That adorable face ❤️
A few months ago, a Sydney, Australia, family discovered an unexpected visitor in their bedroom: a tiny baby ringtail possum. How she got inside remained a mystery, though the homeowners suspected their curious cat might have carried her in. Concerned for the little possum’s safety, they quickly contacted WIRES, an Australian wildlife rescue organization.
While waiting for the rescuers to arrive, the family lost track of the possum, who had evidently begun exploring her new surroundings. When the WIRES team finally arrived, they conducted a meticulous search. They looked under the bed, under pillows, beneath chairs, and even in every pocket of every piece of clothing in the closet.
It was only in the very last place they checked — the bedside table drawer — that they found her. “There she was, a little juvenile ringtail possum, curled up in a compartment,” WIRES emergency responder Rachel told The Dodo. Terrified and disoriented, the tiny possum had tucked herself away, seeking a safe hiding spot. “It must have crawled underneath the cabinet looking for shelter and then made its way up through the space at the back of the drawers,” Rachel explained.
With gentle hands, Rachel placed the possum into a soft woolen pouch and then into a travel carrier. She conducted a thorough search for the possum’s mother but had no luck finding her. The baby was then transferred to WIRES volunteer possum carer Kris, who was relieved to discover that the little one was uninjured and healthy despite her frightening encounter with the cat. Kris noted that this story serves as an important reminder to keep cats indoors or in secure outdoor areas. “She was remarkably calm after her ordeal and just wanted somewhere warm to curl up and sleep,” Kris said.
The team decided to name her Libby, after Liberty Grove, the neighborhood she was rescued from. Over the next eight weeks, Kris cared for Libby, feeding her fresh leaves from native shrubs and making sure she grew stronger every day. “I soon buddied her up with two other orphaned possums of a similar age,” Kris said. “They slept together in a homemade possum drey, a ball of sticks and branches that serves as a nest.”
When Libby had regained enough strength to survive independently, Kris knew it was time to return her to the wild. “It was fabulous to see her scamper back into the familiar habitat where she belongs — she didn’t even give a backward glance,” Kris said, watching the little possum vanish into her natural home.