Latest news with #brushtailpossum
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Winter warning to Aussie residents after surprising discovery in fireplace
A winter warning has been issued as Aussies light up their fireplaces to combat the chilly temperatures. Before igniting the wood or gas, wildlife rescuers are urging people to have a look and make sure no animals have moved into the 'cosy spot'. The plea comes after staff at a hotel in the ACT busted a brushtail possum trying to check in. Seeking a warm place to sleep in the early hours of the morning, the creature strutted through the reception in front of surprised workers, ACT Wildlife rescuers told Yahoo News. 'It climbed up into the wood pile when the staff member tried to shoo it out of the front sliding door,' Clare Wynter and Stephen Bartos, who responded to the callout, said. Photos of the adorable creature show the possum hiding on top of the wood stacked high next to the foyer's fireplace. Luckily, he didn't put up much of a fight, and after removing a few pieces, the rescuers were able to wrap a towel around the 'very healthy' animal and place it in a rescue basket. He was kept for the day and released nearby later that night. 'With nocturnal animals, it's important to release them in the night when they are active,' the volunteers told Yahoo. 'If they are released in the daytime, they are at risk of being attacked by daytime animals, such as larger birds.' The possum's cheeky manoeuvre is just one of many incidents involving fireplaces that wildlife carers around the country have come across in recent weeks. Rescuers with Wildcare Australia Inc, based in southeast Queensland, discovered an uninjured 'little' possum sitting on top of kindling after climbing down a chimney. 'But before you light that first fire, it's crucial to ensure your chimney is safe for both your home and local wildlife,' the organisation said online. 'Chimneys and flues can become inviting shelters for animals, especially in cooler weather. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious injuries, including burns and smoke inhalation, for any wildlife seeking refuge there. We often see an increase in injured possums and other wildlife needing help at this time of year.' Western Australia-based Kanyana Wildlife has issued the same warning, stating every winter it sees numerous 'cases where possums, cockatoos, phascogales, owls, bats and other hollow-dependent native animals are trapped in unsafe 'hollows'," which include roller doors, roofs and under solar panels. 'Many suffer severe burns and smoke inhalation,' the group said. ✈️ 'Long-lost' outback creature makes 1,500km journey home 🪧 Sad find on road sign as Aussie state mulls major change for pet owners 🏙️ Outback photos highlight common issue 'deceiving' city-dwellers ACT Wildlife encourages Aussies who have a fireplace or wood stove to check them before starting their first fire, and to contact a local rescue group for advice if an animal is found. Other tips include: Use a torch to thoroughly inspect the chimney and flue for signs of wildlife. Cover the top of chimneys with wire to prevent animals from entering the home. Consider placing species-appropriate nest boxes on your property as a safer alternative. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Scientists surprised to find possums in WA's Pilbara region
When zoologist Hannah Anderson travelled to Western Australia's Pilbara region to research threatened species she was not expecting to see the common brushtail possum. Despite being one of the most abundant, widespread and frequently encountered Australian marsupials, little is known about their distribution in the north-west of the country. Only 13 records of the species were publicly available in the Pilbara region until Ms Anderson, a senior zoologist at Biologic Environmental, uncovered many more. "They're not a species people talk about in the Pilbara," she said. Ms Anderson's team established 47 additional independent records for the region, which mostly came from riverine and rocky environments near Pannawonica in the south-west and the Yarrie mine site in the north. "It's still low numbers, but a lot more than what was recorded on the online data repository map," she said. Ms Anderson said the records provided a better understanding into the distribution of the Pilbara species, but further surveys and monitoring programs were needed to chart their population trends. Edith Cowan University PhD student Shelby Middleton has also been researching the species in WA, and says little is known about possum populations in the Pilbara. But her recent paper reveals a clue that could help conserve the species in similar environments. The study was the first to discover the Pilbara and Mid West populations of common brushtail possums were genetically closer to the subspecies found on the east coast, South Australia and Central Australia than those in WA's South West. "That means they are actually a completely different subspecies to what we previously thought," Ms Middleton said. She said the brushtail possum was presumed extinct in Central Australia and that the genetics of the possums found in the Pilbara and Mid West were very closely related to what would have once inhabited the area. Eventually the species may be able to help grow populations there, she said. "This [research] could definitely have implications on what animals should be translocated in the future," Ms Middleton said. "When they translocate these animals, they need to look at what are the best populations to source them from. "It's really important to try and bring back these ecosystems that used to exist … before humans and cats came in and destroyed their environment." Australian Wildlife Conservancy senior ecologist Jennifer Pierson said the research was "really exciting" and could help re-establish and supplement populations in arid zones. She said possum populations from Dubbo and Kangaroo Island had been reintroduced into the Newhaven Sanctuary, north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, but their source habitats were vastly different. "So having another group of possums that might have different adaptations to arid conditions is really encouraging for us," Dr Pierson said. "It opens up more exciting opportunities about learning where we might be able to do it and access to more diversity for us to create really robust populations."
