I have always loved Platypus but my friend Maggie actually knows four platypus personally. This post is what she has learned about these strange and wonderful little animals from personal experiences.

The first platypus that Maggie met was a baby, newly emerged from the maternal burrow. Once out, young platypus are on their own. They receive no more help from mama, who had sealed herself in the burrow, laid two eggs and remained there until they hatched and developed. Mother platypus do not have nipples. The milk oozes from glands and the babies just lap it up.

This baby had not learned enough of the world to be afraid of humans. She swam right up to Maggie, who was sitting in her creek with a friend. They scooped her out of the water to have a closer look. Baby platypus have blue eyes just like kittens. Their bills arenot hard like a duck bill but soft and have lips.

After a few minutes they slipped the little platypus back into the creek and off she went.

Years later, Maggie was called to rescue a platypus. It was a very hot summer and he had been so heat stressed that he had crawled out on the bank where he was attacked by numerous ticks. Kayakers found him and took him to the local hotel, where they called Maggie, who is well known locally as the person to call for wildlife rescue.