Mirabelle's Story, by Kathy Wilson

“My name is Mirabelle and I’m your friendly neighborhood opossum. My territory includes several backyards in Redwood city that back up to the creek. Most people don't notice me and that's just the way I like it. I wait until the sun goes down, then quietly patrol my neighborhood seeking out garden pests as I look for my next meal.

This kind lady leaves food out for me, although I suspect it’s actually for her outdoor cat, Whiskers. Still, it’s crunchy and delicious and she doesn't seem to mind my visits.”

All About Opossums

Dinosaurs roamed the Earth over 70 million years ago and while they are now extinct, one animal who shared the same land still exists today ─ the opossum.

Despite their appearance, they are not related to the rat. In fact, they are a marsupial or “pouched” mammal related to other marsupials like kangaroos and koalas. Infant opossums stay inside the mother’s pouch to nurse and develop. Then they ride on her back until they’re ready to move about on their own.

“One of the opossum’s trademark behaviors is ‘our playing dead’ defense mechanism.

Speaking from first-hand experience, this is a highly effective strategy when being threatened. If you look dead, there’s a very good chance a predator will just move along rather than eating you.

And we do look convincing, don't we?”

Good for the Environment

Whether rural, residential, or in the wild, opossums can be a benefit to any place they inhabit. Often referred to as “Nature’s Little Sanitation Engineer,” they keep neighborhoods and wilderness areas clean and free of unwanted pests and rodents.

“Although we have 50 teeth ─ more than any other North American land mammal ─ we would much rather chow down on a rat, eat a tick, or dine on a juicy snail than bite a person. (Yum!)

A quiet and respectful visitor, we coexist peacefully with other nocturnal animals, and we greatly appreciate those of you who welcome us into your gardens, leaving water and snacks out for our next visit.”

To learn more about opossums, check out these two sites.

General opossum information: https://opossumsocietyus.org/general-opossum-information/

Opossum rescue and rehabilitation story:

https://abc7ny.com/post/mom-chauffeurs-baby-opossums-in-adorable-mothers-day-video/5296934/