@Graci Possums are the only marsupial native to the Americas. They evolved on Gondwana, the southern supercontinent post-Pangaea, then, much later, migrated here from South America via Panama, which formed about 4 million years ago or so.
When attacked, they have 3 main defenses. First, of course, is playing dead. There's teeth, too. They can inflict a nasty bite if sufficiently provoked. Last is a scent gland under the tail, which smells like a bag of pee-soaked gym socks left in the sun. 🤢
@POOetryma The urine is pretty bad. We've only had an issue with that once or twice in the years they've been visiting,
@Graci They're totes adorbs as babies. 👇🥰 Adults, not so much. And they REEK! They have that distinctive smell that lets you know when they're around.
I found this one wandering alone in front of an apartment last year, so I brought it back to my little patch of woods, fed it, and let it go. I didn't realize that it was probably too young to fend for itself. By the time I learned that, an hour later, it was gone.
@Graci Those are fancy little ear-tips!