Natalie Noble upset after finding ‘distressed’ possum in Pomona

The sight of a distressed possum that had been trapped and left in an exposed cage on the back of a ute in the main street of a Queensland town has left a vet outraged.

A South East Queensland vet has spoken out after reporting a sighting of a “distressed” possum, trapped in a cage on the back of a ute in Pomona, to the RSPCA.

Veterinarian for Natural Vets in Forest Glen, Natalie Noble, said she was unsure how long the possum had been stuck in the cage but it would have been “very distressed”, especially being a nocturnal animal exposed in broad daylight.

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“I felt really upset and concerned for the possum … unable to hide or get away,” Dr Noble said.

“My husband said to mind my own business but I felt too distressed about the situation to do nothing.

“Also as a veterinarian myself, it is my duty to help animals in pain or distress.”

Dr Noble said she hoped the possum had been trapped with “good intent” such as to relocate it or deliver it somewhere if it was injured.

“It’s possible that this was not the case and there could be mal intent involved,” she said.

The possum was in a cage on the back of a ute in a Pomona car park for at least 45 minutes.

Despite the driver’s intentions, Dr Noble said they should not have left the possum in that stressful situation for at least 45 minutes.

“Stress itself can kill wild animals,” she said.

“I hung around for a while but couldn't identify the owner of the vehicle.”

While Dr Noble was unable to chat to the driver, she said she wanted to know what they planned to do with the possum and why they had left it there for so long.

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“I think it was unacceptable to leave the possum in that stressful situation,” she said.

“I have not come across this before.”

Dr Noble reported what she witnessed to the RSPCA online that night and posted about it in a Cooran community group.

A member of the Facebook group, Angela Bell, said it couldn’t have been a wildlife carer as they “would not transport a possum this way”.

Kelly Hanson said qualified pest removal people can have a licence to relocate possums, but can only be relocated a maximum of 25m away due to their territorial nature.

“The poor thing must be so scared,” Ms Hanson said.

Originally published as Natalie Noble upset after finding ‘distressed’ possum in Pomona