Rondeau Ric

We had an opossum late yesterday cleaning up under the feeders. Photo through the wonderful wildlife window. I haven't seen one in the yard for a long time. They are tick eaters so they are always welcome. Rondeau Provincial Park, Jan 11, 2023. Didelphis virginiana This native species is a marsupial about the size of a housecat, but with shorter legs, large naked ears, and a long prehensile tail. Opossums are known for feigning death, or pretending to be dead, whenever they feel threatened or scared. This behavior is mostly displayed by young opossums. Adults will bare their teeth, hiss, screech or flee when threatened.

Virginia opossum at the water feature in the yard. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Jan 23, 2022. In the past few days we have had white-tailed deer, racoon and now an opossum drinking from the water feature. Didelphis virginiana The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is Canada’s only marsupial. It belongs to one of three marsupial families native to the Americas. The Virginia opossum’s northernmost range reaches into Southern and Southeastern Ontario,Southern Quebec, and the lower Fraser valley, British Columbia. source - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/opossum

Virginia opossum, Rondeau Provincial Park, February 11, 2020, cleaning up under a niger seed feeder. Opossum kill nearly 95% of ticks that cross their path. It is estimated that a single opossum is capable of eating an estimated 5,000 ticks every season. Didelphis virginiana The Virginia opossum, commonly known as the North American opossum, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. In the United States, the animal is typically referred to simply as a possum. It is a solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat. It is a successful opportunist.

Spotted this young Virginia Opossum near the recycling bins. Didelphis virginiana There are several dozen different species of opossum, which are often called possums in North America. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada.

Looking for a free lunch , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. This small opossum was scrounging under the bird feeders in search of a free lunch. The temperatures were above freezing today which probably encouraged him to come out. They are omnivores and they eat insects, snails, rodents, berries, fruit, grasses, leaves, carrion, snakes, bird and waterfowl eggs, corn and all other vegetables. This photo was taken through the Wonderful Wildlife Window. Scientific stuff Didelphis virginiana They are North America's only marsupial (female has a pouch) mammal. A female can bear up to 14 young and when they are born the entire litter can fit onto a teaspoon. Opossums are active year round and do not hibernate; however during extreme weather they may stay in dens for weeks at a time using up stored body fats.