Foxes hiding under classrooms, Tawny Frogmouths perched on poles, all types of birds wandering through corridors. In the world there are so many animals: big and small, scaly and furry, and more than once these creatures have made their way into our school.
The Foxes
One winter Friday morning in 2024, two red foxes ventured into PPS. They hid underneath the kindergarten classes’ verandahs. They were first spotted by Owen during Putney’s Public Schools’ Sport Association (PSSA) training.
Although the reason why the foxes turned up at our school is not known for sure, there are a few guesses. For example, foxes sometimes travel outside their home range if{ they need to access food. Another possibility is that most foxes are nocturnal and might have been looking for a safe, comfortable place to sleep during the day.
The foxes were removed from the school by cutting open the wires underneath the verandahs and allowing the foxes to escape.
Tawny Frogmouth
One Thursday morning in Term 1, 2026, a Tawny Frogmouth was found on the top of a pole in our playground. The first person to discover the bird was Erin Coulson, a Year 6 student.
Soon rumour spread and students from nearby classrooms came outside to see what it was all about. A few students spotted it and began trying to throw rocks at the sleeping bird.
The Tawny Frogmouth woke abruptly and flew away to try and escape the students, but, unfortunately, it got stuck in a tree, and remained there for a while.
The Tawny Frogmouth eventually got itself unstuck and managed to escape, it flew away and we hope it’s healthy and happy now.
Ibis
One day in 2024, an ibis came into the corridor where some classrooms were located.
Some teachers who taught in those classrooms like Mrs Talevski and Mrs Hedge w{ere terrified of birds, especially ibis’. They both have fears of birds, so they had to get Mrs Martin and Mrs Manners to scare the bird out of the corridor. Once the ibis was outside, Mrs Hedge and Mrs Talevski came out of their hiding spot, and let out sighs of relief.
As Mrs Hedge said, “when you have a fear, even if it may seem silly, your brain makes up dangerous scenarios.”
In the end the ibis was free to roam outside.
We interviewed Millie, Year 6, who came to PPS in late 2024, about her school animal encounters. At her previous school, two dogs once found their way into the school. Thankfully, they caused no troubles and just ran around. “To get the dogs out, the teachers had to call pest control,” she said.
Whether it’s birds, foxes, owls or any other animal, schools are somehow the number
one hiding place. It doesn’t matter if they’re hiding up on poles, in corridors or underneath classrooms, animals think of our schools as a safe shelter and they are usually loved by the student body.
