | wombat on a hillside eating grass

5) Wombats can run at speeds of up to 40km per hour!

Good luck stopping a rampaging wombat! These amazing animals can move surprisingly quickly when they need to, and can sustain this speed for up to 90 seconds. There are even reports of humans being knocked over by charging wombats!

6) Wombat poo is cube-shaped (yes, really!)

A wombat’s intestines have a curious ability – they shape their poop into angular cubes.

Wombats often mark their territory using their poo, and so scientists believe that the square-sided shape is designed to stop the poop from rolling away, ensuring the smelly signals stay put!

7) During bushfires, wombat burrows become places of shelter for many other animals

Wombat burrows, known as warrens, can be huge! These underground homes can contain tunnels over 200 metres long.

And these warrens don’t just serve as homes for wombats – they can become vital shelters for other small mammals, too. During bushfires, the tunnels stay cool, offering protection from the flames. Rock wallabies, bettongs, skinks and even little penguins have been seen using wombat warrens to escape fires, or hide from predators.

A black-footed wallaby was once spotted using a wombat burrow even more than the wombat owner. This sneaky intruder visited nearly 2,000 times in eight weeks!

Facts about wombats | wombat sitting on grass

8) In prehistoric times, herds of giant wombats roamed Australia!

These mega-marsupials formed a group of animals called Diprotodon, which lived in Australia during the Ice Age. Diprotodons were about 1.8 metres tall and weighed as much as 2,800 kilograms – roughly the same as a rhinoceros!

9) Their pouches face backwards

Most marsupials have their pouches on their fronts, but wombats have theirs facing backwards. This protects wombat joeys in the pouch from being sprayed with dirt, while their mother digs in the ground.

10) The Northern hairy-nosed wombat, is critically endangered

Sadly, there are only 115 Northern hairy-nosed wombats left on Earth. Due to food shortages and droughts, this super species has been driven out of their historic habitats. They now live in just two tiny locations in Queensland, Australia.

Luckily, conservationists are working hard to help. In the 1980s, just 35 Northern hairy-nosed wombats were left alive – so things are already improving!

Thank you to Jeremie Barnier, Alois Bühlmann, Laura Barry, Meg Jerrard, and Nico Smit for the images used in this article.

We hope you enjoyed our facts about wombats! Did you learn anything new? Let us know in the comments below.

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COMMENTS

wombat lover2.0

ty I needed this for an australian wildlife essay
anna

awwwwwwsooooome
fina

I am writing an essay on wombats and that really helped
Wombatlover

ty i really needed this for my presentation
jk

good
Roni

I love wombats they live around my house.
grace

I didn't know that wombats had pouches!
thecuberwuber

ty i needed these
Wow
Aspen

COOL
Thomasmckeeby

Awesome
HeartOfBedrock

Wow!
The wobats are very cute
i love it
good
niamhg9

OMG WOW CUTE COOL
Cool
Andersen

Coooooooooooooool
this is cute.
MY FAVOURITE ANIMAL IS NOW WOMBATS!!!!!!!
Isla

I’m really glad that I learned those facts!
Huy

Well done
Huhu

Very cool text perfect for school
Wow ! I did not know anything about wombats and know i've learnt 10 cool facts about them. awesome right?
vGe

This article isn't only for kids. I learned a huge amount about wombats, even at age almost 80 years old. They sound very interesting and I hope to meet one or more when (if) I get to Australia next summer.
bronzeleopard10

SAVE THE NORTHEN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBATS!
Me

Love it I recommended it to my family
Olive

Wombats are cute!
Marion Dane Geron

This REALLY helped me with my reaserch/book report. Thanks! Sincerely, Marion D. Geron
coco

love it
cool
BB

it really helped for school
Anna

Great
This article really helped!
Brianna

It was a big help!
dude

this is awesome !
Love it Wombats are my favorite animal.
COOL!!!!!!!
Arthur

COOL
Arthur

GREAT
thats one good animal i australia
Animal girl

Wombats are cute
stcwizard

I love wombats
Amelia

these facts are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
phoenixkid20

Wombats are very interesting! Cool
teleahf

this is amazing
JudeTShep

Wombats are pretty interesting! Since their waste is cube-shaped and they have pouches, which face backwards, I think wombats are neat. I also think that Naked Mole-Rats are really cool.
Cool!
Cool!
otis

COOL
zach

l didn't know that much about wombats
Sophia

cute
liz

im studying wombats, so this was big help!
tom
Ava.

