An Unexpected Possum Hitchhiker

What began as a simple road trip to Albany for Mandurah Wildlife Chair, Jo Evans,

and her family turned into an unforgettable wildlife rescue story - one that perfectly highlights the power of teamwork and a strong carer network.

Jo takes us through the story

“Travelling with my daughter and her family from Lake Clifton, we stopped at a roadside rest area for a quick break. As is often the case, my son-in-law did a routine check of the car - only to spot something extraordinary: a furry tail hanging out from beneath the bumper bar.

At first, we feared the worst. But a gentle touch revealed the truth, there was a possum in there and it was very much alive and very unhappy! Considering the intense January heat, it was remarkable the animal had survived the journey this far.

Removing the Possum from the Engine Compartment

The challenge, however, had only just begun. Armed with a drill, gloves, towels, and a pouch, we carefully began dismantling parts of the bumper. The possum, understandably distressed, attempted to retreat further into the engine cavity, something we simply couldn’t allow as it would have meant certain death.

What followed required quick thinking and teamwork. With three sets of hands involved, and my son-in-law bravely taking the lead (gloves on!), we managed to secure the feisty hitchhiker. As expected, the possum did its best to defend itself, hissing and attempting to bite but we managed to safely place it into a pouch, where it eventually settled.

Fortunately, I had a hot box and spare pouches on hand, as I was already caring for a young joey at the time. The roles were temporarily reversed - the joey was tucked safely away, and our new, rather irate passenger was given secure accommodation.

What to do with the Possum during our Road Trip

The next dilemma: what to do with a full-grown possum halfway to Albany that needed to return to Lake Clifton? This is where the strength of the wildlife care community truly shone. A quick call to Healing Hands Wildlife Care, thanks to connections through Peel Marsupial Care, set a plan in motion. A local carer, Meredith, arranged to take the possum in temporarily.

With a tight deadline to reach Albany before 5pm, we navigated traffic and time pressures, eventually arriving just in time for handover. Meredith cared for the little escape artist over the next five days, even providing a wooden possum box to help it feel secure.

A Curious Possums Explores the Car

When it came time for the journey home, we placed the possum box inside a dog crate for the 4.5-hour drive. All seemed well until, just 15 minutes from Lake Clifton, I glanced in the rear-view mirror and got a surprise! Our ‘securely contained’ passenger had escaped and was calmly perched on top of the crate.

What followed was comical. The possum casually explored the car, wandered onto the passenger seat to observe me, then made itself comfortable in the back helping itself to gum flowers I had picked for the joey.

Safely Returning to the Wild

Finally, upon arriving back at Lake Clifton, we parked under a tree and opened the doors. Without fuss or, may I add, even a hint of gratitude, our hitchhiker climbed out, made its way up the tree, and disappeared back into the wild where it belonged.

A successful rescue, a memorable journey, and a perfect reminder of how vital and generous our wildlife care networks are.”