Mim's recovery
was very fast, and after 3 weeks she was released where she was found.
She has a large scar across her face but her sight is fine in both
eyes. Possums are very territorial and cannot be relocated, in the
case of an adult possum of any species coming into care, the time
in captivity has to be as short as possible to ensure the possum does
not loose its territory.
If you were to relocate an adult possum, its chances of survival would
not be good, as most areas have resident possums already in occupation,
and they will defend their territory to the death.
This possum is still seen, and she is doing very well. As she is easy
to recognise, we are able to keep an eye on her progress.
If you
are having a problem with possums in your roof for instance, firstly,
make sure it is a possum, this is easily done as they are rarely heard
during the day or night, the only time you will hear them is at dusk
as they leave to spend the night looking for food, and again in the
early morning when they come back to sleep the day away.
So if this is the only time you hear them, put a nesting box in a
tree close by and let the possum have a look at it, it will be interested
if you place a banana in the box, and as the possum leaves at night,
close off the entrance where it is getting in, but don't forget to
check your roof in case it has left a juvenile behind.
If you hear scratching all night it is most likely mice or rats, they
can sound as if they are wearing army boots with hobnails.
Possums would much rather live in the bush far away from human kind,
but we have left them not much choice as to where they take up residence,
we fell their homes, build houses where their families have lived
for generations, and still expect them to move on. With a little help
from us we can coexist in the bush, think before you fell that tree
with a hollow, somebody may call it home, put up nesting boxes for
the wildlife that live in your area, they would rather be away from
your house, but may have no choice.
As
you can see Mim was in a sorry state when we found her. It was a trip
to the veterinarian where she had her wound cleaned and given medication
to stop infection. We brought her back to Wildlife Mountain and continued
cleaning her wound. She was also given medication daily in case of
infection, and lived in a hollow log covered in fine netting so the
flies could not get to her.