Wildlife Wednesday – OLD Opossum

Today’s story has a sad ending.  Let me get that right out there.  And yet, I say it’s sad but I’m also grateful.

On Friday evening, Husband and I were in Younger Daughter’s backyard with her and her husband.  We were standing kind of in a circle discussing something.  I just happened to be the one facing south and so I saw it first.  An opossum walked right out of the woods and across Younger’s yard.  I alerted my family members – Oh my gosh. Look!   Everybody turned and there she went – right across the lawn like she didn’t even know we were there.

Younger Daughter went running over to her and very quickly we learned why this opossum hadn’t tried to stay away from us.  She was mostly blind and appeared to be deaf.  Younger ran for a towel and scooped her up as she called her sister.  Older Daughter and her husband arrived a few minutes later to take this old gal home.

 

 

Later, Older Daughter texted me the condition of the opossum.  Older said she was pretty much blind and didn’t appear to hear much.  She was extremely thin and very dehydrated.  She was covered in ticks.  Her teeth were packed with tartar and worn way down.  She was clearly very, very old.  The part that made us all sad was that she was so very thin.  She had been trying to survive, in her condition, for who knows how long.  Older got the ticks off, gave a first round of fluids, and fed her.  She was extremely eager to eat.  That gave Older some hope.  However, this old opossum died sometime during the night.  We talked about it the next day and we were all disappointed.  And yet I’m grateful that at least she died free of ticks, hydrated, fed, and curled up on a cozy blanket.  Her last few hours were the best they’d been in a long while.  Sometimes all you can do is provide comfort.  But providing comfort is giving love.  And isn’t that what it’s all about anyway?

 

Since putting this post together, I learned that Older Daughter took in a baby opossum.  The woman who called said the little thing had been in their yard for “a long time” and they left it alone to see if the mom would come back for it.  At one point their dog picked it up and so they got it and brought it inside.  Most people don’t know that momma opossums don’t come back for their young.  In almost all cases (various wild animals and birds), babies should be left alone in case mom is nearby.  Not so with opossums.  If you find baby opossums, you can go ahead and get them to a rehabber.  However, if they are a pretty good size and fully furred and moving around quite easily, they have reached an age to be able to survive on their own.

This little guy was cold and very dehydrated when Older Daughter took him in.  She said she really doesn’t know if he will make it.  We sure are hoping he survives  . . .   and thrives.

 

the little guy arrives at Wild Angels

 

 

Fingers crossed for this tiny baby.

 

P.S.  The two opossums at Wild Angels that were living in an outdoor enclosure have been successfully released.   Goal met!

 

Comments

[John Bellen]

It’s a sad story about the old girl, but also a happy one. She was undoubtedly in Heaven on Earth for that one night before went to Heaven itself. Delicious food, clean water, warmth and comfort were the last things she felt in this world. May that be the same for all of us. But it is heart-wrenching that she would have spent so long with hunger and thirst - and fear - in the almost silent dark.

There is a famous book about the Second World War in Malaya, called “The Jungle is Neutral”. That is what nature is: neutral. It doesn’t care one way or the other, and most animals, if they live as long as this one, can expect only debilitation, hunger and fear as they age. Dying in nature is rarely easy. Thanks to your daughter, this passing was indeed easy, after one glorious night.

[Ginny & the Fur Family]

John is so right. Death in the wild is not an easy one. I cry when I think of all the old animals who die alone in such bad shape. I wish we could save them all but alas it is not possible. Animals are like people when they age. Unless some one cares for them it is a sad state. At least the poor ole girl was in comfort her last hours. Bless the Wild Angels for all they do to save whom they are able.

[Pam Tyson]

John said it best. One last glorious night. But it still brought tears to my eyes.

[The Poupounette Gang]

I agree that giving that old girl such comfort in her last hours was a very special gift. Many years ago, I saved a terribly sick older cat from the streets of Tokyo. It died soon after but it was lying in the sun, on grass, with a full tummy.

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Bless your whole family for all the care they show to every single animal. You're all amazing!

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