39) Mr. Possum

The windows of the back room that we use as an office overlook the roof of the spa bat

h room that belongs to the lower part of the house. We do not have access to that room but the roof is a wonderful place to put out food for the birds. When we first started feeding them there we would put out bread or birdseeds on an old tin tray and the magpies and the brush turkeys were our most frequent diners.

The man who lived behind us once tore us off a strip for feeding bread to the birds. He said it was not good for them. We have since learnt that he was correct but he rather spoilt his story by ending up saying “and the noise that those turkeys make on your tin roof wakes me up at 4pm every morning” We were sure that he only complained because it disturbed his sleep and not because of any harm it might do the birds. We don’t feed them there anymore but before we gave up we had great fun there.

Often in the evening there was some food left over from the days feeding and when night fell we would just leave it there for the birds who came early in the morning, it was always gone by the time we got up. One evening as I was in the office, shutting down the computer I saw a black shape run across the roof. It was gone too quickly for me to see what it was but it was too big for a rat and certainly not as big as a kangaroo. I called Jonny and he suggested that we turn off all the lights and wait and see if it would come back, it was obviously attracted by the left over food. We sat quietly in the dark for a short while and slowly the little animal tiptoed back to the table. There was enough light from the surrounding houses for us to see him quite clearly, it was a possum. He enjoyed his supper but was edgy and as soon as we moved he was off like a shot, crossing the roof and scuttling up the tree in double fast time. We were sorry to see him go but felt privileged to have had a few moments of his company. We consulted our reference book

s and identified him as a Brush Tail Possum. The next evening at about that time we turned off the lights and waited to see if he would come. Again he came and we watched him for a little while. After that although we did turn out the lights and look out for him we did not see him for a few days and we felt sure that he had moved on and that was the last we would see of our furry friend. Then about a week after we had first sighted him and we were no longer turning out the lights we looked out of the window and saw him sitting at a very bare food table as if he was waiting for the next serving. We quietly and slowly got him some more food and although he moved back a few steps when we actually opened the window he did not run away. We put the food out and he came back and ate it. We were really enchanted with him and began putting down not only the bread but also adding fruit to his evening meals. He seemed to be getting more and more used to us and to trust us more. One evening when we were both busy with something or other and had not got round to replenishing the table I looked up and saw him sitting on his hind legs, looking at me through the window as if he was complaining that there was not enough for him to eat. I quickly collected some food and slowly slid back the window while he just stood there and waited for it to be delivered. Seeing him standing up on his hind legs and facing me full on enabled me to see him much more clearly than I ever had before. It was obvious that Mr. Possum had a pouch so we had to rename him Mrs. Possie.

As the days went by Mrs. Possie became more and more friendly, she would tap on the window to call us when she arrived and we could feed her by hand and even stroke her gently. It was clear to see that there was a young one in her pouch as we could watch it moving around and then one evening while we watch a little head peeped out of the pouch to see how things were going along in the big wide world. Sadly a little while later we found the baby dead in our garden. We did not know if it had been killed by a dog or a cat or maybe another possum, they are said to be very territorial. But life goes on for possums and Mrs. Possie did not have time to mourn for long over her loss, as there was soon another little head peeking from her warm pouch. This little one we watched grow too big for the pouch and graduate to riding on Mom’s back. Every evening they would come for food and we would spend a great deal of time watching them.

After a couple of months they just stopped coming. They had been at the table one evening and we had heard another possum making a great deal of noise in the surrounding trees but we could not see it at all. We thought maybe it was a male possum and that it was mating season. Our two little friends did not come back for a couple of weeks and then once again Mrs. Possie came to call bringing with her another new baby in her pouch. We also watched this one grow to young adulthood and then they left us once again. We had hoped that they would return as they had before but we have not seen them since. We sometimes hear possums in the trees but they do not come down on the roof.

Sometimes when we are sitting on the front balcony we see what we think is a Ring Tailed Possum going for an evening stroll along the electric cables or the telephone lines. He is a bit smaller than their Brush Tailed cousins and not as friendly either. One evening while I was working on the computer I heard an animal noise near the back door and went out to investigate. Over the top of the balcony rail I saw a pair of rather large claws but the way the light was shining I could not see the rest of the creature. It looked like part of some horror movie, the kind of film when some mutated species comes out of the swamps to terrorise the whole world. When I turned on the light I could see the whole animal, it was a flying fox (a large bat). It was about 14 inches long and hung there for a while before deciding not to attack me and to fly away.

I hope that Mrs. Possie is well and happy somewhere. I would like to see her again but it has been a long time since she called on us so I don’t expect we ever will. It was great while it lasted and we are grateful for the experience.

Mrs. Possie and her baby