This is a brief update for the year regarding all things possum. For
more, check out GK's sites:
Footage of nestboxes appears on GK's
Possum TV Live
site. GK also has a
Possum TV
blog and a
channel on
YouTube, where all of the old possum clips, and many new
ones, can be found.
[The photos on this page were taken by me. I haven't been taking many
photos of possums in some time, although possums remain an extremely
important part of my life.]
Kiki 2015
Kiki is over 7 years old and has now had 12 babies. A 13th is in the
pouch at the time of writing [July 2015.] Her 12th baby, Toto, is
pictured on her back in the photo above.
Kiki remains in good health, seems energetic and 'happy'. Recently,
another adult female, Sasha, has been around, and I'm not sure what
that's about. It is unusual. For almost 5 years, Kiki had been the
only adult female seen here. When Kiki sees Sasha, she chases her. It
is too early to know if Sasha will stay around or not, or if Kiki
will remain the dominant possum if Sasha stays. However, at present
it looks like Kiki is still the boss.
Toto 2015
Toto is now considerably bigger than in the photo above. She has a
little bit of the rusty-coloured scentmarking around the opening to
guide a tiny baby into the pouch. There might already be one in
there.
Toto has a very fierce and adult-quality shriek. Like Kiki's other
babies, Toto seems tough and well-equipped for possum life.
Wasabi 2015
It is an ongoing source of amazement to see how well Wasabi has
recovered after the serious infection he suffered last year. He
remains very much the same in temperament and at the time of writing
is a regular visitor. (July 2015.)
Tilda 2015
Tilda.. is a bit of a puzzle. She keeps peeing on the handrail,
pretty much every night, often 2-4 times per night. I admit that this
is stressing me out, and has resulted in me enjoying the time spent
with possums less. She has been leaving such large amounts of pee
(thick, viscous, and strong-smelling) that I feel it's necessary to
wipe it off so that the handrail doesn't smell, other possums don't
walk in it, and so that if humans have to reach food to another
possum in a tree they don't lean in it. Staying on top of it when she
keeps adding more after it's wiped is a hassle. She also tends to
leave a few poos at intervals.
In ringtail language, who knows, maybe it's a compliment along the
lines of 'I like this restaurant and recommend it.' It could be that
this is a message to other female ringtails, like Ruby. Tilda could
be asserting her presence as the dominant female. Whatever it's
about, I hope it eventually lets up. In the past, there have been a
few pissing wars, but none have lasted as long as this one.
Farley 2015
Farley is the first new male possum to take food by hand in a long
time. Kiki's male babies do, but others haven't been doing so in the
last couple of years. Prok, the possum with the white-tipped tail we
originally thought might be Flea, would only take food from the
handrail, and tended to run off with it. Prok disappeared around the
time Farley arrived, or a bit before.
Farley is an extremely assertive and persistent possum.
Comet 2015
Comet has stayed here longer than any other baby of Kiki's. It is
difficult to say for sure why that is, but at least we know he's
over a year old, and he's still alive. When the other babies leave,
we can't really know for sure what happens to them.
Comet seems to have made it through the awkward stage and is now
quite confident and competent, and although Farley regularly chases
him, Comet doesn't seem all that fazed by it.
Possum injuries/illnesses 2014-2015
There hadn't been anything in a long time. After Wasabi was treated
last year, the possums all seemed healthy for an extended period.
Eventually, Comet had a tail injury, Farley developed exudative
dermatitis and in July 2015, Toto seems to have a sprain or fracture
in her right front leg. Comet and Farley recovered, and we're still
watching Toto at the time I write this. It could take 6 weeks for it
to heal on its own, but splints aren't practical for possums, and
confining her might lead to panic and further injury.
possum tv 2015
possum tv 2014
possum tv 2012
possum tv 2011
possum tv 2010
Note: I receive both antibiotics and advice from a vet who has
extensive experience treating wildlife - Dr Jim
Pollock.
