'Twas Nice to Know Ye, Opossums

After taking in row after row of baby opossums and a few adults this Spring at the rehab center, most of them have grown up and gotten fat and healthy enough to be released back into the wild. I have been taking very quick little video moments because there is too much work to do. But I've come to appreciate these animals through watching them and want not only to preserve those moments for myself, but to help others come to appreciate them too. I often go home and study whatever we've gotten in, looking them up in books and on Google.

To waive au revoir to a few... First off, a mama with her baby crawling. Notice Mom has her mouth open to show her many teeth, though she lies there motionless -- "playing opossum" -- while her baby, innocent to any converns about my presence, gleefully takes a crawl on the giant mountain called Mom. It's quick but good enough.



I know , a two second snippet, but you were warned, lol. The one below is longer and clearer to see. After cleaning a row of tanks of a bit older babies I put in their esbilac (puppy milk mixture) and cheerios so they can learn to lap and eventually eat on their own. These guys did a good job and were pretty darn cute in the process.


Now see, did you ever think of opossums as cute before? I know they still may not be someone's cup of tea.... But I have to say, if you spend some time observing an animal, let alone caring for it, you come to really see it's merits. Even if it's a spider -- CLICK HERE to visit my friend Bindu for a great proof of that (I do NOT like spiders, not at all, but her Ode to a Spider post made me see I could really appreciate them).

Reminds me of this quote:

"You can't hate someone whose story you know"

....applied to the animal kingdom of course. I googled like mad to find to whom I might attribute that quote to no avail.

As Spring turns to summer, different species complete their birth cycles. Babies who once dominated the center go out and entirely different baby animals arrive in need. I heard that this week we got in two bob cats and two fawns -- I saw a little Bambi come in, absolutely newborn with limp, long legs and an adorable little face, as someone carted her off in their arms to check all her vitals. I wish I wasn't so busy this week and going out of town next week, as those would be two really amazing babies to look after!!