It's been many months since there was an occupant in the Onemilebridge wombat Hilton. So long in fact that today Farmdoc and I opened the door to allow wallabies to come in and graze on the grass there. It's about waist height.
Yesterday we had a little preview visit with its next occupant, wombat Ben, who'll be coming to us at the end of this year. For now he still has some growing to do. Until he comes to us he will live with his foster parents. There he has the run of the house, with occasional supervised visits outdoors.
This visit was a special treat because by the time wombats come to us they are too old and too large for cuddles and human affection, and for their own sake we don't encourage them to bond with us. Our job is to prepare them for the wild.
But at eight months wombat Ben is still young enough to need cuddles and affection in order to develop properly.
He weighs six kilos right now and is still bottle fed several times a day.
And, like any toddler, he takes his naps in a sleeping bag in a cot surrounded by snacks and toys.
My brother and sister-in-law came with us so they too had the rare privilege of a cuddle with a young wombat.
Keep growing, wombat Ben. The wombat Hilton will be ready when you are.
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