Wombat burrows into Tasmanian storm drain

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LAUNCESTON, Australia, June 15 (UPI) -- A wombat that converted a storm water drain in an Australian town to a cozy winter burrow is being encouraged into a new home, officials say.

The marsupial, which resembles a large rodent, was discovered during a survey with a remote-controlled camera in an outer suburb of Launceston, Tasmania, The (Hobart) Mercury reported. The video, made available by the city, shows the wombat attempting to back away from the camera.

"Sometimes in these videos you see the odd rat or spider; but this is the first time I've seen a wombat," Sonia Smith, the city's engineering development officer, said.

Wombats are native to Australia and known for adaptable habits. They grow to be about 3 feet long.

Smith said the pipe where the wombat had taken up residence was about a foot in diameter.

The wombat is being encouraged to move on to a new burrow. The city will block the pipe to prevent the animal or any of its relatives from returning.