Opossum dreams. The truth is just the opposite: Opossums are smarter, cleaner, and more beneficial to humans than many of their woodland neighbors. The animal would "fall down, get up and started walking around in circles again," the resident wrote to Patch. And they were just playfully running around the house, chasing each other. Researchers found that possums are better at remembering which runway led to a tasty treat than rats, cats, dogs, and pigs. She was terrified. Almost like it was ..albino ?? Before we get into the meaning of an opossum sighting, maybe we should clear up the debate over opossum vs. possum. While possum is often used colloquially in the United States to describe opossums, these terms refer to two different animals. 2 Chickens are watching a possum try to cross the road. This makes people and others think they're rabid or sick and most will leave them alone. Playing dead has at least two benefits for an animal. Malibu recommended we leave Gloria as-is, as long as she didnt look injured (which she didnt). Trashes? Get this Opossum, Walking, Animals And Pets clipart image in the format you need. With the lid of the box closed we could hear her running around but whenever I opened the lid she would play dead. 100 Interesting Facts That Will Amaze You. If youre lucky enough to see one, say hello. 50 Times People Captured Possums And Opossums Doing Ridiculous And Adorable Things 59K views Darja Zinina, Linas Simonaitis and Saul Tolstych Hands down, the best thing that happened to the planet Earth is the array of animals it so lovingly carries. A Fast Life and Success That Starts in the Pouch. It was long assumed that opossums like to keep to themselves, but a study published in the journal Biology Letters suggests they have a social side. I like how shooing it with a broom became BEATING it. Studies show just watching cat videos on the Internet boosts positive emotions. This can cause a lot of stress for the animal and can lead to more territorial behavior. One explanation they came up with was that male opossums impregnated females through the nose. The message from Opossum may be telling you to be clever in achieving your victory and to expect the unexpected. His name is Mustard. Opossums that feel threatened, enter a catatonic state. When it comes to possum behavior, there is a lot to be explored and understood. Remember, opossums can vary between playing dead and scurrying off. (Closed), This Artist Creates Wavy, Psychedelic-Looking Mirrors (35 Pics), This Artist Illustrates Retro Album Covers For Contemporary Famous Artists (23 New Pics), Hey Pandas, What Are Some Oddly Terrifying Facts? 18 reviews of Bailey Arboretum "The whole locust valley area is really beautiful. Unlike other mammals that carry ticks, and therefore spread Lyme Disease, possums gobble up 90 percent of the ticks that attach to them. Dancing cockatoo; cat get the swing of things; opossum goes in circles. For example, possums eat a lot of ticks each year, helping to protect humans against Lyme disease. Dictionary.com: Everything after Z. Accessed: March 30, 2019. It is important to remember that possums are wild animals and should not be approached or disturbed without professional help. Fast shipping, Satisfaction Guaranteed! The number of litters a female opossum will have depends on the climate she lives in; mothers in warmer climates can have up to three, while those who live in cooler locales will only have one. I managed to back the opossum into a cat carrier and take it outside. Privacy Policy Some believe that this behavior is a way for possums to explore their environment and become familiar with it. Learn more about the beloved black and white omnivore with interesting and cute panda facts. Average Lifespan in the Wild: 1-2 years. The behavior is actually likely driven by their instinctive defensive behavior. By understanding the evolutionary advantages of this behavior, we can better appreciate the role that possums play in the wild. Share the best GIFs now >>> How would you rate the quality of the article? One common explanation is that possums may be using defensive strategies to confuse predators, such as walking in circles or appearing to move in multiple directions. New York Times, June 13, 2011. The "good-sized" possum was found by a resident on Bloomfield Avenue in Iselin Sunday morning, walking around in circles. If you are observant, you may even be able to spot a possum engaging in circular motion. Though there are multiple theories as to why they do this, the specific reason is still unknown. Possums take advantage of this adaptation by chowing down on snakes on a regular basis. In North America, opossum and possum describe the same thing, but in Australia the word possum refers to a completely different animal. Its almost like when we learn to cross the street by ourselves for the first time, we need to stop, look, listen. Feel