Last night... A Mum possum, a little bit smaller than Takeaway turned up with a baby on her back...
The little one is at the stage of being able to lean over Mum's shoulder, to see what Mum's eating, and maybe try some, ha ha, but hanging on, and staying on Mum's back can still be a bit difficult at times...
They were up on the bridge... Mum shuffled forward half a pace... The little one started to slide backwards of her back, with that "I know I'm sliding, but I think trying to hang on is my best bet" look... ha ha.
Mum moved forward another half pace and the poor little one ended up sitting on the bridge, with a surprised look, ha ha.
Mum, being an excellent Mum, noticed that the little one wasn't where it should be, and spun around, on the spot, to face the little one... "Oh, you're okay...".
I'm good... said the little one... But now you're facing me... How do I get back up onto your back? ha ha.
It wasn't that difficult... The little one scampered to Mum's shoulder and climbed back up, somewhat awkwardly - ending up not so much sitting along Mum's back as draped over her shoulders, ha ha.
The little one seems to be about three weeks younger than Zoo, so it's going to be interesting, if they become regular visitors, watching the progression of the two, especially if Zoo is still here, and she encounters the other young possum when she's out "exploring"... ha ha.
It's been a long time since there's been two very young possums here, at the same time.
"It's someone else! And they're My size! What do I do?!"... ha ha.
Mothers are very protective, so the little ones don't, as a rule, get to "meet" other possums.
The nearest they come is seeing adults at a distance - "over there", usually putting some space between themselves and the little one's Mother... ha ha.
The experience of meeting someone much the same size as yourself must be a very new, and confronting experience, ha ha.
But, from experience, they seem to cope fairly well.
Either it leads to tentative nose sniffing, or good old fashioned running away, ha ha.
🙂
