It's Possum O'clock

Folks have you ever had a possum in your roof? Well I have. Our girl has been sharing space with us for at least five years. In that time she she has successfully raised several young, with only one known fatality - which I don't think was caused by our dog even though I found her with the baby in her mouth. But you never know. Savage hearts beat secretly in hairy breasts. Anyway, this possum has been welcome as native wildlife should be. I honour and love the little buggers for their ability to thrive in an environment that that has been a holocaust for most native species. So why did I decide to evict our possum from our roof space? Fear folks. So much demolition going in in the cavities of our weatherboard house. Worried about electrical fires mostly. Also the flow of excrement down one of our internal walls was a worry. Like bats (which we also have on a nocturnal visiting basis) their movements are a little loose due to their diet. Which brings me to our garden. The little bugger will eat eat anything. What survivors they are! I used to fancy myself as a fruit and vegetable gardener, but she put paid to that. Tomatoes, pumpkin, beans and all that stuff makes sense. But she also loves roses, birch trees, anything citrus, garlic, passion fruit - fruit and leaves - anything that grows with the sole known exception of chillies. And it wouldn't surprise if she develops a taste for those too. Our next door neighbour runs floodlights all night and has put teddy bears with glass eyes in her roses to discourage the possum. Loony wisdom has it that the light on the eyes convinces the stupid possums that the territory is already held by another possum. This neighbour also often runs flood lights all night to enhance the possum spooking effect. Balls. I have seen My possum sitting on Her bear eating Her roses. No point continuing with a garden with a possum in residence. Still, I accept her dietary arrangements; I don't want to exclude her from the yard; just the house. I would rather a healthy possum than a healthy garden. Possums are known to be very territorial. So much so that removing a possum from their territory ensures their death. I have been trying to prepare our possum for the coming calamity: no house; same range. I have built her a nest box and placed it on the roof, near where she gets in and out. The recommended model (see pic) seemed more like a bird nest to me. I have built something a little bigger and more secure. I have placed food in and around it. This has gone on for several months. Tonight's the night. I intend to nail up her entrance. Forgive me.