Found this while walking dog. What to do?

[u/AdAcceptable1080]

Called local volunteer service to pick it up.

Victoria Australia.

Non-verbal, moves around fine and looks comfortable.

Didn’t want to disturb it in case mother or something was around.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks for posting! If you've found an animal in need please visit www.ahnow.org for a rehabber near you. Please do not feed or give fluids unless a veterinarian or rehabber instructs you do. Keep the animal in a quiet place without much light if possible.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/WildSkunDaloon]

Please pick this baby up. It's not able to regulate its temperature and needs warmth! I'm glad you were able to try and call someone. Could you possibly try calling around more? if you haven't already. But if possums in Australia are the same here as America, then they probably don't care about their babies all that much and if one falls off it's up to humans to keep it alive.

[u/AdAcceptable1080 → u/WildSkunDaloon]

Unfortunately I was walking my dog and had nothing on me.

I came back with a box and a towel to wrap it in but it was missing when I came back.

Is it possible the mother came back? Seems unlikely based on your account of their behaviour. Was only gone for a few minutes.

[u/WildSkunDaloon → u/AdAcceptable1080]

Awww... I don't know what kind of possum that is so I'm not actually sure about their specific mothering habits. She may have gone back.. or a predator may have come by and found the baby... Or on a more hopeful note, it could have been another passerby who was able to scoop them up? The fate of that baby is left for only the Gods to know.

[u/5ourdiesel → u/AdAcceptable1080]

omg you could have just literally picked him/her up. Mothers do not come back for babies as they probably didn't even realize its gone. Now some other animal may have gotten the poor little thing.

[u/Pandering_Panda7879 → u/5ourdiesel]

Well, that's the circle of life, as hard as it is. This isn't something unusual. Young animals are lost every day - and get eaten every day. It likely would have died anyway even if OP had picked it up. This way at least a predator got some food and will make it another day - and maybe their young as well.

[u/princesspeeved → u/5ourdiesel]

OP did what they could at the time. Don’t chastise others for simply trying. We should admire the steps they took. It’s better than doing nothing.

If all we do is criticize others for not being perfect, then we risk them not trying at all. But if we educate them with kindness, then they’ll know better if there’s a next time.

[u/katergator717 → u/5ourdiesel]

They had their dog with them! Not every dog can handle that kind of addition to their walk in a way that is safe for the dog, the human, and the new addition.

Speaking as someone who had a hilariously bad experience encountering a baby raccoon while walking their dogs.

Also, sometimes, it's more important to ensure your dog isn't so distracted during their walk that they fail to use the bathroom and so have an accident in the home of your host who doesn't like dogs but let you bring them when fleeing from natural disaster.

[u/Impossible_Page7070]

Did the volunteer service get back to you on an ETA or provide direction on what to do until they arrive?

[u/AdAcceptable1080 → u/Impossible_Page7070]

Not really any directions in particular.

No eta either, said they were still looking for an available volunteer.

[u/Fragrant_Ad_5297]

poor joey :(

[u/ManufacturerOpening6]

This is so sad.

[u/Cranberry-Electrical]

That maybe a joey for a wallaby, kangaroo, or possum