by, Jan Fenimore

This is a creature that lives underground

where digging out burrows can make a mound

of dirt or roots or what’s in the way,

because creating his home can take all day.

Once inside he may connect with others,

parents, sisters, cousins or brothers,

to make lots of tunnels deep inside

which provides a perfect place to hide.

From dingo dogs or weather that’s wild

he’ll come outside when it’s nice and mild.

His eyes are bad, so he hunts by smell,

native grasses and roots serve him well.

He avoids the heat and hunts at night

which usually keeps him from taking flight

‘cause he certainly can’t move that fast

he’s heavy, short-legged and would come in last.

Australia’s the place he calls home

but has less of a chance for places to roam

so he’s really rare and endangered too

he’d probably do better in a zoo.

The End

Fun Facts About the Wombat

Did you know?

• Wombats look like fat little pigs, except they have lots of hair!

• They have short powerful legs and sharp claws, so it’s no surprise they live below ground.

• The network of tunnels created by the wombat is called a “warren.”

• Even though the wombat’s legs are short it can run up to 25 miles per hour (40 kph).
• The wombat is a marsupial, cousin to the koala. It can weigh 55 to 88 pounds (25 to 40 kg).
• A baby wombat is called a “joey.”

• Joey’s are born during the rainy season, one at a time. It stays in the mother’s pouch for 8 to 9 months.

• The baby wombat is ready to leave its mother at 18 months old.

What do you think of the wombat? Tell us in the comments section.

About the Author   

Jan Fenimore is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has been published in various magazines. She also has a self-published multicultural novel, Chitra’s Secrets, available on Amazon.

Her children’s fiction has won or placed in numerous contests, most recently 5^th place in Institute of Children’s Literature poetry contest.

Jan also has a picture book coming out in 2019 and another coming out in spring of 2020.