| South-East
Queensland has nine possum species in four families:
Phalangeridae:
Common Brushtail (Trichosurus
vulpecula)
Mountain Brushtail (Trichosurus caninus)
Pseudocheiridae:
Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus
peregrinus)
Greater Glider (Petauroides volans)
Petauridae:
Sugar Glider (Petaurus
breviceps)
Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis)
Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis)
Acrobatidae:
Feathertail Glider (Acrobates
pygmaeus)
Eastern Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus nanus)
As wildlife carers you
could be called on to look after any one of these. Firstly you
must identify the animal correctly and familiarize yourself with
the species and its lifestyle, then consider how best you can
meet the needs of the animal, and where necessary, provide it
with the skills that it needs to survive in the wild.
(Top
of Page)
Housing
Baby Possums
When a baby possum first
comes into care it will require a pouch to simulate that of the
mother’s pouch, which is flexible, warm and moist. The pouch
should be made of natural fibres so that it breathes, such as
cotton or wool. Stretch cotton as in a baby singlets is a good
material for a pouch liner. Many synthetic materials do not breathe
so it is best to avoid them. The cotton pouch liner is placed
into a woollen beanie, or sheep skin pouch and the possum is kept
at a constant temperature of 32 degrees, in an escape-proof container.
Initially a cat carry cage may be suitable so long as the temperature
can be kept stable and the wire is small enough to prevent escape.
Points to note:
- Use natural fabrics
like cotton or wool. Don’t use synthetics
- A variety of pouch
sizes to fit the growing possum
- No loose threads
that can be chewed or cause entanglement, or loops of cotton
or wool in which claws or nails can be caught
- A constant temperature
of 32 degrees maintained with a heat pad and thermometer
- An escape proof container
(Top
of Page)
Housing
Young Possums
A medium sized cage (minimum
size 1 metre x 1 metre x 1.2 metres) with small gauge wire to
prevent escapes. If feathertail gliders are to be housed the whole
cage needs to be flyscreened. The pouch can be attached high in
the cage or placed in a nest box. Food and water containers should
also be placed high in the cage. A water container is secured
to hold vegetation and keep it fresh. The cage should be set up
with branches for climbing. If ants are a problem the cage can
be placed on a table and the table legs placed in pot plant saucers
containing talcum powder. Ants don’t seem to like walking
through powder.
Points to note:
- Small gauge wire,
fly screened if necessary, to prevent escape
- Pouch and nest box,
food and water containers placed high in cages
- Clean, fresh water
available at all times
- Vegetation picked
daily
- Water container,
firmly fixed to hold vegetation
- Branches to climb
(Top
of Page)
Housing
Adult Possums
An aviary (minimum size
2 metres x 2 metres by 2 metres) is required for the older possum.
It should be snake and rat proof and set up with branches, both
fixed and movable for climbing. The nest box should be fixed high
in the aviary and also the food and water containers. Water containers,
to hold vegetation and keep it fresh, should be fixed firmly at
about waist height or higher.
Points to note:
- Small gauge wire
to be snake and rat proof
- Nest box placed high
in an aviary
- Food and water containers
placed high off ground
- A variety of fresh,
natural vegetation, branches of trees and shrubs, ground covers,
climbers, including leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds and bark available
daily.
- Clean, fresh water
available at all times
- Branches for climbing
and access to food, water and nest box
Make sure that domestic
pets, such as cats and dogs, do not have access to the area where
the possum’s cage or aviary is kept. The possum is being
prepared for return to the wild. It is a death sentence for the
possum if it views cats and dogs as friendly or harmless.
(Top
of Page)
Possum
Boxes
With the loss of habitat
for whatever reason, residential and commercial development, agriculture
and forestry, tree hollows are in short supply and the few hollows
left will be in great demand not only by possums but also by birds
and bees. In the interest of easing the transition of the hand
reared possum from the safey and security of the aviary to the
wild it is a good idea to provide it with a home. There are a
few important points to keep in mind, when you are making or buying
a possum box and installing it.
- Use weatherproof material
such as marine ply or western red cedar. Size will depend on
the species to be housed.
- Don’t use treated
wood, toxic paints or varnishes.
- Have a slopping roof
to allow rain to run off
- Punch a few small
holes in the base to allow water to drain away
- If the chosen wood
is smooth a few pieces of dowel or similar, arranged like a
ladder but attached to the the inner wall, may assist the animal
climbing out of the box
- Place the entrance
hole close to the top. The diameter will depend on the species
you wish to house.
- Position the box
with the entrance facing away from the direction of the prevailing
rain and wind
- The box should be
installed as high as possible, at least 3 to 4 metres high in
the tree
- Don’t place
the box in a fork because as the tree grows it may be squashed
- The box can be nailed
to the tree using strips of galvanised steel. Again remember
that the tree will grow so the strips should not go more than
half way around the trunk
- Another option is
to hang the box using wire threaded through a piece of plastic
garden hose so that it doesn’t cut into the tree
For those who are interested
in providing nest boxes for a variety of visitors to the garden
the Gould League has published “The Nestbox Book”
compiled by Jim Grant, which gives information on a large range
of bird and possum species and information on the design of appropriate
nest boxes for each. This book is available through Wildcare.
(Top
of Page)
|
