Mystery Solved...

Hi all,

For a while, since transforming the garage into our communal cafe, we have regularly found large deposits of dust fallen from the bamboo we put on the ceiling. There has been no distinct pattern with regards to the areas of bamboo releasing the dust and we could only put it down to the weather.

Last weekend whilst some of us were taking a break and watching a documentary about space, someone noticed what appeared to be a bird nest at first, sitting on top of the bamboo. Upon closer inspection it turned out to be a sleeping (trying to sleep) possum.

For those who aren't familiar with the australian marsupial I've put some details below along with some shots. It appears we now have a resident gnostic possum. We are certain it previously lived in the avocado tree next to the cafe but has since found a nice spot on top of the bamboo. Any name suggestions for our new totem?

Picture of the driveway on a beautiful sunny Sunday.

Eyes glued to the mind expanding space documentary.

Possum spotted by John and Sue - not sure who took the photos but it was good timing.

This is a picture of our new totem. This was taken with a flash, but possum's are nocturnal and like dark places during the day.

This is a similar picture but with a bit of adjustment on the pic so you can see clearer.
I don't think he/she was keen on being awoken, but I'm sure the pineapple given made up for it.

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What do brush-tailed possums look like?
Brush-tailed possums are about as big as domestic cats, and have a pointed snout, pink nose, long whiskers and large ears. They also have sharp claws, which they use to climb trees and comb their fur. Brush-tailed possums vary considerably in size and colour throughout their range. 

Where do they live?
The brush-tailed possum is the most widely distributed possum in Australia. It can be found in forests and woodlands all along the east coast, and also lives in inland areas along tree-lined rivers and creeks. A nocturnal animal, it is active at night and usually spends the day sleeping.

What do they eat?
In the bush, brush-tailed possums feed on leaves, buds, flowers and fruits. They have strong teeth and often use their front paws to hold their food while eating.

Setting out territory.
Except when breeding, brush-tailed possums tend to lead a solitary life. They stick to their 'home range', which they mark out by coating tree branches with a scent released from glands on their chests. If two possums meet at night they try to avoid each other – fights between adult possums are rare, although they may make threatening noises towards each other. Young possums may be attacked if they try to take over an adult's range.

Growing up
Brush-tailed possums are marsupials, and their young are usually born in May and June after a gestation period of 17 days (humans have a gestation period of nine months). The newborn possum finds its way to the mother's pouch and attaches itself to a teat. After feeding and growing for about five months in the pouch, the young possum spends another two months clinging to its mother's back as she moves about. Usually only one young is born at a time, and males do not take part in looking after the young. By the time they are seven months old, the young possums are independent of their mothers. They are fully grown by about 10 months, and the females will usually start to breed for the first time when they reach 12 months of age.