He couldn’t quite fit …
There’s nothing quite like curling up in a cozy space after a long day—but for one brushtail possum in Australia, his idea of the perfect nap spot turned out to be a tight squeeze.
Last week, the fluffy little adventurer attempted to snuggle into a bird nesting box, only to discover that the entrance was a bit too snug for his round, furry frame. Determined, he tried to shimmy through the small opening—but the more he wriggled, the more stuck he became.
By the time the Fyshwick division of ACT Wildlife arrived on the scene, the possum—later affectionately named Bob—was still wedged firmly in place, and clearly less than thrilled about his situation.
Realizing that pulling him out might cause injury, the rescue team quickly came up with a safer, more thoughtful plan.
“Bob had to be brought down, still stuck in the wood panel, sedated by a vet, and then carefully extracted,” ACT Wildlife shared in a Facebook post.
While seeing the little guy trapped tugged at their hearts, the team wasn’t entirely surprised. With native possum habitats shrinking, animals like Bob are often forced to seek shelter in unusual—and sometimes risky—places.
“Reduction in habitat for possums is a big concern,” the organization noted.
Thankfully, Bob’s adventure had a happy ending. After a gentle rescue and a brief snooze under anesthesia, he woke up at the clinic safe, sound, and free at last. A clean bill of health later, Bob was released back into the wild to continue his search for a proper place to call home.
It’s been a few days since his release, and there have been no signs of Bob—something the ACT Wildlife team sees as a very good thing.
“All worked out, though,” they wrote, “and Bob was released to hopefully choose better housing.”
Here’s to hoping he finds a front door that’s the just right kind. 🐾🏡