The Joy of Raising Orphaned Possums

Back in September this year, I was asked to raise two little orphaned brush tail possums. I was delighted to be asked, but decided to wait before blogging and in my last possum update I promised I would blog about these little guys separately. Things have been going well with them and I feel confident now to share a little bit about the experience so far. So, firstly, I'd like to introduce you to... Penny and Sheldon.

Sheldon

Penny

They have come a long way since they first arrived. It has been a very busy year for me taking care of four baby possums, working and fitting in family life. I also have experienced some health issues this year, so I haven't always been able to get back to update my blog and capture the wonderful moments that we've experienced this year. But, I think I'm well and truly back to normal and now that the holidays are here, it is the perfect time to update everyone who is interested. Thanks to those who have commented on my blog previously. You know it makes the writer happy that someone has, not only read what I've written, but took the time to drop a quick line of encouragement. I know this writer really appreciates it. I'm not writing this for any sort of recognition though. This is purely a place for me to practise my writing and technology skills and write down my experiences living here at Willow Pond. But even still, it is nice to know I am not always alone. So, thanks guys - you make me smile.

Raising Penny and Sheldon has been a totally different experience compared to Tamigotchi and Saori. Penny and Sheldon grew very quickly and did not spend very long in their little basket, or the cocky cage. Here are some pictures of the transition from inside accommodation to outdoor accommodation.

I used the cocky cage as the next step in the transition from indoor life to outdoor life. The brush tails only spent a couple of weeks in here because they grew so quickly. They were each given a pouch to sleep in, however, they always climbed into the same pouch to curl up and sleep, wrapped tightly around each other. I added lots of fresh leaf tips daily to supplement their diet of Divelact (special dietary formula) and, at this stage, they were also enjoying some chopped fresh fruit.

I continued to prepare the other side of the aviary for these little guys, which included making another dome home. I made a dome home for Tamigotchi and Saori as well, which proved to be a huge success. The dome home I made for the ringies was the first time I'd ever had a go at something like this and I did not know how it would go, or, if indeed it would work. I didn't attach the top of the dome to the chain and as a result, the first time the ringies climbed up on top, the roof collapsed. I thought this was a disaster, until I realised that they had just added their own touches and now, according to Tami and Saori, it was perfect. The ringies love to collect leaves and twigs to make a drey, and now the dome home was perfect for this. You can see from the photo below just how they have added their touches.

For the dome home that I made for the brush tails, I attached the coconut husk dome top to the chain so that even if the brushies climbed up on top, it would keep its shape. It worked out perfectly. I also cut a little doorway into the husk so they could come and go as they pleased. This shape of dome home turned out to be perfect for the brushies because they have grown much larger and they sleep either curled up together or lean back into the round shape of the dome and use it like a big armchair. Because there is the little doorway, I can take a sneaky peek at them sleeping when I am preparing their new fodder and fruit. There is absolutely a stack of room inside each of these homes for the possums. It is also very cosy in there and I love the smell of coconut husk that you can smell in their fur. Here are some photos of the the dome homes.

Tami & Saori's drey

Penny & Sheldon's dome home

Penny and Sheldon have been happily sharing the aviary with Tamigotchi and Saori. Each species has their own separate enclosure and I have added climbing ropes and branches to make it interesting and as natural as possible. I have allowed some of the old fodder to build up on the floor of the aviary so that it emulates a natural bushland. Ian helped me put some large branches and parts of trees inside the aviary so that they get a real taste of life in nature. Here are some photos of the special, custom-made aviary that we had made especially for these little guys.

Tami & Saori's side without foliage

Penny & Sheldon's side without foliage

These are early photos of when I was setting up the aviary. There is no foliage in the aviary as yet.

Climbing frames, high ropes & trees

It is important to make each area interesting and challenging for them so that they grow and gain strength and agility for climbing.

Below are some photos that will show you where these possums are today. All possums are fully weaned now and Saori and Tamigotchi are getting very close to the next stage in their journey ~ their release.

Sheldon having a drink - lapping

Penny and Sheldon won't be too far behind them, although they are still quite young and have more growing to do.

These little guys are so affectionate and friendly and love their life I am sure. My husband, Ian, already suspects that there will be lots of tears and mixed emotions when the time comes for these guys to go out into the wild. I think he is right, but in my heart I know that I will have done everything that was possible to ensure these babies have had the best start in their life, considering their bleak circumstances from the very beginning. I hope that I've been a good surrogate mum and that I haven't made too many mistakes along the way. I know that I'll be happiest if they survive the hazards but, unfortunately, there are no guarantees. It has been an absolute joy for me to raise these little critters and do I have any regrets? None! 

