Western Ring Tailed Possums in Dumbleyung
Yesterday I was on my way out of Dumbleyung to do some metal detecting for lost coins and jewellery, and only 500 metres from the townsite I came across and dead Western Ring Tailed Possum on the road, it had sadly been killed by a car or a truck.
Rare Western Ring Tailed Possum - Roadkill - Found in Dumbleyung
I have lived in Dumbleyung for 38 years and not once have I ever seen a possum in the town, so even though it was dead, it is still a great sign to have these rare and endangered species on our doorstep.
I may go through a walk in the bush, near where I found it, to see if I can see any Ring Tailed Possum Nests around, I hope so, that would be great, probably a good idea to go at night time also, with the torch … more of a chance to see one in the trees at night, as they are a nocturnal species (Night Active)
Ringtail Possum Nest
Western ringtails are rare possums that face the threat of extinction due to a loss of habitat to human urbanization. This species is located in the peppermint woodlands in the southwest areas of Western Australia. The rapid decline of this species can be accounted for by the primary predator of the western ringtail possum-the fox. There are few efforts being made to preserve the natural habitat of the western ringtail possum. There is limited information on this species.
The western ringtail possum likes to nest in the hollows of old peppermint trees. Nests are lined with leaves for a cushion. Western ringtail possums are nocturnal animals. Families can be seen together while foraging for food and at nesting sites.
Western ringtails have thick grey hair with some intermingled brown fur throughout; the brown is more prominent closer to the underbelly. The underbelly is white as is the bottom half of the tail. A ring of black fur is present around the eyes. The average tail pf a western ringtail possum measures about the same as the head and body. Both parts measure about 350mm. Ringtail possums weigh 900g on average.
Leaves, flowers, and fruit are eaten in addition to various other types of plant material. Food is found in shrubbery near the nest.
Mating occurs fall through spring and females only produce one young in that time. Little else is known about the breeding habits of western ringtail possums. Source: Australian Fauna
I rang up the Department of Environment and Conversation in Katanning today to report the find and they were really nice and appreciated my phonecall and emailed me a Threatened Fauna Species Report Form, which I will fill out tomorrow and send it back to them with the required details they need.
Western Ringtail Possum
They also informed me that if people ever come across dead endangered animals on the road, or in the bush etc that a good thing to do, is the bag and freeze the animal and ring up the Western Australian Museum to see if they would like the animal, for research purposes.
More info on Western Australian Possums
Below is a Threatened Species Report Form, for you to fill out in case you come across any endangered only roadkill.
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT File #_____________________
FAUNA REPORT FORM
Threatened or Priority o Feral o Other o Database # _________________
species_____________ no. seen:_____
distinguishing features observed:_____ _____________
_____________
certainty of identification: o Very certain o Moderately certain o Not sure
collector/observer:_____________ phone no:_____________ survey date:_____________ Time:________
shire:_____________ calm district:
site location:
_____________
map ref: Map Datum: AGD84 o WSG84 o GDA94 o
(Complete one line only) DCLM map name: FD Grid Reference
or Latitude oo° oo’ oo” S Longitude ooo° oo’ oo” E
or MGA Zone: 49 o 50 o 51 o Easting oooooo Northing ooooooo
land status:
o State Forest o Nature Reserve o National Park o Conservation Park o Private Property
o Unallocated Crown Land o Road Verge MRD/Shire o Pastoral Lease o Other o Unknown
observation/collection method:
o Daylight sighting o Night sighting o Heard o Caught or trapped o Shot o Poisoned
o Road kill o Dead o Droppings o Feathers o Bones o Diggings
o Other_________________________________________________________________________________________
observation:
What was the animal doing?
age and sex:
No. of Adults: ________Male ________Female ________Sex unknown
No. of Juveniles: ________Male ________Female ________Sex unknown
breeding:
o Pregnant o Lactating o Mating o Male in breeding colours o Eggs/young in nest o Other
landform type:
o Flat o Gully o Lake o Cliff o Rocky outcrop o Other________________
o Slope o Swamp o River o Ridge o Sand dune
vegetation type:
o Forest o Grassland Significant species 1___________________________________
o Woodland o Sedgeland 2___________________________________
o Mallee o Rock communities 3___________________________________
o Tall Shrubland o Wetland 4___________________________________
o Heathland o Other_________________ _____________ 5___________________________________
fire history:
o Not known Year burnt Month (approx)
o Next prescribed burn: Year Month
current land use:
o Nature Conservation o Agriculture o Pastoralism o Mining o Forestry/Multiple purpose o Recreation o Other
_____________
Specimen: o Collected as voucher Catalogue number:____________________________________
o Retained by collector o WA Museum o Other o Not retained
attached: o Map o Mud map o Photo o Notes
action, taken/required:___________
_____________
other comments: __
_____________
copy sent to: o Regional Office o District Office o Head Office
Signed:_____________ Date:_________
Ban Jumps Racing in Australia?
Should Jumps Racing be banned in Australia?
