It is always rewarding to get a quick, happy result when a call comes through our WILVOS 5441 6200 hotline.
This call came through to Lisa on the Hotline and she phoned another of our very obliging volunteers, Keith, to help with the problem. These caring concerned people had found a very young, and very cute, little ringtail possum. They knew there was a family of ringtails living in a drey up in a tree near the house. This meant there was a good chance of reuniting the joey with his Mum after dark fell.
So with fingers and toes crossed, Keith took the joey out near the tree just as the sun set. The little ringtail possum joey made a squeaky noise and Mum popped out on the branch. A few minutes later all the noisy miners had gone home to roost, so it was time to test those maternal instincts.
Keith put the youngster on the branch and there was no delay. The large female came down immediately, followed by two of her previous juveniles. Ringtail possums enjoy communal, family living. Though only 20cm away from Keith, Mum immediately began grooming her little joey. Sometimes the mother will immediately scoop the young ones onto her back or into her pouch. Ringtails almost always have two young, so I’m sure this little ones brother or sister was happy to have him home.
It is days like this that make up for the sad days in wildlife caring.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au