Volunteers at Wombat Care Bundanoon have been working around the clock answering calls about wombat sightings and seeing the extent of waterlogged burrows.
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The organisation has received 50 calls about wombats in the last week.
Founder and licensed carer John Creighton said the organisation has received calls and checked on wombats from Moss Vale to Marulan.
"We're getting calls from all over," he said.
"The days have been long, and full-on every day."
The organisation has purchased plastic drain tunnels from a plumbing store to create make-shift tunnels and protection for wombats with waterlogged burrows.
The equipment is attached to the ground and has also been put in as a lead to burrows.
"We bought 50 tunnels and need more," he said.
"We are happy to give them the opportunity to heal, be out of the rain, put hay in so they can nestle and stay warm and dry."
The licensed carer said the organisation has received more calls than in the 2021 floods.
"Last year, we had calls but we were running after what we knew and pumping out water," he said.
"This year it is more sustained."
There were different dangers wombats faced if they could not access their burrows.
"There is a fox danger for joeys if they don't have a burrow to go to," Mr Creighton said.
"We try to get the mums and joeys safe."
Wombats have also been discovered bitten and with mange mites.
Mr Creighton said the repercussions of the bushfires destroying habitats and food sources were still rife with the animals.
He said that the bushfires and now the floods "pushed animals into urban areas" in search for food and shelter and the floods have exacerbated this.
The battle would not be over once the rain eased - he, along with others, planned to quicken the drying process by pumping water out of burrows.
"Next week is going to be busy, but different," he said.
He the community for alerting Wombat Care Bundanoon to animal sightings, and asking what they can do if they spot an animal on their property.
"The community has taken responsibility for our own animals which is wonderful and we need to do more than that," he said.
"We need to have that knowledge readily available.
"What we are doing is a drop in the bucket of the real picture."
If you spot an animal, you can call or text Wombat Care Bundanoon on 0490 659 245 or call WIRES on 1300 094 737.
Mr Creighton advised that people contact an organisation and not trap and release the animals themselves - the wombats would have to fend for themselves when they involuntarily encroach another animal's territory.
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Briannah Devlin
I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0439142204.
I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0439142204.