Great! Now I know a lot about wombats!
I love these creatures

Soo amazing
joey

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COOL!
this was cool
Edwin

It was ok.
Natalie

Wombats are so cute
A Aravani

Wombats are one of the cutest animals on the planet!
Natalie

Wombats are one of my favourite animals. They are so cute
Very cool dude

The great
Animal jam lover

Wombats are SO cute!
james

cool
CUTE
yeet

cool
wombat boy

I love wombats and I never knew that they could run a 40 km a hour
Miral

So cool
CUTE!!!!!!!!!
cute
p
Rose

Tasmania is part of Australia . It isn’t a separate country.
Poop

Happy dog
Sebastian Vincent Burns
Trent

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Cooooooooooooool
mirabelle
Miss campbell(sophia)
connor

I'm glad I wasn't around when they were 1.8 metres tall
nth19304

i love it 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
pj

wow i did not know they were from the ice age
Ethan

lol
Ref
JJ

Hi
So cute
Wombats are so cool
Talon
Hi
tayla

so cute !!!
cool
Noor

that is so much cool for me
milla_2014

i ove iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttt
milla_2014

WOW so amazing
Eyob

I love this
Annelie

WOW
Doris

I love it
Annelie

Cool
Poppy

speed of 40km that is amazing
Hi
eliza7106

Can't wait
Doris4

Great
Caelin

They can be 1.8 meters tall
Caelin.Yan

They can be 1.8 metres tall Wow!
ct

cool
leonardo3227

i love it
Liam

Cool
person

this site is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo helpful if you need to make a slide presentation like me
Gabbie

Wow so interesting
Mika
Hayden

I love wombats
APRIL

so cool and funny
YusufK225
I LOVE WOMBATS!
YusufK225
YusufK225
YusufK225
Leslie

Where can I see a photo of the wombats pouch? Very fascinating!
Kaitlyn

My mum is Aussie and so it was nice to learn about wombats
Kaitlyn

Cool
121221
Alannah
alana

I love wombats
mikey.spence

square poo , thats wierd
Pauline

I live in Australia so I see them a lot at night
I loved it very intresting
asasa
luella

That was great!Wombats are so cool!thanks for teaching me this col stuff!
jaylee

hi poeple
lucy love horse
69

cool
sasha

Yes i did that wombat poo is a square.
Taj

Amazing
Taj

Love nature thanks
Taj Hubbard

Thanks for the information!!!
lily
cool
196
Clemmie

Thanks you for teaching me.
Pp
Rory
Zoomer

Thanks a lot!
Zoomer

Our teacher made us read it and now I know more about these furry mammals!
Aaron

Wow L have learnt a lot about wombats! It is so fascinating i love these cute creatures!
Aaron

Wow! Cool creatures!they are amazing and i want to learn more about them. Thanks! L have learnt a lot abut wombats
ocean

amazing so cool!
Erni

These are so many cool facts about these cute Aussie animals! I am going to be a biologist when l grow up! Thanks natgeo kids!
melanie

wow
melanie

wow
MelanieAva74

wow! awesome
Malik

l love wombats they are so cute!
sha sha

love them!
elizabeth

Awwww
elizabethl115

Wombats are so cute!!!
Piper

Great facts
Grace
Maya

I love wombats to! They are so cute!!
Maya
Maya
Maya

I love wombats to!they are so cute!
Maya

I love wombats to!their so cute
Maya

cool!
I LOVE this websiteee!
lola

loved it.
Lila

This is cool
JJ

This is so cool. I love wombats
#Unicorn {Parker}

I have seen wombats before, and now I know a lot more about them! I wish I could just pick one up and cuddle it all day. Thanks natgeo kids! I ❤ wombats
Eloise

