Possum hunter in hot water . . . then hospital

A POSSUM expert has urged caution after a Mt Waverley man chasing a pesky rodent fell off his roof and landed in hospital with broken ribs.

The man had been chasing the sleep-depriving possum on his roof about 9.30pm on Sunday, October 16, when he slipped, falling onto his hot water system before slamming to the ground.

He was taken to the Monash Medical Centre by paramedics, where he was treated for fractured ribs.

Eastern Melbourne’s self proclaimed possum man, wildlife controller Anthony Knight, said the incident served as a warning to other residents to stay grounded. ‘‘To catch them you have to replicate their movements and beat them at their own game, which is why incidents like this happen," Mr Knight said.

"People get so frustrated at night when they hear scratching that they think there’s no other way but to take matters into their own hands. I hear too often from wives that their husbands are nursing broken ankles or broken arms because they've gone after a possum."

South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter’s Michelle Phillips told Leader she had received a high number of injured possums in the past month.
Possums are protected.

Original Article : Tim Michell - Dandenong Leader : Photo - Eugene Hyland