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Penny Possum

Penny Possum
On Friday night the dogs were going crazy. I let them out of the laundry door and they wouldn’t stop barking. It was dark but I noticed a strange shape, so we investigated and there was a python eating a possum. The possum had a baby which was clinging to it. I tried to distract the python while Ian rescued the baby possum using a plastic long handled rake. It was really tiny and squeaking. We wrapped it in a towel and Ian sat in the dark keeping it warm until the rescue people arrived 9.30pm. They also took the python away thank goodness. Unfortunately Mum possum couldn’t be saved.

Sunday morning Angus, our Westie, was in the same area and wouldn’t come back indoors. I investigated and discovered another possum. It was alive thank goodness. We wrapped it in a towel, kept it warm, gave it a little lactose free milk and took it right away to the RSPCA Wildlife rehabilitation centre in Eumundi. The girls there said that Percy Possum was doing well and had been actively feeding, so now Penny Possum has joined her brother :- )

The python was about 8 foot long. We saw a python a few months ago passing through along the garden fence, and a discarded snake skin recently, so knew it was around but didn’t dream this would happen.

Not a very good photo as it was low light and I didn't want to upset Penny Possum:-) She is about 4 inches long, not including her tail.

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ColRam, HelenaPF, , tiabunna and 7 other people have particularly liked this photo


38 comments - The latest ones
 Gillian Everett
Gillian Everett club
20160529 083826 Penny and Percy Possum
8 years ago.
 Pam J
Pam J club
OH MYYYYYYYYYY !!!!

Its a VERY active snake season here this year.... 4 in 4 days... but NOT pythons !!!!

I have just about got used to the snakes... well sort of.... but noooooooooo not if they were pythons !!!!!!!!!!
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Pam J club
Yes, we were pretty upset on Friday night. I am not at all keen on snakes of any kind. So glad that we were able to rescue the babies. Penny Possum just turned up this morning, think she must have been left up in a tree. I was brushing up leaves in the area yesterday, and the dogs didn't spot her then.
8 years ago.
 Shuttering Yukon
Shuttering Yukon
omg... i would have fainted, i am just petrified of a teeny grass snake i can't imagine one that big, eww my skin is crawling! I do hope the Percy and Penny live a healthy life.

She is pretty cute though, even in low light.
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Shuttering Yukon
Thanks Wendi. I thought I was going to have a heart attack afterwards, just a panic attack. I really am scared of snakes.
7 years ago.
 Chrissy
Chrissy club
Was für eine aufregende story! Gut, dass es den Kleinen gut geht.
Ein ganz süßes Foto!!! Toll!
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Chrissy club
Thanks Chrissy
7 years ago.
 PaulOClassic©
PaulOClassic©
What a wonderful story!@

So pleased that Penny and Percy were saved - just sad about their mom! :o(
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to PaulOClassic©
Thanks Paul
7 years ago.
 Valfal
Valfal
Wow, what a dramatic evening for you! I'm so glad you were at least able to save the baby possums; how cute little Penny is! I can't imagine finding an 8 foot long python in my yard; you must have just about had a heart attack when you saw that thing! :-0
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Valfal
Thanks Val
7 years ago.
 Gudrun
Gudrun club
Little Penny possum is so cute but the python would have given me a heart attack! I'm scared even of grass snakes...
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Gudrun club
Me too
7 years ago.
 Karen's Place
Karen's Place club
How heartbreaking for momma possum. Thank you and your husband for saving little Percy and Penny. What an ordeal.

Great photo, Gillian. She's adorable.
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Karen's Place club
Thanks Karen. I will be keeping in touch with the Wildlife Centre. Hoping they will send a progress photo.
7 years ago.
Karen's Place club has replied to Gillian Everett club
That would be great. Thanks, Gillian! :)
7 years ago.
 PhLB - Luc Boonen
PhLB - Luc Boonen club
Such a cruel story, I'm glad heroes still exist! Good luck for the family members
8 years ago. Edited 8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to PhLB - Luc Boonen club
Thanks Luc
7 years ago.
 Diederik Santema
Diederik Santema club
It was quite an adventure
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Diederik Santema club
Thanks Diederik
7 years ago.
 Jan
Jan
What a heroic gesture. You are a saint. A snake would freak me out I think.
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Jan
Thanks Jan. It freaked me out too!
7 years ago.
 Sami Serola (inactive)
Sami Serola (inactiv… club
Something one does not expect to experience around here... =/ Here the wildlife experiences are limited to survival fights between birds. Seagulls can be rather merciless predators as well, killing even full grown pigeons.
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Sami Serola (inactiv… club
A scary experience but at least we were able to rescue the little ones
7 years ago.
 LutzP
LutzP club
...what a story, the worst what may happen here is a marten chewing up the water hoses of your car engine :-/
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to LutzP club
Yes, pretty scary
7 years ago.
 Amazingstoker
Amazingstoker
quite the cutie, and what a tale, so sad about mum
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Amazingstoker
Thanks Stoker
7 years ago.
 Clickity Click
Clickity Click
Oh dear, the little possum is so lucky that you and your husband were able to get it to safety ... I don't do snakes of any kind very well and the sight you described would have had me in a frantic state. You and your husband were brave to tackle that big snake ... I know that nature while beautiful at times, can be brutal but having to see it up close and personal is unnerving. Hope the two make it at the center. Your image of the the little one is so moving.
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to Clickity Click
Thanks Chris. They are doing OK so far.
7 years ago.
 autofantasia
autofantasia club
Such a unique shot and a fascinating story albeit with a sad outcome at least for the mother ... still I'm glad to hear the little ones are doing well. Oh, and I do hope Angus keeps well away from any slippery visitors in future! :)
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to autofantasia club
Yes, it is a worry with the dogs
7 years ago.
 tiabunna
tiabunna club
An interesting story, Gillian. So good that you were able to rescue the young ones. Haven't seen any pythons down here (though plenty of others).
8 years ago.
Gillian Everett club has replied to tiabunna club
Thanks George. It's really only the second python we have seen over the years. We were on acreage for 23 years and only saw one python and a few small snakes passing through. This event was on a relatively suburban block but with quite dense vegetation in the area.
7 years ago.
 Gillian Everett
Gillian Everett club
Thanks everyone. I phoned the Wildlife Centre and Penny and Percy are doing well, taking food and supplements, recovering from their ordeal.
7 years ago.
 HelenaPF
HelenaPF club
Adorable!******************************************
7 years ago.
 Gillian Everett
Gillian Everett club
24 September 2016
We took a baby Magpie into the rehab centre and received good news that Penny and Percy Possum are very healthy and happy, growing well :-)
7 years ago.
 Gillian Everett
Gillian Everett club
8 June 2016
Percy and Penny Ringtail Possums
7 years ago.

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