Three Jumps horses have died in Australia in the past week and it looks likely that the Jumps Racing in Australia may soon come to an end after a 177 year history of it in Australia.
Since records were kept there have been over 300 deaths of Australian Jockeys in race falls since 1844 and no doubt many thousands of race and jump horses since that time.
Personally I think that Jumps Racing in Australia should be banned, but where does it stop, should the Olympic spout of Equestrian Horse Jumping be banned also? I am sure many thousands of horses have also died in that sport also.
The RSPCA is tomorrow launching an Australian wide media advertising blitz in regards to Jumps Racing Bans in Australia, so no doubt those advertisements will pull at the heartstrings of many Australians, both rural and city wide.
Tonight I saw a very interesting epidose on the ABC 7.30 Report tonight about the controversy that the possible ban on jumps racing is causing to both people who are protesting against the sport, and also to the people who are in the racing industry.
Read the full Jumps Racing Ban Transcript and you can also watch the video of the actual race which killed one of three horses that day. I must warn you the video is graphic and off a horse dying after breaking its neck … very sad.
The person who filmed that race is Llewellyn Fowler, a young school girl who was filming a Anti Race Jump Documentary for one of her school projects and just by chance numerous races that day obviously resulted in the deaths of three horses and the injury of numerous jockeys.
There is also one trainer David Londregan is threatening to cut off his horses heads if a permanent ban is introduced, what will that achieve? Nothing.
As I have said above, I believe that Jumps Racing should be banned in Australia, not only will it save many horses, but no doubt the lives of jockeys in the future. It’s just not worth the risk anymore to carry out these races, simply for the sake of making money, human entertainment and the lives of both jockey and horse.
K9 Dog Rescue Mandurah
My Sponsored Dog - Australian Blue Heeler Harry - Needs a new home
If you live in Western Australia and your considering getting a dog, why don’t you get in touch with K9 Dog Rescue Nambeerlup Western Australia (Near Mandurah)
For the last couple of years my website Beaut Utes has been sponsoring K9 Dog Rescue Nambeerlup near Mandurah and I have sponsored many dogs, usually one dog a month. I pay $5 a week to sponsor a dog, and that money go towards feeding the dogs, veternary care, vaccinations and so forth.
Please have a look a K9 Dog Rescues Dogs For Adoption if you are interested in sponsoring a dog.
Instead of buying a puppy that may have been bred in a Puppy Mill Factory please consider adoting one from K9 Dog Rescue
About K9 Dog Rescue
K9 Dog Rescue Nambeerlup Mandurah
K9 is run by a group of ordinary, but very dedicated volunteers who are concerned enough to take action against the increasingly inhumane treatment of man’s best friend…….. THE DOG!
Since it’s incorporation in 1990, K9 Dog Rescue has rescued and rehomed many thousands of dogs. The group would not be able to carry out its work without the generosity and constant day-to-day support of local veterinarians, newspapers, local businesses, the general public and most importantly YOU!
K9 is a non-profit organisation operated by volunteers, and financed entirely by donations, membership and fundraising.
K9 tries to educate the public about the need for sterilisation of all dogs that are not for breeding purposes, this goes a long way to reducing the number of strays and abandoned dogs which can ultimately find their way into Pounds and K9 Dog Rescue.
Our aim is to rehome abandoned, mistreated and unloved dogs while trying to advise the public on responsible pet ownership. K9 supplies veterinary care and find new homes for dogs and puppies due to be destroyed at the Pounds. We rear abandoned litters of pups, take in rescued dogs, and whenever possible rehome dogs that are caught up in a family crisis. We rehome well over 500 dogs per year. Some of our new owners come from as far afield as Shepparton, Victoria, Darwin, Alice Springs and one even in Norway (Europe!).
All dogs taken into our care are vet-checked, vaccinated, wormed, sterilised and flea treated. It can take days, weeks and sometimes months to find suitable homes for our dogs. In this time K9 ensures the dogs receive the best possible care available.
MiniPigs For Sale – Don’t Buy One!
I was listening to ABC 720 Perth Radio today, and I heard an interesting story about a lady who bought herself a Mini Pig to replace her heartbreaking loss of her pet dog of 14 years. She did some research and ending up buying a “pedigree” mini pig from Oz Minipigs who are members of Mini Pigs and Pet Pigs Australia (strange that they are both owned by the same people)
Anyway, the lady who bought “Russell the Mini Pig” was informed that it would not grow more than approximately 40cm high and around 30kg in weight.
Anyhow Russell ended up growing to over 110kg and I think 90cm high plus.
So if you thinking about buying a pedigree minipig, think again … There is no such thing as a miniature pig
Read more about her story about her Mini Pig Scam
Other links of Interest: Porky Pies told about Mini Pigs
My Dog just gave birth to Baby Hippopotamus’s
Cute Little Georgie with her baby Hippos
Of course she didn’t, but they sure look like little baby Hippo’s!