didn't know that
This is really useful
FUN
Lucy
florence

the wombat looks so sweet #megacute
Jayden

CoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOooooooooooooool
Evan

Nice
southern pacfic fan

good
southerer train
Ewan

wow
ⓈⒼ|CB•M☯ηstεrツ

WOWWW
Rishan
Rishan

Nice facts
JunoF

awesome
Jayden

I like the facts
SHARK DUDE

LOVE IT
SHARK DUDE
There poo is square HA HA HA
SHARK DUDE
yuno
Celine

Wow
Alice

I love your facts and I learnd a lot! Thank you!
Holy
AishaN453

AMAZING!
THERE SO CUTE
SO CUTE
Worst

I like it so much that i read the whole thing 10 times
Chinaza

I love this They are all interesting facts Cool!!
Chinaza

I love this They are all interesting facts Cool!!
~Esha~
COOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jesse

I love Wombats their so cute
Cool_facts
Cool_facts

I think this is cool
Cool_facts
Marcus

Awesome
Billy

Hi Marcus
Marcus

Cool
Drifted_eyes

These facts are so cool my eyes drifted away!
Blap

WOW
Squirrel

Great
bamboozled

i am now bamboozled bc the facts are so good!!!
Katie

Thanks
Ben

Cool
cool
OSKAR

VERY NICE
Cool
jenny

hey
hey
Cede
camilla

sooooo cute！
Em

Cool
greg
intresting
Bob

Hi
Ben

Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is COOL AND LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALEX
ROSE

WOW! I never knew how cute and long they could get!
khaled

wombat
Ariel

They are so cute!
Alice. Theo. Harrinson
Cool
eathan

cute and cool
Wombats are nice marsupials
LLAMALVR
LLAMALVR

hi
LLAMALVR

hi
bubble n' tea

this is so fun! easy for my homework!
lane

this is a cool app
C H I V 3 S

im doing this as my school work! keep going with these things! i love them, but my brother loves them more!
Namish

Very intresting
Dragonlilly

cool
nice
Sienna

I want to know more about wombats!
matthewc940

cool
Fay
matthewc940

cute
I like wombats
I like wombats
I like wombats
s
Candy Kane

mombats are so cute
candy kane
Wow I had no idea they are so big!
Skweak

Amazing
hi

nice facts
shark

wow
Action
Action
Thomas

i love foxes
Thomas

Hi
nate.mader

great facts
kids!

LOVE IT!!!
Salut
Lion

Wow!
Olivia Mckenzie

I love natgeokids because I love all the stuff on it so thank you for making this website
hi
jacob
amazing
hi
re

hi
endeavour

I Henry, im endever.
Super cool!
Eliza

Hi
Henry

Hello
Like it
Clara

So cool people
Izzy
Clara
Henry

Intresting
Henry

Hi I’m new
Tammanahah
Thgugjgygttt
Fire lion

Thank you for your help about harpy eagles
5911BROMAN

wow
garry

cute
Evie

Love it! Wombats are so cute!
kaasey

hi
Panda
Cameron

Its really interesting
Gabe

I think the wombat is a really cool herbivore! I thought a wombat was a bat but I learned it is an herbivore!
Good
Luky

I love them they are so cute
WallanPS

cool facts
Bobalover

I love your facts! Thank you for helping me!
Harley

SQUARE POOP
cool
good facts

so awsome
catherine

in frozen tow olof said that wambats poop sqares but i never new it was true
Person

