Love opossums?
Most people know that opossums are marsupials,
but have you ever wondered how the pea-sized newborns make their way from the uterus to the pouch?
They begin by going through a newly formed canal
made from splitting connective tissue. This temporary canal appears shortly after birth and disappears soon after.
It has appropriately been compared to the Room of Requirement - showing up when you need it, disappearing when you don't.
continues.
@holon42 if you’ve ever had one lunge at you teeth first you might have a moderated opinion. The precious pup in my aviator got into a fight with an opossum that came inside the backyard. I broke it up and neither was happy with me. Doxy got a cut ear and opossum got a chunk of thigh torn off.
i know they can be fierce in defending themselves, yes. 40 sharp teeth and saliva that's dangerous, like feline saliva.
but they're not aggressive unless, well, if a dog goes after them, or you do, sure.
@holon42 @CanisPundit Good morning, boys and girls. Let's play a fun game: "Spot the Marsupial." 😑
If a possum invades your space, pick it up by the tail and carry it outside. You won't hurt it this way. Don't let it climb up on to you, as is pointed out above. Set it down and watch it go.
Note: Possums, unlike raccoons, can't be easily trained. Once they learn there's food available, they'll keep returning. In that case, relocation to a suitable habitat is preferred.
around here, you're only allowed to move raccoons for one mile.
sure, right.
they're back before you are.
so i keep them off my feeders with bribes. so far, the deal is holding.
if where you move them is suitable or better than the original location, i can see that.
opossums are easier, apparently, although 2 of many that my rehabber friend released refused to leave and kept climbing her leg, so they became house possums, lovely companions though not long lived.
it's hard when they die😭
@holon42 Possums only live about 3 years in the wild, the shortest lifespan of any similarly sized mammal. Housecats, by contrast, have a natural lifespan of around 10 years.
yes, possums mostly are short lived. many predators, people kill them, plus they're very vulnerable to infection for any wound.
my rehabber friend lost two to what were minor infections, overnight before she could get to a vet.
they counterbalance that by having many many offspring.
@holon42 I moved two raccoons last year. One was relocated a bit over 2 miles away and the other got relocated to a dear friend to keep her hands warm in winter. The last possum I moved, several years ago, only had to go about half a mile to find a suitable habitat. None of these animals have returned. 😊