When a homeowner in Melbourne, Australia, noticed a sprinkling of plaster dust on her stove one afternoon, she knew something wasn’t right. The kitchen had been spotless when she left that morning, so the sudden mess made no sense.
Curious — and a little concerned — she traced the dust to the cupboard above the stove. When she opened the door, she got the shock of her life.
Curled tightly in the corner was a furry possum.
The possum had likely climbed into the roof space to escape the heat. But when she stepped onto a flimsy vent duct, it gave way beneath her weight, sending her tumbling straight down into the cupboard — where she became trapped.
“[The homeowner] could only see pointy ears and a curled-up ball,” Meaghan Scott, a volunteer with The Wildlife Rescuers, told The Dodo. “She quickly shut the cupboard and called us.”
Rescuer Jayde Cook arrived soon after. But when he carefully reopened the cupboard, he realized the situation was even more delicate than expected.
There weren’t one — but two possums inside.
A mother possum was huddled protectively with her baby.
Cook had only come prepared to rescue a single animal, so he called for backup. Fellow rescuer Dani Fatchen arrived shortly afterward, bringing a calm presence that made all the difference.
“Dani has a very calm demeanor,” Scott said. “Once she arrived, she took over and was able to safely contain both possums and place them in carriers so they could be assessed.”
Thankfully, both mom and baby were in good condition despite their frightening ordeal. The rescuers kept them in a quiet, dark space to cool down and recover from the stress.
“They were kept calm and comfortable while we monitored them,” Scott said.
The incident also served as an important reminder for homeowners to secure small gaps and openings, especially during hot weather when animals seek shelter indoors.
“I’ve been to cases where possums have entered homes through open windows or roof gaps and ended up stuck in bathrooms or bedrooms,” Scott explained. “It’s really important to check your roof and vents for any openings wildlife could slip through.”
Because possums are safest when released after dark, the rescue team waited until nighttime to return the pair to the wild. Under the cover of night, mom and baby were released back into their natural habitat — right where they belonged.
“They were very happy to be home,” Scott said.
To help wildlife like these possums, you can support The Wildlife Rescuers through donations and community awareness.
