Healesville Sanctuary has received two echidna puggles, found following the accidental destruction of their burrows during property renovation activities north-east of Melbourne. One puggle was discovered by an excavator clearing a paddock, while the other was located under a concrete slab at a construction site.
Echidna Burrowing Behavior
Gerry Ross, Healesville Sanctuary's life sciences manager, indicated that female echidnas frequently create burrows in diverse locations late in the year. She noted that areas such as mulch piles or burn piles can provide protected environments for puggles.
Echidnas are monotremes, a group of egg-laying mammals. Puggles initially possess soft hair that later develops into spines. Unlike other mammals, mother echidnas do not have teats; instead, milk is secreted from mammary glands on the stomach. Mothers may leave puggles in burrows for up to 10 days. During these periods, puggles consume 10 to 40 percent of their body weight and then enter a state of torpor, a sleep-like condition, to digest the milk in the burrow's cool environment. The mother backfills the burrow to ensure protection and maintain a stable temperature. This hidden nature of the burrows can render puggles vulnerable to disturbance.
Landowner Advisory
Echidnas are typically found in open heathland, forests, scrubs, or grasslands. During adverse weather, they may seek shelter under bushes or burrow into soil. With increased outdoor activity during summer, including gardening and bush clearing, Ms. Ross advised individuals to inspect for wildlife that might have established homes in wood heaps or building sites. She confirmed that puggles are occasionally admitted to the sanctuary after being unearthed in burn heaps or mulch piles, underscoring the importance of considering potential wildlife disturbances during property work.
Legal and Safety Information
It is illegal to remove an echidna from its natural environment. The sanctuary's veterinary staff can handle puggles without difficulty due to their undeveloped spines. Echidna spines form from individual hairs. Primary threats to echidnas include feral dogs, foxes, and habitat loss resulting from land clearing and development. If an echidna is observed in a backyard, pets should be kept away, and the echidna allowed to depart independently.