possum magic

My daughter Elli, is an animal lover. Not just your average everyday garden variety type, but a truly committed sort....... one that will handle any foul animal parts or droppings without batting an eye yet can't stomach a mouldy bit of food from the back of the fridge. She has raised young magpies, five scrawny sparrows, rabbits, baby mice, a calf and several guinea pigs. Her ideal would be to raise a few orphaned wallabies but I just can't bring myself to stop and check every dead wallaby on the side of the road! We are as encouraging as we can be but sometimes I do not like sharing my small space with three cold guinea pigs and a sick lamb! 

Luckily she has a very good friend that does share her love of all things feathered and furry. H also has a passion for raising orphans and over this last summer he spent all his time bottle feeding a baby brushtail possum. Now, I know they are very cute but they are a nuisance around here, eating garden goodies and roses, and sleeping in roof cavities. However, JD the possum has been successfully raised, thoroughly spoiled and completely loved, by both H and my girl. 

These pics were taken a couple of months ago but I was reminded of them when we recently saw H and he told us JD was going to an animal sanctuary as he was too 'soft' to survive in the wild. It will be a shame to see that cute, furry bundle go..... but I'm sure there'll be another critter to take his place soon!