From Sandy
As a Wildlife Victoria Rescuer I took a call from a WildLine Operator (Narelle) who asked me to do a rescue in Melbourne City in the evening. No problems - the possum (Brushtail) has a suspected broken leg and is up a tree: probably need a ladder. That's OK, I have a small ladder, I will see if it is sufficient, and if not we will worry further later. I load up with rescue basket, ladder and get to my car and realise I have no car key (long story). Back to the house and on the phone to Narelle "I have no car"... that's Ok she says, ride your bike, take a backpack and wrap up possum in towel and transport in backpack. Good grief. So repack my rescue equipment into the bike panniers (have to forgo ladder). Reach the scene 10 minutes later, immediately spot possum who is limping on the ground. Throw the bike away, grab my towel, approach possum from the other side of the tree it is limping towards. Possum spots my sneaky moves and we begin a literal game of 'possum' where I go one way and possum goes the other, back and forward for a good while. Possum decides he has had enough and heads the other way, still outstripping me even with supposed broken leg. Get my fingers to its scruff a couple of times but just not quite close enough and he sees a tree and goes up it. I have no ladder (see above). I ring Narelle. I am now possum-sitter while Narelle arranges her husband Andrew to pack the kids in the car (and ladder) and he heads down. 20 minutes I sit there watching this possum watch me, just out of reach. Andrew arrives, gets out of the car, approaches the tree where possum sits and possum leisurely walks down the tree from where he was taunting me and jumps into Andrew's arms. Well of all the ungrateful things.
Possum leg not broken and is doing well at last report.
Sandy
