The furry baby was hiding 💔
Last month in Melbourne, Australia, a resident named Ayesha noticed her dog barking and looking up at her window. When she followed her dog’s gaze, she was surprised to spot a small, furry creature perched on her curtain rod.
A few days earlier, Ayesha had thought she spotted a rat running across her floor. But upon closer inspection, she realized the creature on the curtain was not a rat—it was a possum. Possums, native to Australia and distinct from opossums, are marsupials that typically live in trees but often find their way into urban homes.
Ayesha decided to name the possum “Mistletoe” since it had appeared so close to Christmas. Understanding she needed help to safely remove the animal, Ayesha called The Wildlife Rescuers. Meaghan Scott, a wildlife rescuer and carer, quickly arrived to assist.
Upon assessing the situation, Ayesha and Scott noticed a mess near the chimney and curtain rod, leading them to believe Mistletoe had entered through the chimney. The recent hot weather likely drove the possum to seek a cooler spot. After climbing the curtain in search of safety, Mistletoe had become stuck. “Possums naturally gravitate to higher places like trees,” Scott explained. “I think she climbed the curtains and just decided to stay there.”
Scott, who has a fear of heights, didn’t hesitate to climb a tall ladder to reach Mistletoe. “For some reason, my fear of heights disappears when animals are in need,” Scott shared.
Together, Ayesha and Scott carefully placed Mistletoe into a carrier, ensuring she was comfortable during the process. Once at Scott’s wildlife care facility, a thorough health check revealed that Mistletoe was dehydrated, had a minor nail injury, and was experiencing digestive issues.
After just two days of hydration and veterinary care, Mistletoe was feeling much better. “She regained her appetite and became a bit more feisty,” Scott posted on The Wildlife Rescuers’ Facebook page.
When Mistletoe was finally released back into the wild, she wasted no time in climbing a tree, much happier than she had been on the curtain rod. “As soon as I opened the carrier, she was off,” Scott said. “She was very eager to go.”