HD Video Footage: Cautious Possum

 We have mentioned on this blog repeatedly a possum with dark fur, that appears to be a male that has appeared at the site numerous times and has been described as ultra cautious.  This video from the 23rd and 24th of January gives an example of what we mean when describing this particular animals behaviour.  

The possum first appears from behind the tree at 11:20pm and spends time observing, but not approaching the trap (which is activating during this time).   The possum is adopting the two legged stance during this time.

We have placed next to the trap a pear, which is lying there just in front of it - the possum observes but does not approach either the trap or the pear.  It returns at 12:13am and slowly approaches the site from the same direction, listening as the lure operates and observing.

A full five minutes later, after standing almost motionless watching and observing it makes a move forward to the pear, nudges it with its snout, attempting to bite it and almost instantly pulls its head back and runs back from the area (the lure did not operate during this time).      The possum then exits the site via the tree.

An unknown possum then arrives at the site at 12:47am this possum is active in the tree containing the camera and is observing the site from the adjacent tree.  This possum is most likely responsible for the removal of the pear which occurs shortly after this.    There is no footage of the pear leaving, but the next activation at 12:51am (also from the adjacent tree) shows clearly that the pear has disappeared by this point.   While we cannot be certain that the male is responsible for this he has been seen putting his head inside the Timms trap and removing it almost instantly - there has been activations of the trap where an animal has removed itself despite activating the trap and it is not inconceivable that this possum is responsible for this.

In regards to the sound lure in general this possum is still showing interest in the area, is repeatedly observing and returning to the site and is not showing obvious aversion to the noise generated by the lure, however after several months of playing the same sound profile (at random times generated by the computer program) there is still interest shown by this possum.