Enjoy the rest of the photos.

Penny enjoying some fruit & nuts

Penny

Tamigotchi & Saori

Enjoying their fruit & flowers

Saori coming out to play - Tami eating (still)

Saori (left) - Tami (right)

Ready for some action

Swinging in the trees

Exploring

Possum Update

Where to begin...

My last blog back in May about Tamigotchi and Saori talked about them drinking from a 5ml syringe...and they were just little babies. I'd only had them for a couple of months at that stage. Well, things have changed since then.

I've had my little guys for six months now and they are happy little campers. Shortly after I moved them into their small plastic/wire (cat sized) cage, I moved them out and into a larger cocky's cage. I put lots of climbing branches in with them so that they could exercise and play now that they were getting bigger.

They finally got the idea about lapping and that made life a little easier. Saori was the first to get the idea. Tamigotchi seemed to want to remain a little baby and have his mummy feed him by syringe, still. So cute! The above photo is of Saori.

The photo opposite, shows Tamigotchi enjoying his syringed dinner. Notice how much they have grown, yet they still enjoy getting down the front of my top! They really are just like little babies.





Be the first to check out my first video clip of the babies.

While Saori and Tamigotchi resided in their cocky cage, we hired someone to come and build them a custom made aviary/hutch so that we could get them closer to a soft release situation and familiar with outside and all the noises the outdoors brings.

I still have to take photos of the completed aviary, but after several weekends the aviary was finished and ready for the little guys. I did the majority of the painting but, at one point, Ian rocked up and gave me a hand as well. We still have a little more painting to go on the smaller side of the aviary, but we're nearly there. The larger side is for Tami and Saori and that is now completed.

After the aviary was completed, we found out we needed to snake proof it, so we had to get the handyman to come back and do that for us. It's amazing how much you learn when you immerse yourself into the whole process. We believed we'd thought of everything, but...wrong.

We recently did some major pruning of trees around our property. Ian and I chose three or four massive branch systems and we installed them in both aviaries. They turned out to be perfect for climbing and hanging fodder for the possys. It was now starting to look more interesting inside the aviary. Our plan was to emulate the great outdoors and make it as natural for the possums as possible.

The handyman, under my instruction, built a large sleeping space up high and I filled it with warm straw grass. I went to Bunnings and bought a hanging basket and two coconut husk inserts and I made a dome home for them to sleep in. It smelled awesome; very organic and it just looked like it would make a very cosy place for them to sleep. I secured it inside the high sleeping space.

I tacked some green shade cloth on one side of the sleeping space. This gave the guys some privacy and protection.

We built the aviary inside a fenced off enclosure. Each week, over many weeks, I have planted out native trees and shrubs. Ian counted up to about 46 so far. I got a surprise as I thought I'd planted out about twenty something. When these trees and shrubs mature, it is going to look awesome and provide much food for the birds and wildlife. We want to plant out many more trees so that it encourages all critters to stay away from the busy road we live on.

A few weeks back Tami and Saori moved over to their aviary. I acclimatised them to the outdoor conditions over time when they were in the cocky cage. It was perfect timing with spring coming on. They have both settled in really well. I have added little runways and extra climbing structures, as well as a rope bridge, which they love to run along. They are very good at running around their aviary and I can see they are very happy there. They have made a lovely little home for themselves.

The first time I went into the aviary to give them fresh fruit and change their fodder, I wondered what they might do? It was the first time that we'd be on equal terms (without them being in a pouch that was easier for me to handle them). I wondered if they would want to have anything to do with me? It didn't take long to find out. The first possum out of the nest and to climb all over me was...Tamigotchi! I was shocked. He'd always been the most timid of the two. Saori always wanted to snuggle with me, but Tami always kept me at a distance. Now that he was free of pouches, etc, he wanted to be with me. I was absolutely over the moon. I've always had a real soft spot for Tami because if it wasn't for him, I would never have experienced raising these orphans. He had been the one who always tried to bite me (not hard), but he always had a go at me in the beginning. He stopped biting me after a month or so, but I never dreamed he'd become so attached to me. I kind of knew Saori would be. I think Tami and I grew closer when he showed me he was not ready to lap. He wanted the syringe for much longer than Saori. Tami is approximately 3 weeks older than Saori and is quite a bit smaller than her. He is quite a small ringtail possum.

