Fascinating puggles struggle in heat, love to take a bath

Puggles love water, are actually quite strong swimmers, and love to take a bath. 

from Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers WILVOS 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au

I am sure there is a logical reason in nature for echidna young to emerge from their burrows in the heat of summer. 

Nevertheless, for a native animal that is prone to heat stress, it seems very contradictory. A puggle burrow hovers around a cool 20 degrees, and adult echidnas do their foraging for termites and such in the cool of the night.

Every year, from January on,  our Hotline receives calls regarding young echidnas that have left their burrows.  They may have been accidentally excavated or it may have been time for them to emerge.  They  are totally independent, but do not always cope well with the challenges of the outside world.  

This year, one young echidna came into care  when found looking unwell.  It was under some trees, with flies around it, which was an indication of an infected wound above the tail.  Xrays  fortunately showed no fractures but the wound would need care.  WILVOS to the rescue!

In the final stages of being dependent on their mother coming to the burrow to feed them, these visits may be up to ten days apart.  This is why it is so important not to relocate echidnas.  There may be a young in a burrow nearby that would die without that sustenance. Females only form a pouch when it is time to lay the egg into the pouch.  They don’t have teats, but a milk ‘patch’ that the puggle will nuzzle on.  Absolutely unique, fascinating creatures.

They love water, are actually quite strong swimmers, and love to take a bath.  When  coming into care they always utilize a heavy shallow dish of fresh water when given the chance.  One of my favourite native animals.