This Possum Day, consider making a possum drey!

We all know that living in suburbia can be a difficult task for possums. Navigating busy roads, outdoor pets and the occasional swooping bird, life is a minefield for these gorgeous little critters. Additionally, as greenery is minimised and trees are cut down, it can be difficult for native wildlife to find homes in suburbia; so why not make them one?

The simplest and easiest animal home to make is a Ringtail Possum Drey, which will provide a creche of lovely little Ringtail Possums with a safe place to sleep.

Materials:

• Two hanging plant baskets with wire frame and soft lining.
• Half a dozen zipties
• One pair of pliers

Instructions:

1. Place baskets on top of the other, creating a spherical dome shape. Half-baskets can also be used for a smaller drey.

   

2. Use zip-ties to secure the two baskets together via their wireframes.
3. Use a pair of pliers to cut two gaps in the wire on opposite sides of the drey and cut the lining in these places, making two holes (a back door and a front door).
4. Peel back the lining and use it to cover the sharp edge of the wire you just cut. You wouldn’t want the Ringtail Possums to hurt themselves as they go in and out! Secure the lining with another zip-tie.

   

    

5. Hang the drey somewhere high, ideally with lots of branches surrounding it so they can reach it easily.
6. Admire your work. Well done! The local wildlife will thank you.

If you’d like to do more, why not see what else you can do, or reach out to your local animal rescue network?