Now, every time I enter the aviary on dusk, my babies come out and run down their rope and spring on me. I love the smell of the coconut husk on their fur. They snuggle, they walk all over the back of my shoulders, up my arms and up and down my pants and tops. They help me when I put out the new fodder and interact with whatever I am doing at the time. They are very relaxed and happy.

I feed them a variety of fresh fruit and flowers from native plants. They love the flowers. Once a week I'd drive down to Victoria Point to the Fodder Forest to collect enough fodder to last a week. A friend of mine found out and invited me over to her acreage home and showed me what they grew. Their place has quite a number of established natives and lilly pillies. She kindly allows me to collect fodder from her place to save me such a drive to Victoria Point. Tami and Saori enjoy a wide variety of their favourite foods and are in superior condition. The base of their prehensile tails are very solid and strong.

Another friend of our procured two long lengths of thick marine rope which we plan to run from the aviary up into two large gum trees, so that when the time is right for their soft release, they have a way to safely find their way into the trees. Ian calls it the autobarn highway as the rope is thick and will be plenty big enough for them to successfully climb.

Before my two babies moved to the aviary, I was given two baby orphaned brush tails to raise. I've had them for approximately five to six weeks now. They weighed 226 grams when they arrived. Brush tails, I have discovered are totally different to ringtails, but are no less fun and interesting. Their names are Penny and Sheldon and I will write a separate entry about their arrival and progress at another time.

I feel like I'm in seventh heaven when I look after these gorgeous little critters. They are absolutely adorable and I feel so privileged.

Well, that's about it for the time being...

so, until next time....
cheers

Instalment 28 Wednesday 4 May 2011

Today is athletics day and I've been asked to help out with the boys' high jump. We've had a fair amount of rain lately and yesterday afternoon we experienced a wild storm front. It almost looked like the athletics carnival might have to be cancelled, however, it fined up and the kids got their whole day of field events in with no problems.

The oval was really slippery and we had some spills and thrills at the high jump arena, but the boys were tough and knuckled down to have a great time. The field events went through till 1pm and then it was back to a normal day.

I fed the babies and then went to grab a bite to eat myself. Linda, a friend who teaches up in the secondary school popped down to have a cuppa with us during our lunch time. It is always good to catch up with her.

The rest of the afternoon I spent back in Writers' Circle and then at the end of the school day, I had to leave on time to go up to the secondary library to meet a new student that I was to tutor this term. I fed the babies before I left. I took the babies with me and no one was the wiser. The possums are really no trouble at all.

This first tutoring session went well and my student proved to be lovely. Once the session was over I ended up having to go back to my classroom because I'd left my keys back in my room accidentally.

I headed home and got myself ready for Book Club, which was due to start at 7:30pm. I got some dinner organised, fed the babies. My darling Kimmy kindly vacuumed the floor for me, so everything was looking lovely and spiffy. Then, Kimmy decided to whip us up a batch of home made scones...mini ones that were light and fluffy. It doesn't get much better than that.

Book club was great and we had a great discussion about this month's title: 'The Good Earth' by Pearl S. Buck. The evening was topped off with tea and coffee and warm, fresh scones.

Instalment 19 Monday 25 April 2011

Kimmy and I both wanted to get up and go to a dawn service and we'd decided that we would, but because Sunday ended up being such a big day, and what with me having to keep getting up to feed the possums through the night, I made an executive decision not to do it this year. Kimmy was also feeling the bite, and so we made a pact to do it next year.

I was up at 4:30am anyway...with baby possums, up to my ears in syringes and milky products. I watched the dawn service in the comfort of my telly room and cheered the diggers on.

I send a prayer to all diggers and their families...may God bless them and keep them and I give thanks to them for the undeniable freedom that I enjoy. Amen.

Anzac Day is such a special, reflective time for all Australians and New Zealanders everywhere. It's only a few short years to the centenary celebration - 100 years already! Wow...time goes so quickly.

Both possums are going well. I did a quick update with Gillian to keep her in the loop. Tamigotchi finishes his medicine tomorrow, so I am hoping we get a positive reaction when he comes off everything.

Aww...just how cute can a possum get? So beautiful.

Instalment 2 - Friday 8 April 2011

I woke up a little bleary-eyed this morning after setting the alarm for the two hourly feeds my new little friend needs. With each feed he gets a little better at managing the syringe. I don't have a teat or anything on the end of the syringe, so it's not the best situation, but beggars can't be choosers.

