Tasmanian Devil Follows Golden Retriever Inside, Startles Woman Who Thought it Was a Dog Toy
A woman in Hobart, Australia, had quite a surprise after she came into contact with a Tasmanian devil she had dismissed as a dog toy. The brief video shows the adorable little creature skittering across the floor after possibly following the homeowner's golden retriever puppy inside. They apparently tried "shooing" it away, which is always laughable, even when it works.
Tasmanian Devil
Better yet? The dog actually has a Tasmanian devil plushie toy, and that's what its owner, Kirsten Lynch, thought they were stooping to pick up — until it moved! "I went to reach for it, the devil shot underneath the couch," she said before admitting that her yelling was enough to wake up the entire house.
Hubby to the Rescue
Her husband ended up chasing the diminutive demon out of the home with a broom while Lynch and their children took refuge on top of the family's kitchen table. "We were concerned that if she or he was cornered and scared, they would bite someone," Lynch explained. "So, at some stage, the family were standing on the dining table, which in itself was classically funny. I got the fright of my life. But to be honest, I think the poor thing was more terrified of us."
She's undoubtedly correct. The little marsupial that has found itself on the endangered species list was probably freaked out enough by the presence of giant humans, much less all of the shrieking that followed its untimely reveal.
Endangered Species
Tasmanian devils rarely enter people's homes, so the encounter was a bit unusual. On the other hand, experts say that it is that time of year Down Under when juvenile Tasmanian devils can be seen in urban areas foraging for food and water as they learn to navigate without their parents. The youngster in this case, is believed to have followed the Lynch family's new puppy inside, as their property backs onto bushland. Hobart is located in Tasmania's southeast on the estuary of the River Derwent.
"The devil got through the fence behind Gecko and walked in through the door that we leave open for her, as she's still potty training," Kirsten said. "It was very cute."
A video of the comical event shows the frightened little fur ball scurrying beneath the table and chairs while her husband tries to gently shoo it out of the house. You can watch it for yourself below.
https://youtu.be/B0x1WlVQgAI
Rebecca is a writer and editor for both print and digital with a love for travel, history, archaeology, trivia, and architecture. Much of her writing has focused on human and animal health and welfare. A life-long pet owner, she has taken part in fostering dogs for military members during deployment and given many rescued and surrendered dogs the forever home they always wanted. Her two favorite canine quotes are, "Be the kind of person your dog thinks you are," and "My dog rescued me."