Three cheers indeed! Opossums may not win beauty contests, but they totally win at being awesome. This piece gave me a whole new level of appreciation—and a few “aww” moments too. 🫶
Terrific! I so look forward to your essays, and this might be favorite yet. You make strange animals less strange, and let us see the perfect logic of their wildness. The strangest thing is often our own strange response to such wildness.
My husband found a baby possum whose mother had been hit by a car. She was screaming as a buzzard was about to make a snack of her. She was so small she could hold onto my finger. I took her to work with me in a cigar box and fed her on my break. We raised her with a syringe and cat formula until she was able to eat regular food. She adored blueberries and grapes. I was always frightened of opossums but grew to love and appreciate them. They are wonderful animals who contribute to cleaning up excess ticks and snails.
We are very lucky to get many of them here, including the yard. I love them so much and it makes me sad the hate they receive from so many people. The little ones are so adorable
I've scrolled through this post several times just to admire the wonderful variety of ear markings and coloration on the opossums. We have one that wanders through the yard periodically, but in the half light I am not able to see the ears clearly.
For David - I have a vintage picture book called Henry Possum by Harold Berson. Is that the one?
Thank you for the enlightening read. Living in the South all my life and being used to seeing opossums in many situations (rural and urban), I learned so much from your enjoyable article. I now appreciate this particular marsupial even more than before.
Three cheers indeed! Opossums may not win beauty contests, but they totally win at being awesome. This piece gave me a whole new level of appreciation—and a few “aww” moments too. 🫶
Terrific! I so look forward to your essays, and this might be favorite yet. You make strange animals less strange, and let us see the perfect logic of their wildness. The strangest thing is often our own strange response to such wildness.
My husband found a baby possum whose mother had been hit by a car. She was screaming as a buzzard was about to make a snack of her. She was so small she could hold onto my finger. I took her to work with me in a cigar box and fed her on my break. We raised her with a syringe and cat formula until she was able to eat regular food. She adored blueberries and grapes. I was always frightened of opossums but grew to love and appreciate them. They are wonderful animals who contribute to cleaning up excess ticks and snails.
We are very lucky to get many of them here, including the yard. I love them so much and it makes me sad the hate they receive from so many people. The little ones are so adorable
Huzzah for Possums! We have one that comes around to our back porch; we call her Lady Silverhands — she’s so lovely. 😊
SO cute!
Love the possums.
I have a friend who said she detested opossums, and I could never understand why. I think they are really cute. Lovely photos :-)
I love possums. They have been eating my failed kitchen experiments for decades
I have some very fat possum
I love opossums!
Love them! Do people realize each consumes hundreds of ticks daily?!
i adore them. they’re incredible.
I've scrolled through this post several times just to admire the wonderful variety of ear markings and coloration on the opossums. We have one that wanders through the yard periodically, but in the half light I am not able to see the ears clearly.
For David - I have a vintage picture book called Henry Possum by Harold Berson. Is that the one?
I noticed that, too, Cathy. And their facial markings too really vary. I don’t know Henry Possum. Will check it out!
They are our friends, please don't hurt them.
Thank you for the enlightening read. Living in the South all my life and being used to seeing opossums in many situations (rural and urban), I learned so much from your enjoyable article. I now appreciate this particular marsupial even more than before.
I used to rescue them for a local wildlife rescue. They’re sentient little beings and great moms