The other day I wrote a blog about asking people to stay away from Pet Stores, and unscrupulous dog breeders, because a lot of the cute little puppies you see in the Pet Shop windows may come from what is termed a Puppy Farms and Puppy Mills what inspired me to write that blog was about three months ago I was in Perth, just walking outside of a Deli off Wanneroo Road, and low and behold I saw this cute little lost dog crossing that main road is great panic and distress. with cars dodging her left right and centre.
It was a near miracle that she survived cross that road, due to it being peak hour traffic, she was absolutely terrified. She was either lost or had been run away from a neglected life of breeding little puppies for a living, because she was obviously unsterilized, due to the signs of her teats being suckled on before.
After about an hour of trying to catch her throughout side streets, running back and forth, running down the streets with no shirt on, people must have thought I was crazy, or even myself being chased by someone. I did not care, I just wanted to catch the little dog.
Finally after an exhausting chase, I cornered her in someones backyard, and she was scared, she was in shock from the heat of the day, dehydrated, had diarahea and was angry that I had her cornered like a little fox.
She growled at me as I approached and I threw my beach towel on her I finally caught her.
The poor thing was a sorry site, but I think she was relieved to get into the cool airconditioning of my car, and I took her home to my girlfriends place, gave her a nice cool bath, which she enjoyed and drank the water as the water splashed over her face.
She was now mine, a new little friend in my life, I named her Georgie and now she is living the luxury of a life in the country.
When I took her but to my country town, it took her a little while to settle in, and we have a lot of stray dogs around the neighbourhood.
If you not a country person living in rural Australia, then I will tell you that in most towns, alot of people just let their dogs wander, protect their “household territory” from their other “mates” (doggy friends) have some freedom, because its safe in the country.
When Georgie got back to my town, it was not long before she came on heat, it took me a while to work it out, and she kept on running off to other peoples places who had dogs, both male and female, some sterilyzed and some not.
One day I caught Georgie in “the act” with another dog, seeing this I would watch her very carefully in the next week or so, but I was not good enough, next thing I know I have dogs hanging around my place, even howling outside the front door, they could smell Georgies “I’m on heat scent”
I have a cat door for my cat, and soon Georgie worked out how to get out, and she would disappear for an hour or so.
Anyhow, it wasn’t long before Georgie started putting on weight, we took her to a vet in Perth and the vet who was a trainee said she was not pregnant, so we were very relieved.
We could not book her in for a sterilyzation procedure, because they were just too booked out.
This was around 6 weeks ago.
Georgie and her Baby Hippos
Just last week I was sure she must have been pregnant, I could see some serious movement in her belly, and she was acting quite weird, going in to an old kennel and laying down, hiding in wardrobes, so I did some research on the internet about dog pregnancies and I found out that it was likely Georgie was preparing a spot to give birth to her litter. so yep she was definately pregnant, and only had days to give birth. I found out that the usual time for dogs to give birth was around after 10pm at night.
So I set up the little plastic kennel in my laundry all with blankets and a comfortable little dog mattress. Oh and my girlfriend Natalie added a few little teddy bears…. thats girls for you!
Two nights later I was in bed just after 10pm, and Georgie started asking a bit weird, and I new no doubt it was time for her to give birth, I also also that she was oozing from her doggie vagina (yuk) this make have been her waters breaking .. not sure. But it confirmed to me, that the birth was in process.
One of Georgies Baby Hippos
Georgie run quickly down to the laundry, hopped in the kennel as if she knew it was happening.
I followed her, and comforted her, patted her and reassured her that all was good, and her “daddy” would be with her! LOL
She had her first Pup around 15 minutes later, and the whole process took a few hours, in the end she had 5 pups, one of which was still born, and the other 4 were healthy. Three males and one tiny little runt a female, my favourite.
Its a beautiful thing, and yes they look very cute, but unfortunately they are what you would call “mongrels” she bread with a dog of a different breed, not that that matters, but she is a tiny tiny dog, a Pommeranian, and I am certain that out of the 3 0 4 dogs she may have bred with, the father is whats called a Roo – Dog, which is a huge dog, the only way I can describe it in beweet a greyhound and a great dane which means – A BIG DOG!
Cute Little Baby Hippo
Georgie is only a tiny Pommeranian, and now she has given birth to cute little pups which resemble baby Hippoputus’s … I am dead serious… stumpy tails, legs, noses. Sounds funny hey!
So hopefully I will be able to find good homes for them, they are still cute, and still animals with a heart.
My father always used to tell me that all animals have a heart, a good heart, unless they are mistreated, their heart will break and damage will be done.
So my main point of writing this is not to try and find a home for Georgies pups, but to make sure you get your dogs sterilized as soon as possible, this will also calm them, make them a better dog and stop them from breeding with dogs around your neighbourhood.
Poor old Georgie, I think she is around 7 years old, and been through a few too many pregnancies, as soon as I find new homes for her pups, she is off to the vet to get de-sexed!
Will post a photo of the real culprit soon!
