Sometimes, as a wildlife carer, it is good to get away for a day. Nevertheless, once home the
WILVOS 5441 6200 number soon catches up. Having the only 24 hour wildlife Hotline on
the coast means our WILVO volunteers on the phone are kept very busy, for 24 hours, 365
days of the year.
Arriving home after a ‘day off’ this week I had barely walked in the door and the calls
started. Feeling a little weary it was back on the road for a pickup of a little possum. The
energy soon returns, recharged by the kindness of members of the public who have taken a
special interest in our native animals.
When I arrived to collect the little ringtail possum, this very small possum was all
wrapped up so it felt cosy and safe. He and his friend had been walking along the road and
his friend said, ‘there’s a rat on the road’. This kind young man immediately knew it was a
possum and picked it up. Happy to get off the cold ground the possum ran up his neck and
hung on! It was looking very content on my arrival, all wrapped up so she could hide, no
doubt very happy not to be out lying on the road feeling very vulnerable to attack from
everything. I placed the little one in a thick cave of possum pouches where “Hope” soon
settled in the warm basket. The lovely name was given by her rescuer. On arrival home
“Hope” weighed in at 73 grams and was ready to lap a small amount of milk, followed by
toileting, and curl up and sleep for a few hours until the next feed.
A few calls came through that night, but that ringtail was saved from certain death. I love to
see people phoning for assistance, containing their pets, and realizing we all have to share our
precious space, as the wildlife habitat continually diminishes.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail
Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au
Thank you to our rescuers out there……
