Love thy Neighbour

I was recently called to a vacant property by a Real Estate agent because there was a Brushtail possum stuck in the chimney. He was a persistent fellow and after trying traps, putting my construction (or deconstruction?) skills to the test and four separate visits, I was finally able to get the little guy out. He had clearly lived a good life, judging by his very chunky belly extending down to his knees. The large bottlebrush not far from the chimney probably contributed to a few of his rolls. 

He was healthy, happy and other than being inconvenienced by his temporary imprisonment, was in great condition. He was a perfect possum.

So imagine my surprise when I was accosted by the neighbour over the fence who was beyond irate that I was releasing the 'bastard' back into the trees. 

What were his crimes to earn him the title of bastard, I asked. Well, he runs around in the branches at night and makes their dogs bark and fights with their cats and eats the fruit on their trees. Why couldn't I take him into the bush to release him, where he could be wild?

It's all part of the drill right? Often being a volunteer is as much about education as it is about the rescue. 

We explain that legally we cannot release animals far away from where they were rescued. Why? Well possums have their own established territories and if we released him into an area with an existing possum population, he would likely face huge risks of injury and stress... Etc etc the whole nine yards. 

You try to get people to empathise, he's likely lived here his entire life, this was his home as much as it was theirs. He knew exactly which fence post to jump onto to get him into his preferred tree. Look how happy he is to be home. 

We make suggestions on how keeping dogs and cats contained at night is the best thing for everyone, how he doesn't know which fruit is and isn't his. Suggest safe options for netting trees that won't tangle for him or bats or any other wildlife. 

We try our very best to teach people how to live alongside our beautiful native wildlife. To help them understand the value, importance and the role that animals play in the natural world around us. It's about finding ways to live in harmony with them, rather than trying to dominate, control or eradicate them. 

Understanding the challenges that destructive or invasive animals can bring, there are many ways to make our homes more wildlife-friendly. We can plant native vegetation in our gardens, install suitable housing alternatives, seal up entry points and provide water and shelter on hot days. 

With the right precautions and a little bit of understanding, we can learn to coexist peacefully with the world around us. 

So, the next time you see our native wildlife living alongside you, be it in the bush or the urban jungle, take a moment to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world that we live in. Share a pictures online and with friends, help them to appreciate that we are all part of a larger community of amazing unique wildlife, each with our own families, personalities, experiences and beautiful lives they deserve to live. 

Ultimately, living alongside wildlife is about learning to love thy neighbour, even when they have feathers, fur, or scales.