Typically, on school day mornings, siblings Amahlia, Darcy, Oakley and Wyatt check their mailbox from the car as their parents drive them to school. But recently, the kids decided to walk to their mailbox on foot — a seemingly small decision that made a world of difference.
The children were especially eager to check the mail because they were expecting a package. But when they got to the mailbox at the entrance to their New South Wales, Australia, property, they didn’t see a parcel. Rather, they found a terrified wombat trapped under a heavy cattle grate.
The poor wombat was wet, cold and clearly anxious. The kids needed an expert. Luckily, they knew just who to call. With help from their neighbors, James and Jilly, they contacted local wombat advocate and Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary cofounder John Creighton, whom they’d met when he visited their school.
Creighton felt so glad that the siblings did the right thing.
“Had the kids not walked to that mailbox that morning, [the] wombat would not have been seen,” Creighton told The Dodo. “Cars would’ve passed right over her. She would’ve spent the day trapped in wind and rain, with no shelter. She wouldn’t have survived.”
Creighton couldn’t complete the rescue alone. Thankfully, Peter Lewis, a friend from the sanctuary, and unit members from Berrima Rural Fire Service were happy to help. The team carefully lifted the grate just enough for Creighton to duck under and grab the wombat.
“All of us were so delighted,” Creighton said. “There were cheers from all the men, and we shared that great feeling of knowing that all of us worked together to achieve a great result in saving a beautiful life.”
The rescuer gave the wombat a thorough inspection and found her to be in good health. She was ready to go home.
“I released her on site, and she happily ran off to a nearby burrow on the property,” Creighton said.
Creighton is grateful that things turned out so well for the wombat, whom rescuers named Evelyn. He hopes this story encourages others to be on the lookout for wildlife in their area and to call an expert if they see an animal who’s hurt or in distress. He’s also proud of Amahlia, Darcy, Oakley and Wyatt, who knew just what to do.
“The kids are responsible for all this,” Creighton said. “They saved that dear little wombat’s life.”