Wombats r very cool
Ellie
traelyn

so cute
alex

That's sad that that species is dying but there were definitely MEGA-animals during the ice age and the mega-wombats show that there were MEGA- animals during the ice age.
I ❤️ Wombats
caleb

pretty swag nat geo! thx man!!
Zayme
victor

awesome i mean AWESOME ;]
zeek
zeek

I can't wait to start my journey
Wally

WOW!
Brooke

I love wombats!!!!!
:)

I ❤ wombats
I ❤ wombats
Nickname
Yuson
jamesschneider

Sooooo cute!
Elliot

me niether
raspberry003

thats amazing
Cat Lover 2.0

I love wombats. They are sooo cool.
Choochoo
isabella A

I can’t believe they could climb trees
I love u

so cool
juan
cool
lion

hi
Jellybean

That is cool
Cool
Jellybean

Wow that sounds really good.I have seen wombats at different places.They looked sooo cool.
Awesome
Zach!!!!!!!
cool
Timothy

Wow
Piper wheatley

It was great
Nasutoceratops13

Cute
most interesting
Cakes

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Isaac

COOL!
i love birds!!!!
Animogs

Wombats are cool
Good facts
Biawiagirl

COOL
ember

betta than eva!
Miller.Baldwin

I have a friend that likes turtles.
maekalin

cool
alexa

wow so many things to learn
Yay
josiah

sooooo cool
Flossy
Good facts
bob

noice!
awesome Sause

great article!!
k

lolz
fredster

facts cool!
Katherine
Alie

COOL
Lwickerham

Super helpful! It is helping me excel in science! It is helping me learn more about the world around me! Thanks again!
Mila

Super
Emily

This is so helpful! Wow, wow wow!
This is good
Buddy B

wow
sweet
Evie

They are soooooo cute
Isla

Hi i love this site it is the best i love the wombats to and i really like the lego to this site is funny too
Isla

Hi
Isla

I love this site and i love the wombats to and all the others to i love the lego one to
ophelia

i love it
MMENTS Landon wow! Eliza Bob Cool NatGeoFan I actually can't believe that the wombat's poo shape is a cube! I am also surprised that wombats are marsupials and can also dig pretty well with their strong feet! maya i love animals the wombat facts actually is cool liliana LOVE IT i like this zaydilan.arifhusni i love wombats mithran cool Lionheart Funny i am new das war cool Mia Hi Candice Taylor I love to learn about animals! oh my cute cute so cute So Cool! Ash Wow Cool! I didnt expect this Miles Matt WOOW Mateo WWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWww Mateo Omg I really like wombats lest gooo woooooooow. amarpayne awesome awesome Leon Wow JakeH i love this site Dan So so cool Savannah Amazing! I find the backwards pouch very interesting sun123him nice Felix Weird wombatifan32 osofuzzornite Eilís CUTE!!!!! leow Hannah Awesome facts! roblox wow!!! Morgan Cute! ffion l love pets rhiannonluvswolvs It's so sad that the Northern hairy-nosed wombat is critically endangered:( kk_koala I love marsupials, could you add a koala to the avatar maker? Anna hey i like bts katelyn hehehehhehheheheheehhehheheehhehehehhehehhehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe cool good aoibhinn wow i really love wombats Wombatlover Wombat Leila wow huy401 so cool Ilaria I loved these facts, very interesting! I feel bad for the poor endangered one though e e cool hhhhhhiiiiiii charlotte cute Drayton ss Phoebe WOW! nya you guys are amazing and smart! Polarz Amazing. Very interesting! Jessica I didn’t know they egxisted❤️It Livvy This app is cool!!!! Livvy I love this app Wow Class Wildlife Warrior i love wombats Wildlife Warrior I have seen wombat burrows and Square poop in tasmania Wildlife Warrior I have been walking and seen wombat burrows and their square poop in tasmania Alexxy Wow! hoonabanoona wobats poop is square ! Animalqueen34 Wombats are so cute and the facts are SO interesting!!!!!!! Dog Good connor wow LUCY COOL So cute moshalalalala wombat facts these animals are cool Ewadragon I love wombats! So cute! Tiko junior lets work togther ryan cool OptimusBolt I didn't know that Wombats could run up to 40 km!!! red nosed jared lol GIZELLEY THE GIRAFFY IM A GIRAFFEY Gizelley The Giraffy Hey Im A Giraffe Elyse the griffin hello Gizelley The Giraffy hi jaredddd Optimusbolt Evan WombatLover I Love Wombats Miles Miles Miles Mothball Cute! In school we were learning about Aussie critters and wombats were my favourite!
i loved it
swaringchipmunks2020

