What's lurking in your houseplant? See the bizarre creature an Aussie woman uncovered!
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Imagine you're enjoying a quiet morning at home, sipping your tea, when suddenly a sound akin to a 'screaming chainsaw' shatters the peace. This isn't the beginning of a horror movie; it's what happened to Jennifer Bennett, a Melbourne resident, whose ordinary day took a turn for the extraordinary due to an unexpected visitor hiding in her houseplant.
Jennifer was initially baffled by the noise, which was so unusual and alarming that she doubted her own ears. But when her two Border Collies fixated on the peace lily in the corner of her lounge, she realised the source of the commotion was no figment of her imagination. 'I had never heard anything like that before. I had absolutely no idea what it was,' she recounted. The dogs' intense scrutiny of the plant and her own trepidation led her to suspect a snake might be the culprit. 'My brain immediately assumed it was a snake... I was really scared,' she admitted.
The emotional roller coaster that followed saw Jennifer wrestling with her fear for over an hour, trying to muster the courage to investigate the mysterious sound. When she finally peered between the leaves, she discovered not a snake, but a small sugar glider perched on the foliage. This tiny marsupial, more accustomed to the high canopies of eucalyptus trees, was far from its natural habitat and certainly not something you'd expect to find in a domestic plant pot.
'It was such an emotional roller coaster, but I spent most of my time worrying... and then it was an absolute delight,' Jennifer said, reflecting on the mix of fear and fascination that the encounter provoked.
Concerned for the well-being of her unexpected guest, Jennifer reached out to the Greenpatch Wildlife Shelter for assistance. The conversation took a humorous turn when the rescuer initially thought the sugar glider was outside. 'I called the people from the Greenpatch Wildlife Shelter and the woman said the sugar glider would be fine in the pot, it'll make its way out. And I go, 'No, no, it's in the pot inside my house' and she went, 'Oh, that's a bit different then',' Jennifer explained.
Sugar gliders are nocturnal creatures, so its daytime disturbance was particularly surprising. Despite Jennifer's best efforts to follow the rescuer's advice and coax the animal into a basket, the sugar glider was having none of it, 'screaming' whenever she approached. 'When the rescuer arrived and I saw her doing it... there was no way that I could have done it, she obviously knew exactly what she was doing... best to leave it to the professional,' she said, relieved to hand over the task to someone with the right expertise.
Watch Jennifer's full encounter here:
Source: .jenbennett/TikTok
The mystery of how the sugar glider entered Jennifer's home remains unsolved, with speculation that it might have been seeking refuge from the heat. Thankfully, a vet confirmed that the animal wasn't injured, and it was safely returned to a more appropriate environment.
Jennifer's story is a reminder that nature can surprise us in the most unexpected ways, even within the walls of our own homes. It also highlights the importance of local wildlife rescue services and the invaluable work they do to ensure the safety of both animals and residents.
Have you ever encountered a wild animal in an unusual place? Share your stories with us, and let's marvel at the unexpected encounters that keep life interesting.
Jennifer was initially baffled by the noise, which was so unusual and alarming that she doubted her own ears. But when her two Border Collies fixated on the peace lily in the corner of her lounge, she realised the source of the commotion was no figment of her imagination. 'I had never heard anything like that before. I had absolutely no idea what it was,' she recounted. The dogs' intense scrutiny of the plant and her own trepidation led her to suspect a snake might be the culprit. 'My brain immediately assumed it was a snake... I was really scared,' she admitted.
The emotional roller coaster that followed saw Jennifer wrestling with her fear for over an hour, trying to muster the courage to investigate the mysterious sound. When she finally peered between the leaves, she discovered not a snake, but a small sugar glider perched on the foliage. This tiny marsupial, more accustomed to the high canopies of eucalyptus trees, was far from its natural habitat and certainly not something you'd expect to find in a domestic plant pot.
Jennifer Bennett found the wild animal nestled in one of her plants. Image Credits: TikTok/Jen Bennett
'It was such an emotional roller coaster, but I spent most of my time worrying... and then it was an absolute delight,' Jennifer said, reflecting on the mix of fear and fascination that the encounter provoked.
Concerned for the well-being of her unexpected guest, Jennifer reached out to the Greenpatch Wildlife Shelter for assistance. The conversation took a humorous turn when the rescuer initially thought the sugar glider was outside. 'I called the people from the Greenpatch Wildlife Shelter and the woman said the sugar glider would be fine in the pot, it'll make its way out. And I go, 'No, no, it's in the pot inside my house' and she went, 'Oh, that's a bit different then',' Jennifer explained.
Sugar gliders are nocturnal creatures, so its daytime disturbance was particularly surprising. Despite Jennifer's best efforts to follow the rescuer's advice and coax the animal into a basket, the sugar glider was having none of it, 'screaming' whenever she approached. 'When the rescuer arrived and I saw her doing it... there was no way that I could have done it, she obviously knew exactly what she was doing... best to leave it to the professional,' she said, relieved to hand over the task to someone with the right expertise.
Watch Jennifer's full encounter here:
Source: .jenbennett/TikTok
The mystery of how the sugar glider entered Jennifer's home remains unsolved, with speculation that it might have been seeking refuge from the heat. Thankfully, a vet confirmed that the animal wasn't injured, and it was safely returned to a more appropriate environment.
Jennifer's story is a reminder that nature can surprise us in the most unexpected ways, even within the walls of our own homes. It also highlights the importance of local wildlife rescue services and the invaluable work they do to ensure the safety of both animals and residents.
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nice dog.
