Mange and how to treat it.

A)  Cydectin Only (topical parasite treatment) applied via hanging dosing flaps at burrows or known pathways, or a scoop-on-a-pole if you can get close enough.

     This requires about 8 treatment every 5 days (7 is ok if your only there weekly) then 8 fortnightly treatments and a few follow up monthly treatments, ensuring all burrows and wombats are mite free.  We recommend using green or blue food dye in treatment flaps so you can identify which wombats have been treated and where; or if it’s ended up on the ground. The scoop-on-a-pole method requires approaching down wind to pour onto a furred part of the wombat down its back. This is repeated weekly if when you can, and eventually the wombat is not seen out in day and treatment is then via a flap. Flaps may need to be moved if wombat decide to change burrows or known pathways they use.  One wombat generally uses 4 burrows and will have around 20 burrows he will use over time. Sometimes there is more than one wombat in burrow. 

     A wildlife camera (about $200) is ideal to see what’s happening. Wombats with mange need easy access to food & water, so providing an additional water supply (basin with a rock in it) and supplementary feed such as meadow hay (somewhere dry) is recommended. We use remote treatment statipns providing water in dry times and area's see below. 

          This treatment has been paid by us personally. The 250ml of Cydectin costs $34 plus bottle, express postage $12.20, hand made flap, metal pegs  chemical resistant gloves we charge $35 on our online shop per kit. We’re really happy to be able to supply you with this treatment kit at no charge, but would be really appreciative of a donation, to allow us to treat even more wombats.  We receive NO government funding we rely on our online shop to help fund our wildlife work and our savings. 

B. One dose treatment (currently on trial). We have been using this since January 2019 and getting really good results. It is applied directly to the back of the wombat on hair. 

          Must be applied to a dry wombat with no rain for more than the next 24 hours as it will not work if wombat gets wet.    If this is your only chance that week to treat the wombat and it is wet or will be, use 20ml of Cydentin (supplied with this treatment) to get treatment started then in 5 days or so when conditions will be right apply the one dose/cydetin mix and that's it. 

– If using the cydetin mulit dose method only

- After treating with the pole follow the wombat to see where his burrow is so you can flap it, or a fence he is going under, as after 2-4 doses he will not be out in the daytime as much and be more difficult to find.

– It is important to continue the treatment using the flap once you can no longer find the wombat as you are now treating his environment where mites live for over 3 weeks when not on the wombat. This is why this takes so long to eradicate the mange.  

 

         One dose mix   This is first mixed with 10 ml of Cydetin to aid in penetration through hair folicals of wombat use a soap powder scoop or old pill bottle and mix just before you apply to wombat.

     Its effectiveness starts to show in around 2 weeks, but by week 5 or 6 improvements become obvious with new hair growth and wombat now not out at all in daytime. Were finding if the whole area of wombats are treated its lasting over 6 months but individually its lasting around 3 months.

        Of course, this method requires being able to get quite close to the wombat. Dosing via a flap is possible as long as the application can be assured. We have a system for this and will discuss this on a case by case basis.  Camera monitoring is preferred  to ensure the flap is effective before the expensive treatment is used. We also use potable mange treatment water/feed stations more on our website

Signs are put up in the area so people know wombats are being treated and the euthanasia option is not used. A tiny amount of food dye or very liquid children's acrylic paint  also indicates the wombat is being treated. 

4. ONLY use Cydetin 'red deer and cattle pour on'  

Even though Moxidetin is the active ingredient inCydetin thstill requires a carrier  to help it penetrate down a hair folical into the wombat.  This is the most effective and only TESTED product to use on a wombat.  There are many different products on the market with moxidetin in it we do not know  what other ingredients are in the product and it could

a) not penetrate and be less effective

b) worse still kill the wombats.  

5. Treatment stick: when wombats are out in the daytime!

If you see your mangy wombats out in the daytime, it’s worth applying the dose using a long stick if you cannot safely get closer to the wombat.   We will be advising you about the actual initial dose size!    

- A large towel thrown over an aggressive and frightened wombat can tangle him up while you get away.

- Always approach with the wind coming from the wombat to you, then he can not smell you

- You can use your One dose/cydetin mix if wombat is dry and no rain forecast for at least 24 hours. 

- If its raining or will rain use a 20ml dose of Cydetin to get treatment started every 5 to7 days until conditions are right to use the one dose mix. 

– Taping a bottle with a lid/soap powder scoop to a long stick allows you to slowly (downwind) approach a wombat with mange and pour the dosage onto the spine, where there are no thick crusts to prevent it from soaking in.

– Tape the bottle on at about 45 degrees, so after taking the lid off you just need to rotate stick for the dosage to pour on.

– Store with the end in a secure plastic bag when not in use, well away from animals and children.

– Get it on his back where the hair looks good, this way it will best soak into him, rather than on the scabby part.  After about 2 or 3 treatments you won’t see him anymore as he will be feeling a bit better and not coming out in the day.

 

8. Treatment flap: when wombats are hard to find in the daytime as they get better!  Only continue to use this if your only using the cydetin treatment. 

It is important to continue the treatment using the flap once you can no longer find the wombat.  Once they feel better they are not out in the daytime, and you need to find a burrow, pathway, or fence line they use.  

– After treating with the pole follow the wombat to see where his burrow is so you can flap it, or a fence he is going under, as after 2-4 doses he will not be out in the daytime as much and be more difficult to find.

– Burrows might have fresh dirt and diggings and/or wombat poo’s around (square-looking poo). You can tell if a burrow is in use if you put some bracken/ grass blocking the entrance so it will be pushed aside if a wombat enters. Not all burrows have fresh diggings. Look for animal trails in the bush with wombat poo, and you should find a burrow or two.

– Using wire pegs (supplied) , hang the flap so the base is about 25 cm from the ground. Spud demonstrates the flap in action, piping Cydectin on his head & down his back.

– Hang flaps in fences where wombats track through or under the shed, house or where ever they are going.  Block extra space with logs or rocks to direct wombats into the flap.

 

 7. Helping manged wombats 

– Use Cetrigen or similar from rural supplies to keep flies off wombats, it’s also antibacterial for any small wounds when the mange scabs fall off. And people can see wombat is being treated as its purple! Pump action not spray can which sounds like snake to a wombat. 

– Leaving a bowl of water near the burrow is helpful as the wombat will be extra thirsty due to the mange. Put a large rock in it to help prevent it being tipped over, or rocks around it. In dry times, splashing  buckets of water around weekly on nearby grass will help give the wombat food as well.

- If wombat has bad mange put some straw, dried grass or dried bracken at entrance to burrow without blocking it. he can then decide if he needs more for his nest to keep warm 

 

Spud demonstrates Flap. And an innovative wind resistant flap. If flaps are hung with pegs from roof inside burrow they will not fill with rainwater of spill in wind. 

8. If you want to help others  there could be a group of wildlife carers and members of the public already treating mange in your area. They’re always looking for more help, even if it’s just a couple of hours a week.  Ask your local wildlife group and join their team. Or you can ask us and we might know if there’s someone treating mange in your area.

By just filling a couple of treatment flaps, or even noting local wombat activity in nearby burrows you could save a wombat from suffering a painfull death. .