Men’s Shed boxes lifesaver for possums

The City of Busselton and the Busselton Men’s Shed have partnered together to try and help the western ringtail possum.

The Men’s Shed gave wildlife not-for-profit Fostering and Assistance for Wildlife Needing Aid, 21 possum boxes last week, to help towards the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned possums.

The City donated $300 towards materials for the boxes, which were made by volunteers at the Men’s Shed.

FAWNA president Jeff Falconer said the boxes were invaluable to the organisation and would help towards the care and release of possums.

“Every possum that comes through here needs a box and we don’t have the time to make them, so these boxes are invaluable,” he said.

“FAWNA has around 200 possums come through each year from dog and cat attacks and car accidents — we will be lucky if they aren’t extinct within the next 10 years.”

Busselton Men’s Shed president Trevor Fisher said they were more than happy to be involved.

“The City approached us to make the boxes and we thought it was a great community project to get involved in,” he said.

“We hope that the boxes can help FAWNA and help make a difference in their work to protect the possums.”

City of Busselton environmental officer Will Oldfield said it was important to retain as many large old trees as possible to help protect possum numbers.

“The City occasionally has to remove western ringtail possums and prune vegetation back from buildings that it manages… making them more prone to road kill and to dogs and cat attacks,” he said.

“The City was in need of some nest boxes and is an item that can’t be purchased off the shelf. Men’s Shed are able to make them and FAWNA have an ongoing need for them, by making some material available, the Men’s Shed have a meaningful activity and FWNA have some stock they can use when needed.”

Mr Falconer pleaded with people in the City of Busselton to try and keep big trees for possum habitat.

“We have more houses, more cats and dogs, and fewer trees — we need more big and old trees,” he said.