Been a bit busy lately, been on holidays but still looking out for our possum friends. Today we had a big family breakfast on our deck after the Dawn Service so the activity kept the ringtail away. The brushtail was there when we got back and enjoyed some fruit and then a carrot tonight.

#AustralianBrushtail
#BrushtailPossums
#PossumsOfMastodon

Got home a bit late after day in office. 4 possums tonight. 3 brushtail - mum & young one in 1 tray, ringtail in other tray & 1 hopeful brushtail in the tree looking for a feed.
All brushtails enjoyed some pears tonight. Now time for possum business.
#BrushtailPossums
#possumsofmastodon

Well 2 brushtail possums mother and baby are happy for some apple. Then a third brushtail showed up as well.

Last night had the 2 brushies plus a family group of 3 ringtails in the tree. ☺️

#australianbrushtail
#PossumsOfMastodon #BrushtailPossums

@SKRiley_Author This article is OK as far as it goes except that the possum deterrents it mentions don't work.

There was a study done on this. I've been unable to locate the paper itself but the citation is:

Coone, Janine 1998. An evaluation of commonly used deterrents for urban Common Brushtail Possums Trichosurus vulpecula (Kerr. 1792). BSc (Hons) Thesis, School of Ecology and Environment, Deakin University.

Garlic and chilli were some of the milder deterrents tested.

The conclusion was:

"The results showed that when possums were hungry, none of the repellents prevented them from eating all the apple provided"

To stop possums eating your herbs, you literally have to fence them off with wire netting. Nothing else works.

#BrushtailPossums #Possums #AustralianWildlife #wildlife