During a day out in Sydney, Australia, Jessica set her diaper bag under her stroller while her kids played nearby. What she didn’t realize was that a tiny wanderer was about to sneak inside.
When the stroller shifted, Jessica opened the bag — and was stunned to find a baby ringtail possum curled up among the baby clothes.
“This little joey probably climbed into the pram looking for somewhere to shelter and was keeping itself warm amongst the baby clothes,” John Grant of WIRES (Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organization) told The Dodo.
The young possum, only a couple of months old, was far too small to survive alone. Jessica quickly phoned WIRES for help.
While waiting for rescuers, she carefully left the joey undisturbed in the bag, placed the bag inside a secure box with a towel, and moved it into a quiet, dark room.
Soon after, WIRES volunteer Vanessa arrived and transported the little one to carer Julie, who estimated the joey to be just 2.5 months old and weighing only 110 grams.
Grateful and touched, Julie named the possum Jessica, after her rescuer.
To help her feel safe, Jessica was paired with another orphaned possum of the same age. Within days, two more joeys joined them — and the babies quickly formed a cozy little pod.
“They buddy up very easily at that age, and they all settled in well, even happily lapping their milk together,” Julie said.
Over the coming months, Julie will continue feeding and caring for the group until they’re strong enough to move into outdoor nests. Once they reach about a pound in weight, they’ll be gradually reintroduced to the wild.
For now, Jessica and her new friends are thriving together — all thanks to a mom who opened her diaper bag and found the sweetest surprise inside.
If you'd like to support Jessica and other animals rescued by WIRES, you can make a donation here.
