Baby wombat rescued from dead mother’s pouch

A baby wombat is receiving round-the-clock care after it was rescued from its dead mother's pouch in Central Victoria.

The joey was found by passing motorist Paul Rocks who had stopped to move its mother from the middle of the road in Harcourt, northeast of Castlemaine, after it was hit by a car.

“Absolutely amazing, I walked up to it and it was a very dead animal and all of a sudden, its belly was moving I thought this is pretty weird,” Mr Rocks told 9NEWS today.

“Sure enough a couple of ears and its foot came out so I thought oh I'd better get it out.”

The wombat was taken to a rescue shelter in Bendigo, where she has been given the nickname “Hattie from Harcourt”

Wildlife officer Neil Morgan said the joey was doing remarkably well.

“Every feed has been fantastic, normally they play up and carry on the first few days you get them in,” he said.

“Should have her for another probably nearly two years, put some weight on and release it.” 

Mr Morgan hopes Hattie’s story will encourage more motorists to stop and check road kill if they do accidentally hit animals while driving.

“If you see an injured animal on the side of the road just pull over and check and give us a bell.”