A puggle – or baby echidna – was found “disorientated” near Bawley Point, WIRES spokeswoman Sandy Collins said.

“He has been named Durras and is approximately four-to-five months old, and still reliant on his mum for milk,” she said.

“The good news is in the last 12 hours Durras had a big drink of milk from his mum, and that can last him two days before he needs another feed.”

Ms Collins said puggles were not a usual rescue.

“This is the second puggle we have rescued in three years, so they aren’t common,” she said. 

Durras will be taken to the vet for an X-ray.

“It’s hard to physically check a spiny echidna, even if his spines are only just erupting,” she said.

“He scratches a lot as the spines coming through are quite itchy.”

The mini mite clocks in at 600g, and fits into a human palm.