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Echidna Breeding season
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Its that time again for our beautiful and spikey creatures, its the Echidna’s breeding season.
Echidnas breed generally from the end of June to early September.
A particular interesting characteristic displayed by the Echidna’s during the breeding season is the formation of what looks like a train. Sexually active males have been known to search out females and form trains (as pictured) which may consist of two to ten male echidnas following one another, the female leading and the youngest male is generally at the end. It’s quite a site to see and just to sit back and observe is very educational as you get to see what actually happens out in the wild in their natural environment.
During the breeding season a male Echidna may also join several separate trains.
A female Echidna lays a single egg, which is incubated in the pouch and takes approximately 10 days to hatch. The eggs are round to slightly oval in shape and 13–16 mm long, and they have a soft, leathery shell. When the eggs are hatched, the young Echidna has well-developed forelimbs. It can weigh as little as 380mg and can measure 1.45cm which is about the size of a jelly bean. The young Echidna is suckled by its mother from mammary glands in the pouch, and is carried in the pouch for about 3 months.
During this time the female will sometimes leave the young animal in a burrow, made by the female for its protection. Sadly we rescuers/carers know all to well that not all females make it back to their dens as they have been victims of motor vehicles, dog attacks, fires, developments, so sadly the youngsters starve to death in these dens.
When the infant leaves the pouch, its spines have started to develop, but it still stays close to its mother and may continue to suckle. The young echidna will leave the burrow at around 12 months of age, weighing 1–2 kg.
When its fully grown, Echidnas measure 30–53 cm long with males weighing about 6 kg and females about 4.5 kg.
Echidnas have been known to live for as long as 16 years in the wild, but generally their life span is thought to be under 10 years and sadly alot dont get past the first 3yrs of their life.
If you see any injured Echidnas during this time or see one you think may be deceased please call Sydney Wildlife 9413 4300 so they can be checked and removed just incase there is a live puggle on board needing urgent care.
Also please remember if you happen to pick one up from the road alive please do not relocate them as its hazardous to their survival and their puggles survival.