the poo part is so discasting.
mgfaz10

I love wombats i can't belive some are endangered
Elliot James Halford

Wow I thought there was two types of wombat. I love Australia’s wildlife.
Bea

Wow
Keoki
Bryce

cool
cool
monkey man

cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute cute v
Animal1

Awesome
Liz

Wow!
wow!
Nice
hi
Evi dog

I love it
Landon

wow!
Eliza
Bob

Cool
NatGeoFan

I actually can't believe that the wombat's poo shape is a cube! I am also surprised that wombats are marsupials and can also dig pretty well with their strong feet!
maya

i love animals the wombat facts actually is cool
liliana

LOVE IT
i like this
zaydilan.arifhusni

i love wombats
mithran

cool
Lionheart

Funny
i am new
das war cool
Mia

Hi
Candice Taylor

I love to learn about animals!
oh my

cute
cute

so cute
So Cool!
Ash

Wow Cool! I didnt expect this
Miles
Matt

WOOW
Mateo

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWww
Mateo

Omg I really like wombats lest gooo
woooooooow.
amarpayne
awesome

awesome
Leon

Wow
JakeH

i love this site
Dan

So so cool
Savannah

Amazing! I find the backwards pouch very interesting
sun123him

nice
Felix

Weird
wombatifan32
osofuzzornite
Eilís

CUTE!!!!!
leow
Hannah

Awesome facts!
roblox

wow!!!
Morgan

Cute!
ffion

l love pets
rhiannonluvswolvs

It's so sad that the Northern hairy-nosed wombat is critically endangered:(
kk_koala

I love marsupials, could you add a koala to the avatar maker?
Anna

hey i like bts
katelyn

hehehehhehheheheheehhehheheehhehehehhehehhehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe
cool
good
aoibhinn

wow i really love wombats
Wombatlover

Wombat
Leila

wow
huy401

so cool
Ilaria

I loved these facts, very interesting! I feel bad for the poor endangered one though
e

e
cool
hhhhhhiiiiiii
charlotte

cute
Drayton ss
Phoebe

WOW!
nya

you guys are amazing and smart!
Polarz

Amazing. Very interesting!
Jessica

I didn’t know they egxisted❤️It
Livvy

This app is cool!!!!
Livvy

I love this app
Wow
Class
Wildlife Warrior

i love wombats
Wildlife Warrior

I have seen wombat burrows and Square poop in tasmania
Wildlife Warrior

I have been walking and seen wombat burrows and their square poop in tasmania
Alexxy

Wow!
hoonabanoona

wobats poop is square !
Animalqueen34

Wombats are so cute and the facts are SO interesting!!!!!!!
Dog

Good
connor

wow
LUCY

COOL
So cute
moshalalalala

wombat facts
these animals are cool
Ewadragon

I love wombats! So cute!
Tiko junior

lets work togther
ryan

cool
OptimusBolt

I didn't know that Wombats could run up to 40 km!!!
red nosed jared

lol
GIZELLEY THE GIRAFFY

IM A GIRAFFEY
Gizelley The Giraffy

Hey Im A Giraffe
Elyse the griffin

hello
Gizelley The Giraffy

hi
jaredddd
Optimusbolt
Evan
WombatLover

I Love Wombats
Miles
Miles
Miles
Mothball

Cute! In school we were learning about Aussie critters and wombats were my favourite!