Rescuing Sugar: The Adventures of a Baby Brushtail Possum at Ferntree Hollow
So, we have a little issue at Ferntree Hollow. This little one and his/her Mumma have decided the space between the eave and the kitchenette roof in our guest suite would make a great home.
Oh Sugar! The baby brushtail (wanna-be sugar glider) possum at Ferntree Hollow.
The problem is during the day the baby sleeps and relaxes so much that he/she lets go of Mumma and slips off the roof and into our secret garden, about a 3-metre drop!
I don't think he/she realises it's not a sugar glider but a baby brushtail possum! We kept finding him/her dazed and confused in the freshly mulched garden bed, which does make for a nice soft landing but still! We also found the wee little one trying to climb up under the house.
Sugar trying to find shelter under the house after another slip off the roof and into the garden bed.
We couldn't work out where the baby was coming from until Simon found Mumma squeezing up under the eave. So, we did what all good wanna-be wildlife rescuers do and Googled how to make a possum house! Turns out ringtail possums like a drey in the tree branches made of sticks but the much bigger brushtails prefer tree hollows - makes sense. So, the multi-talented, Simon (aka my hubby) went to work on creating a makeshift tree hollow for Big Mumma and Sugar - the baby brushtail wanna-be sugar glider.
Sugar dazed and confused in the middle of day but oh so gorgeous!
If you have a better name for Big Mumma and Sugar, I'm all ears! It's the best I could do for now. I had nicknamed the baby brushtail “Possie” but we also have a cat named “Kitty” so as you can see my imagination doesn't stretch so far with naming things. However, I must admit the name Kitty really does suit Kitty as she is quite a little cat (besides her belly) and at the age of 12 (13 next month) still has the sweetest little kitten face. Anyway, back to the possum story.
A lovely new brushtail box home for Big Mumma & Sugar, should they like it.
Simon made a beautiful box to the specifications recommended by the Wildlife Rescue South Coast organisation. He has mounted the box in a very sheltered spot next to the eave where Big Mumma decided to make a home. I placed some slices of apple around the outside of the box, also suggested by Wildlife Rescue, to try and attract Big Mumma to their new, hopefully safer home for Sugar.
Last night was our first night, and Simon set up a camera to record any activity. A cheeky little ringtail possum was caught snacking on the apple in the tree but unfortunately no takers in the possum box! I am very aware pythons like to hang out in possum boxes so we are keeping a close eye on the situation. Here's hoping I don't hear another squeal from Sugar, the wanna-be glider, sliding off the roof again today!
Ferntree Hollow is a 2-bedroom guest suite situated in the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Maleny Qld Australia. Your hosts, Simon and Jo, offer weekend accommodation via Airbnb to those wanting to explore the magic of Maleny. Jo, a watercolour artist and transpersonal therapist, facilitates Wattle Bloom Art Therapy Retreats midweek.
