What is a wombat?

   Wombats live in Australia. They are small, furry, brown animals with round bodies, short stubby legs, and no tails. They have sharp claws that they use to dig long tunnels where they spend most of their time alone. The female bears one young wombat at a time and carries it in her pouch. Wombats are marsupials, mammals with pouches.

   Wombats are shy and gentle and make friendly pets; but when frightened or angry, they will bite with their large teeth. They are nocturnal animals, sleeping through the day and searching for food at night.

   Wombats are vegetarians. They eat grasses, roots and young tree bark. Their teeth are strong and keep growing all the time. Fossils of larger wombats have been found in Pleistocene deposits in Australia.