Our BackYard Possum

I have been meaning to post these pictures of our backyard wild life. I was sitting at the kitchen table surfing the net one day while Makayla was napping and this is what was lurking around in our yard . It is so weird to me to find a possum wandering around coming towards our house, I'm sure looking for some food. We would never see one of these creatures in our backyards in Colorado.............. because we had a fence to outline our yards unlike we do here in Minnesota and also we didn't have near the wildlife we have out here. So in a way it is kinda cool as long as he or she doesn't move into our house.





Opossum:

Among Minnesota's wild mammals, the opossum is probably the most unusual. a marsupial, it is a distant relative of the kangaroo and other animals which carry their young in a pouch.

The opossum is about the size of a house cat. It weighs from four to 12 pounds and measures nearly three feet from its long pink nose to its long naked tail. The opossum wraps its prehensile tail around tree limbs as an aid when climbing.

At night the opossum forages for small rodents, fruits, nuts, birds, insects, carrion, and other foods. After eating, it squats on its hind legs and washes, much like a cat.

What's truly unique about the 'possum' is how it comes into the world. The young, usually eight to 12, are not fully developed at birth. Their tiny front feet, however, do have minute claws which the babies use to climb up the mother's belly and into her pouch. Once inside, they attach themselves to a teat. There they remain for 60 to 70 days. For another month after that, the young opossums climb in and out of the pouch, never straying far. Finally, when mouse-size, they climb aboard the mother's back where they spend much of their time until becoming more independent.

The opossum lives primarily in southern Minnesota woodlands, but occasionally ranges into north-central counties. The opossum's naked ears, nose, and tail are very susceptible to freezing temperatures, which explains why the species is not found farther north.Opossum
Opossum illustration

Among Minnesota's wild mammals, the opossum is probably the most unusual. a marsupial, it is a distant relative of the kangaroo and other animals which carry their young in a pouch.

The opossum is about the size of a house cat. It weighs from four to 12 pounds and measures nearly three feet from its long pink nose to its long naked tail. The opossum wraps its prehensile tail around tree limbs as an aid when climbing.

At night the opossum forages for small rodents, fruits, nuts, birds, insects, carrion, and other foods. After eating, it squats on its hind legs and washes, much like a cat.

What's truly unique about the 'possum' is how it comes into the world. The young, usually eight to 12, are not fully developed at birth. Their tiny front feet, however, do have minute claws which the babies use to climb up the mother's belly and into her pouch. Once inside, they attach themselves to a teat. There they remain for 60 to 70 days. For another month after that, the young opossums climb in and out of the pouch, never straying far. Finally, when mouse-size, they climb aboard the mother's back where they spend much of their time until becoming more independent.

The opossum lives primarily in southern Minnesota woodlands, but occasionally ranges into north-central counties. The opossum's naked ears, nose, and tail are very susceptible to freezing temperatures, which explains why the species is not found farther north.