Fifty New Possum Homes to Help Rescued South Australian Wildlife

Fifty new possum homes will soon be helping rescued wildlife across South Australia, thanks to a $3,039 grant from the Harcourts Foundation to Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc (SOWFI).

Harcourts SA Foundation Ambassador Jo Phelps presented the grant to SOWFI representative Marian MacLucas, with the funding supporting the purchase of 50 possum nesting boxes and two medium-sized cages for rescued animals.

The possum boxes will provide a safe alternative to natural tree hollows, which can be increasingly difficult for possums to find as habitat is lost and urban areas expand.

Around-the-clock rescue work

SOWFI is South Australia's most active volunteer wildlife rescue organisation, operating a 24/7 Wildlife Rescue Hotline and Wildlife Ambulance service across metropolitan and regional areas.

In 2024-25, SOWFI responded to more than 11,000 calls involving distressed wildlife, with more than 1,100 native animals across 49 species spending a combined 47,000 nights in care. Possums account for a significant part of that work, with 593 calls relating to possums received by the organisation's rescue hotline in the past 12 months.

Once rescued and rehabilitated, possums need to be returned to within 50 metres of their original home territory where possible. But when their natural shelter is no longer available or suitable, a possum box can provide a safe place to return to. The boxes can also help reduce conflict between possums and people, particularly when displaced animals seek shelter in roofs and sheds.

'The impact is so tangible'

Harcourts Foundation Head Pauline Smith said the grant would provide a practical resource for SOWFI and the wildlife it cares for.

"Helping wildlife is such a practical way to make a difference in the communities where our people live and work. This grant will help provide safe homes for possums that have been rescued and rehabilitated, giving them a better chance of returning to the wild and thriving," she said. "The work SOWFI's volunteers do around the clock is remarkable, and we're delighted the Harcourts Foundation can support them with resources that will have a direct impact on native wildlife across South Australia."

Jo Phelps said the project was a great example of how a relatively simple resource could make a meaningful difference.

"Possums are part of the fabric of our local environment, but as our communities grow and natural habitat changes, finding safe places for them to live can become increasingly difficult," she said. "What I love about this project is that the impact is so tangible. These 50 possum boxes will give rescued animals somewhere safe to return to, while also helping reduce the chance of possums ending up in roofs and sheds as they look for shelter. It's a wonderful example of how a relatively simple resource can make a real difference to wildlife, volunteers and the wider community."

Up to 200 possums supported

The grant will also fund two medium-sized cages, which will temporarily house rescued possums before they move into pre-release aviaries to rebuild their strength and prepare for release.

The 50 possum boxes have the potential to support between 50 and 200 possums, depending on the age of the animals rescued. Adult possums are generally released individually, while young possums may be raised and released in groups of three or four using a single box.

With around 160 members, SOWFI also provides community and primary school education programs focused on wildlife rescue, conservation and recognising how to respond to injured or orphaned native animals.

For SOWFI, the new boxes will help ensure more rehabilitated possums have somewhere safe to return to when they take their final step back into the wild.