Opossum and Babies
The mother opossum has two babies on its back and several more in her pouch (if you look closely you can see some little hands protruding from her marsupial pou...
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The mother opossum has two babies on its back and several more in her pouch (if you look closely you can see some little hands protruding from her marsupial pouch where the babies find comfort while they are small.
Opossums are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia, endemic to the Americas. Opossums originated in South America and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of North and South America.
In the United States and Canada, the only species found is the Virginia opossum. It is often simply referred to as an "opossum", and in North America they are commonly referred to as possums
It’s a familiar and common creature in many parts of North America. Some find them creepy. Some find them cute. But when you see one up close, you can’t help but be struck by just how utterly bizarre it is. It has a prehensile tail. It has a thumb. It doesn’t look like anything else you see in field or forest.
One of the most commonly known habits of opossums is “playing dead” or, as it is frequently called, “playing possum.” This is real, although the opossum is not playing, which suggests there is some intent at work.
An opossum, when confronted with a threat, will often hiss or bare its teeth. Or more likely, run. But if it is surprised by a predator, it will enter a catatonic state. It basically faints and is in a state of unconsciousness. The opossum has no control over this; it’s involuntary.
It does indeed appear if the opossum is dead. Its teeth are visible, as if in a death grimace. It emits a foul substance from its anus, the smell described as corpse-like.
A predator is confronted with what appears to be dead, unhealthy prey, and may leave the opossum alone.
This death-feigning strategy, as some sources note, is not without its risks. The opossum is unconscious. So if the predator decides to gnaw on the opossum anyway, there’s no escape.
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Opossums are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia, endemic to the Americas. Opossums originated in South America and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of North and South America.
In the United States and Canada, the only species found is the Virginia opossum. It is often simply referred to as an "opossum", and in North America they are commonly referred to as possums
It’s a familiar and common creature in many parts of North America. Some find them creepy. Some find them cute. But when you see one up close, you can’t help but be struck by just how utterly bizarre it is. It has a prehensile tail. It has a thumb. It doesn’t look like anything else you see in field or forest.
One of the most commonly known habits of opossums is “playing dead” or, as it is frequently called, “playing possum.” This is real, although the opossum is not playing, which suggests there is some intent at work.
An opossum, when confronted with a threat, will often hiss or bare its teeth. Or more likely, run. But if it is surprised by a predator, it will enter a catatonic state. It basically faints and is in a state of unconsciousness. The opossum has no control over this; it’s involuntary.
It does indeed appear if the opossum is dead. Its teeth are visible, as if in a death grimace. It emits a foul substance from its anus, the smell described as corpse-like.
A predator is confronted with what appears to be dead, unhealthy prey, and may leave the opossum alone.
This death-feigning strategy, as some sources note, is not without its risks. The opossum is unconscious. So if the predator decides to gnaw on the opossum anyway, there’s no escape.
_DS37807caf.JPG
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Jun, 2022Views
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Trooper
June 21, 2022
Completely priceless shot Kurt! Opossums are my favorite animal!! YES, I think they are absolutely adorable. Thank you for sharing this information on these misunderstood little critters. I would also like to add that contrary to popular belief, an opossum's body temperature is too low to carry diseases such as rabies. Also, they can consume over 5,000 ticks per season, per opossum!! This makes them not only unable to carry disease, but able to help rid the spread of Lyme's disease. Not a bad day's work for a tiny marsupial that typically only lives two years in the wild. North America 's only marsupial!
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NaturesBounty
June 26, 2022
Amazing find and capture, Kurt. I like the little hands sticking out of the pouch and the little faces behind mom.
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NatalieSuzannePhotography
October 25, 2022
So adorable 🥰 I have someone I know that the mother had passed away and the babies were still alive and they took the babies home and fed them and raised them, got to hold one to ☺️
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