Opossums - Friend Or Foe?

I never knew much about opossums. I just always saw them as a big ball of fur with a rat tail. I thought they were creatures that had rabies and would bite without being provoked. It turns out that couldn't be further from the truth.

Meet The Opossum!

Opossums are one of the least aggressive animals on the planet. This white creature is about the size of a cat and is the only marsupial in North America. A close relative to the opossum would be the kangaroo.

The gestation period of an opossum is only about 13 days during springtime. A newborn opossum will be the size of an acorn. One of an opossum's babies most distinguished characteristics is that it is born blind but will be able to crawl from the mother's birth canal to her pouch due to the fact that it's legs are long enough to move. The average litter has about 15 joeys. A small percentage of them will live to survive through the sumer.

Their long rat-like tail helps them to climb trees and possibly hang when hiding. However, they do not sleep upside down as many have believed.

Opossum Myths

There are many misconceptions about the opossum. They are one of the animals who are least likely to transmit rabies. They have a low body temperature which keeps them from transmitting diseases. Another misconception is that they are aggressive. On the contrary, they will not bite unless provoked. They just want to be left alone.

Possums are known to play dead. However, this is an involuntary action that protects them and not a conscious action. Opossums are friendly animals in general who are omnivores at heart. They will eat insects, roadkill, cat food and dog food. These smart animals are peace loving and completely docile towards dogs. They are even better at protecting gardens from unsightly insects.

All in all, the opossum is one of the oldest living animals in history. If you happen to encounter one on a dark night, don't be fearful of them. They are no more harmful than a squirrel or a cat.

Let's Discuss!

Have you ever had an unusual experience with an opossum?

It's All Related!

Prey Of The Dog: Down Under
Prey Of The Dog: New Zealand
Canines in Conservation

A Day At The Dog Beach

This weekend, I had a photography class field trip. I could choose for my documentary project a choice of taking pictures at a flea market, farmer's market, coffeeshop or the dog beach. For me, the dog beach was a no-brainer. The planets must have truly aligned in favor of this because we had 60 degree Fahrenheit weather in mid-November.

Below are some of my favorites. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these. I hope your week is off to a good start.

What To Look For When Adopting A Pit Bull

The pit bull breed has been quite controversial in the news for quite some time. For all of you who have been curious and/or interested in adopting this adorable breed, I have an infographic that I received from AdoptAPet.com that makes it easier. One trend I've noticed lately is that some shelters are leaving the word pit bull out when listing these dogs for adoption to discourage dog fighters from adopting them. I think it's a good thing because it should always be about the dog and how they relate to their potential owner. This dog has suffered under an unfair stigma for too long. After what happened to dogs like Lennox, something has got to change.

Infographic: Adopt A Pet

Learn more about Adopt A Pet by visiting their website.

Let's Discuss!

What do you look for in adopting a dog?

It's All Related!

When BSL Laws Fail
The Misunderstood Pit Bull
The Lost Dogs Book Review
Pit Bull Nation
Michael Vick Five Years Later
Dangerous Dog Bans