A puggle is a baby echidna.

She was small, grey, soft and very vulnerable.

The man who found this tiny creature did not want to risk predators finding her, by leaving her there just in case the mother returned, and so contacted Potoroo Palace for assistance.

September is normally gestation time for echidnas, followed by a short incubation period after which the egg usually hatches in October. 

It is held in place by flaps of skin on the mother’s belly and soon begins to suckle on her “milk patch” until the spines begin to develop. 

Still blind, and too large to carry it is left in a short burrow where she returns to nurse it every five days.

When she was brought to Potoroo Palace her eyes were still closed.

It became obvious that a specialised carer was required for this case. Arrangements were promptly made with a wildlife carer in Nowra and a half way meet in Moruya occurred for her transference.

Because of this carer’s great success with the rescue and recovery of “Luna”, Potoroo Palace’s albino echidna resident, when she was found in the wild nearly five years ago, malnourished, dehydrated, sunburnt and unable to fend off attacking birds, staff have great faith that this little puggle is in the best hands possible. 

Always check with a wildlife carer if you ever rescue a puggle.

A rescued puggle may not need feeding immediately but will in due course need to be fed a special milk formula.

Echidnas need to be kept cool and a rescued adult may only be traumatised, and if seen to be trying to escape should be released within a one kilometre radius of where it was found as soon as possible.

If an echidna is suffering a severe beak injury it is unlikely to survive.