Playing with Possums

One of the fun parts of my job is when we get new program animals. This week it is a bit more exciting than when we get a new turtle (minus when we got Bernice). This week we acquired two young Opossum; Millie and Sophia! They are about 3 months old and were hand-raised by a woman whose neighbor found the mother dead with the young little (the size of a thumb) ones climbing all over the road. Not everyone can or should have a possum, but we are lucky that we can and should. They eat just about the same things as our mammals (they are omniverous, which makes their diet quite various) and they don't take up much space.

The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only North Amercian marsupial (animals with pouches), which in itself makes them interesting. They also have more teeth than most other animals- 50- and they are all pretty pointy. They have a prehensile tail that they use for stabilization, but they don't hang from it; that is one of those possum myths. So is playing possum. They don't play dead on purpose. They have a weak nervous system that kind of shuts down when they are frightened, so they faint.

Mille and Sophia will see lots of kids hopefully over the years. Opossum aren't all that long-lived; 2 to 4 years, but we will take good care of them while they are here. Thanks to their donor! If anyone wants to contribute to their care, please let our Curator, Val Heywood, know: heywoodv@stny.rr.com