Backyard Zoology · 25 October 2020
2020-10-25T16:40:18+11:00
https://www.facebook.com/backyardzoology/posts/pfbid02xHQEsaGFeir54hAS6sVHSMWUe4gY6HtNem7GMbAWy6C5Ynbwz3dwQNNwu7bdXGDHl

Well, there’s NEVER a dull moment here! Last night, after the rain had died down and we had settled in for a little bit of entertainment delivered via one of many streaming services and the puppers very finally quiet and sleepy and we’d eaten and were now moving onto some ice cream based fun, there was a noise at the back door. Or I should say, ON the back door!

Claws raking over the security mesh kind of noise. And another heavier sound moving back and forwards on the lip of the tin roof. The dogs of course were first on the case rushing to the back of the house, racing and pushing and shoving each other to be first there and then the husband was there having swiped a torch off of the shelf on his way through. “Bunny!” he screamed (yes I’m Bunny. It’s okay to be jealous 😉) “Get here NOW” although the now was unnecessary as what was unfolding would take a while it turned out.

As he shone the beam of light at the security door, a little silhouette was highlighted, a little possum shaped silhouette. I bent down trying to wrangle the dogs out of the room, the sight and the smell getting them pretty excited and even as I pulled the away I could hear the nails unhooking and then hooking again in the door and finally a little breathy cry.

Matt turned off the torch and we moved away hoping that the little, very newly out of the pouch Brushtail Possum would sort itself out. The noise and the crying continued, as did the pacing on the roof, which was obviously Mum. The baby found its way to the bottom of the door and then... just sat there on the step looking into the house. Ah baby, that’s not a good place to stay. 

So I grabbed the torch, a towel and headed out the other door making myself as small and as non threatening as possible, said hello to the tiny golden tinged bubba, it’s face covered with spider webs, a by-product of our pro spider stance and quickly scooped it up and moved it down a couple of steps to a point where the mumma possum, her head poking over the roof, could now see her baby.

I left the little towel wrapped possum parcel and moved onto the deck where I could watch from a safe distance and I have to admit my anxiety was rising as I heard Mum galloping back and forth but not being able to work out how to get back to her baby who was crying almost constantly for her. After a few minutes the baby took herself down the stairs, across the deck and over to a tree on the other side of the yard. Oh. 

I stood there, running the different scenarios through my head, trying to work out the best course of action when there was a very heavy thud to the side of the house and then mum strutted over sniffing the ground, following the scent and headed over and up a tree. It took a while and much peering through the wet, dark foliage but I spotted mum snacking on some leaves and then finally a little fluffy body clambering up and over her. Reunited!!! 

Brushtail Possum joey
Northern Illawarra