Wednesday 9 October 2013

gale-force winds and possum twins.....



The appalling windy weather last week

not only wreaked havoc on human houses,  but also on the local wildlife.

at home the birds were creating an awful din, and when I  investigated

I found them swooping on this ringtail possum.

She was dragging herself across my lawn, with two babies

clinging wet and bedraggled to her back.









normally they'd be sound asleep during the day, and I didn't know

which tree they had been flung out of, but they were clearly terrified .

I managed to put mum and bubs into a box, in the far, quiet corner

of my yard. I hoped that when I returned from my studio that afternoon

that they would be missing, gone back to their drey.

but sadly she died.  even now when i think about her, I find it so, so distressing.




I put the twins into the front seat of my car, preying they wouldn't escape

their box whilst I  raced them down to the RSPCA before it closed.

I knew from my experience with a magpie bub in the house 

that I no longer have the stamina for all-night feeds.

and the thought of two baby possums up to high jinks inside my house

in the middle of the night was way too much for me!

but happy ending.... the next day they were adopted together

by a 'Possum-Carer' .....bless her hairy socks ! ....and were doing well.

my guess is that when they grow up they might just be delivered back

to this address in the dead of night.

hopefully they'll have a quieter existence than their poor mum!                


possum twins photo sourced from the web,
photographer David Cook



                                Jo  :(


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