Out walking today, I almost stepped on a small body. It could have been a rat, but could conceivably been an opossum as well. Which mammal it was, exactly, I couldn't tell because it had been dried out and thoroughly picked clean. Weird that it stayed out there so long, but this street doesn't seem to get as much foot traffic as it does merging cars.
Anyway, going on the idea that it might be an opossum, I started looking them up. This is a nice short video. I didn't realize that possums were a different animal, native to Australia. It's thought that marsupials first evolved in South America, and migrated to Australia when they were closer together. The opossum is the one marsupial that migrated north to N. America instead.
They eat ticks? That is handy, especially in Lyme country.
2 comments:
It's sad to happen across any dead animal but there's not much to do but to take note and wish it well which is what you've done. Speaking of picked clean it's possible you found it after a crow had dropped the little thing.
You know I had no idea possums and opossums weren't the same creature - the southern mountain guys call them possums in the movies. That opossums are marsupials native to North America is interesting. The one in the video you posted is most charming.
You've likely seen them since the quokka became popuar a few years ago. I only mention it because they're also marsupials and they're very cute.. they only appear to smile because of their facial structure. And I'm pretty sure they're vegetarians.
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/quokka/
It's a sad sight, but it turns out to be kind of a common one. I'm not sure if Animal Control is supposed to clear away bodies, but as far as I can tell they don't. If one or more crows picked it clean it might well have been roadkill as well.
Yeah, Southerners do seem to be in the habit of calling opossums possums. Which makes sense, when you think about it. The actual possums are an ocean or two away, so why not use the word for something more at hand. Keeping opossums as pets seems to be strongly discouraged but some people do have friendly relations with opossums that live and play near them.
Curious creatures, quokkas. They look a little like rabbits crossed with squirrels crossed with foxes. a lot of them live on Rottnest Island, which is now a protected nature reserve. It's good that they have a safe home.
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