“He was very scared and was trying to hide his little face.”
Distressed Ringtail Possum Rescued by Homeowner After Dog Senses Unusual Visitor
In late March, a homeowner in Australia was alerted to an unexpected situation when their dog began barking persistently. Curious about the commotion, the homeowner followed their pet’s gaze and made a surprising discovery — a young ringtail possum clinging to their hot water heater.
According to a post by WIRES Wildlife Rescue, the juvenile ringtail possum appeared visibly distressed and out of place. These iconic Australian marsupials are typically found high in the treetops, where they use their distinctive white-tipped tails for balance and enjoy a leafy diet, as reported by Australian Geographic.
Concerned for the animal’s well-being, the homeowner quickly contacted WIRES, a leading Australian wildlife rescue organization. Within a short time, wildlife responder Erin arrived to assess the situation.
Erin speculated that the possum sought shelter behind the hot water system to escape the dog’s loud barking. She carefully wrapped the young marsupial in a towel and performed a health check. While clearly frightened, the possum — a joey — showed no signs of physical injury.
“Being a joey, he was quite docile but very scared and was trying to hide his little face,” Erin shared with The Dodo.
To calm him, Erin placed the baby possum in a soft felt pouch. The exhausted joey quickly dozed off, finally safe after his stressful ordeal.
Although rescuers searched the area for the possum’s mother, she could not be located. Fortunately, the young marsupial was placed with an experienced wildlife carer. There, he was introduced to two other orphaned joeys of similar age. Together, the trio is thriving, learning essential survival skills in a safe and nurturing environment.
Once the possum is strong and independent enough, he’ll be released back into the wild near his original home territory — where he can resume a natural life among the eucalyptus trees.