The morning progresses well and I quickly discover he is a bit of a master on the syringe by now. He's quite a strong little guy and during the night my confidence grew with each feed. I think he is going to make it, and I now believe I can help him along the way.

I still don't know what sex he or she is, but for blogging purposes, I am going to make an uneducated guess and call him a he. He slept really well through the night and it didn't take much for me to notice that he loves getting the top of his head rubbed. I am happy to oblige.

After each feed, I gently massage his little body and he goes right off to sleep. I continue to feed him every two hours through today. He is just gorgeous and my heart fills with love for him. How could you not fall in love with such a precious little honey?

By afternoon he is quite the expert on the syringe and I somehow get the impression that he loves his food. He drinks about 1.5ml of diluted Carnation milk each feed.

I did some more reading on the Internet about possums and I am confident he is definitely a ringtail possum. An odd feeling begins to invade my space. I am beginning to feel very torn and uneasy with whom I should notify about this little guy. I really want to do what's best for him, but deep inside, I know this is his home and he should remain here. Oh, I don't know! This is not very easy.

I feel very protective. I want to speak to someone whom I can trust to help me make the right decision for him. I've done a lot of thinking since yesterday and realise this situation is not so cut and dried.

Some deep thought needs to go into this little guy's situation. I am thinking of the big picture. Willow Pond is his home. When he grows up, he is meant to be here. It's his birthright and there is no reason why he shouldn't remain here.

If I could find a mentor I know that I could raise him well. I'd certainly give it my best shot. I'm not silly. I know I could never raise a possum by myself. I know I'd need some help.

Now it was up to me to find someone. I'd have to think about this some more.

Another problem is - I don't have a permit.

After doing further reading I discover that you need a permit to raise wildlife. Well, that makes sense and I don't have a problem with that. Now I need to sign up to be a wildlife carer. That can't be too hard now, can it?

By afternoon, I decide to weigh the little guy. I use my digital kitchen scales. He weighs 59 grams. He is so little and there's not much to him.

His fur is smooth and shiny. I now know for sure from my latest reading, he is not what they call a 'pinky' (furless). Judging from the information, I take a guess that he is between 110 - 115 days old. Ringtails apparently don't get to grow too big.

Some more interesting information I discover is that I need to wipe his bottom gently with a tissue after he eats to encourage him to go to the toilet. I used to have to do this with Kayla's three puppies when I had to take over raising them after Kayla developed severe mastitis. You don't need to rub hard. It is more a tickle with the tissue.

I tried this the next time I fed him, however, it was a little tricky and awkward and in the end I wasn't sure I'd been very successful.

During the evening he becomes decidedly more active. I found a cute basket to make a bed for him in it. When it was time for me to go to bed I carried him upstairs in the basket and set him down on my bedside table, all tucked in for the night. His last feed had been at 12:30am and I was ready to hit the sack. I set the alarm for 2:30am and turned out the lights.

At about 12:20am I awoke to a sound that was not familiar. My brain finally identified the sound as one that comes from the little guy. I'd heard him make it before. The problem was that it didn't seem to be coming from the basket. It was coming from somewhere else in the room.

I got up carefully and turned on the light and dimmed it right down. The little guy was not in his basket and nor was Ian in bed. Ian, I discovered was in the bathroom. I knew I'd need to be careful about where I put my feet. I could still hear the little high pitched sound he was making. I made my way down towards to bottom of the bed and there he was, sitting in the middle of the floor and no doubt, very scared. I can believe that he escaped the sleeping puppies - again, and that Ian hadn't trod on him on the way to the bathroom. Once again his skin had been saved.

I pick him up and he bit me lightly on my forefinger. Cheeky! It didn't hurt, but it is always a surprise when he bites. He has bitten me a couple of times now. I'm a little awkward holding him yet, but I am getting better.

I collect his basket and make our way downstairs. It is now time for some milk. I quickly get everything ready and soon he is tucking in well. He is a spirited little guy.

Now I had to come up with a plan to contain him. I ended up using my netting throw that I use to cover food on the dining table to protect from nasty flies, etc. I spread it over the basket and secured it well. We climbed the stairs after I cleaned up the possum's things and I put the basket back on the bedside table. I left the light on dimmer and laid down and watched to see what would happen next.

I didn't have to wait long for a small silhouette to appear out of his bed. He spent a little bit of time climbing all around the basket inside of the netting, but then he when he discovered he couldn't escape, he burrowed back down into his covers and his hidey hole. Such a cutie.