We tend to think possums are common sight,
yet outside of our cities, their numbers are in serious decline.
This is due to habitat loss and feral pests like cats and foxes.
Australia is home to approximately 23 known species of possum.
The ones we see most often are the brushtail and ringtails.
Brushtails are the largest possum
and can be identified by the silvery grey colour, pointy ears
and of course, their bushy tail.
The ringtail is smaller and more timid,
and they can be identified by the white tip on their tail.
Possums are protected native species,
and the ringtail, unlike its brushtail cousin,
is about half the size,
and rather than live in hollows,
builds a nest out of twigs and branches called a drey.
Now, you can make a drey to put in your garden
to provide a safe, happy home
for our little ringtail possum buddies.
Making a possum drey is pretty straightforward.
Probably going to need a few things from your local hardware store,
particularly two wire hanging baskets.
You'll need some paperbark,
some twigs and branches, just as the possum would use,
bit of twine to tie it all together,
and some wire for joining these two baskets.
I've already put a few leaves and things inside here
for the possum to sleep in.
We need to take the core fibre out of one of our baskets,
put it over the top of the bottom basket.
The next step is joining the baskets together with garden wire.
You can add whatever else you think your new tenants might appreciate -
casuarina needles, gumnuts -
I reckon she'll be happy with that.
Next thing we need to do is take the core fibre that was inside -
it's now going to go on the outside.
But we need a door.
Otherwise our possum is not going to fit through.
Now, of course, possums are nocturnal,
so you're going to want to make sure your drey is completely covered
so it's cosy inside and stops any daylight coming in.
Pop it on, so she's got enough room to get through.
Now all I have to do is sew it all together.
I'll tie this off.
It's nice and solid.
And as you can see, door's there,
no light getting in -
perfect for a nocturnal inhabitant,
yet still looking a bit man-made, funnily enough.
So a bit of paperbark - we'll try and camouflage this,
make it so it blends into its surroundings,
hopefully appealing for a ringtail possum to come and make a home.
Using your needle and thread, sew the paperbark into the drey.
This will provide both insulation and camouflage
for the ringtail possums.
Well, took a bit of effort, but I'm certainly happy with that.
And hopefully the possums are as well.
All I've got to do now is hang it up.
And when it comes to finding a home,
we all know it's location, location, location.
And what better place for a possum drey than in a lilly pilly hedge?
Lots of dense foliage.
Hopefully some fruit,
And if you look in the spring, hopefully, a baby joey.