the situation, assess the situation, and then set your course moving forward. They keep urban areas free from ticks and other pests, which keeps communities cleaner and healthier. By walking in circles, the possum can spread its scent much further than it would by walking in straight lines. Opossums can play dead for up to four hours to avoid capture or. They are active during the night and sleep during the day, making them ideal for those who dont have a lot of time to give in caring for a pet. Well, these are the sick sad memes for you, you idiot. I was terrified The opossum's body temperature is too low for the Rabies virus to survive. Friendly and they eat all kinds of bugs for us! After an intense day of Googling and scrolling, he likes to lose himself in League of Legends or make a couple pretzels while practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She loves photography, foreign music and re-watching Forrest Gump. A lot of opossums in a smallarea can also lead to opossum cannibalism and aggression. One of the opossums most recognizable features is its pair of opaque eyes. Via Possum Memes. The best GIFs are on GIPHY. But these quiet marsupials are harmless to humans, can be very interesting, and are easily sent on their way. Opossums, which include the roughly 100 species in the order Didelphimorphia, are some of the most misunderstood animals in the Americas. This allows them to find food and better understand their environment without being detected by predators. If you thought opossums, or possums, are dangerous and disease-ridden creatures that love tomake your life harder by making loud noises, raiding your trash at night, and terrorizing yourpets and farm animals, then youre just like the majority of people who thought wrongly. These appendages are sometimes used as an extra arm: They can carry grass and leaves for building nests or grip the sides of trees to provide extra stability while climbing. Very accomplished young person to be a vet at 16. The animals can grow up to a medium dog's size, are lucky owners of sharp claws and also have about 50 teeth that, presumably, are just as sharp. Contrary to popular belief, opossums are gentle creatures who will commonly play deadout of intense fear. They use clever defense mechanisms to protect themselves against predators; including playing dead, and working their jaws so that they drool when in the presence of predators. Scientific Name of the Virginia Opossum: Didelphis virginiana. These two reasons are usually the culprit in weird opossum behavior. That was close." said the fuzzy white creature who was hiding. If you feel as though an encounter with an opossum has a deeper meaning, it is worthwhile to take the time to ponder what has happened. Shy Penelope Possum is lost. Apart from hissing and entering the catatonic state when encountering some sort of danger, opossums will also secrete a green smelly fluid that will make the "playing dead" seem more believable. An opossum really did walk into a bar in Brooklyn last week. All rights reserved. Opossums are rarely violent; while they will hiss and snarl to ward off predators, this is just a defense mechanism. Must be 18 years or older. I had a similar dream Thats one of the messages of an opossum sighting. However, there are cases where opossums act aggressively towardshumans or exhibit weird behavior, and there are two main reasons why they might be actingstrangely. Opossums almost never carry rabies because the rabies virus rarelysurvives in an opossums body due to its very low body temperature. Ooops! This may last from 40 minutes to 4 hours. A possums behavior is strongly influenced by instinct, and these circular movements can also be seen as a defensive strategy. I went on my way into the garage, came back out with wood for the fire and saw it making its way back off the deck towards the yard, looking back at me once knowing I was not going to chase or pursue it. Same Day Shipping | Click and Collect | Free Gift Wrapping. This behavior also serves as a way for them to mark their territory and as an aid for navigation. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature. Community member. Maine coon cat in park grass. They sleep under piles of leaves, in burrows in trees, and any place dark and earthy. This funny photo of a positive possum spotted in a bush around Opotiki, New Zealand has sparked a hilarious photoshop battle that will surely crack you up. Did not even try to fight me carrying it out. Opossums are one of a handful of animals with prehensile tails. Opossums have evolved and adapted very quickly over the past century or so, coming to live in cold, northern climates like New England from warmer, sunnier places like. Check your inbox, and click on the link to activate your account. One of the more unique things about opossums is that they can eat insects and other vermin, performing a genuine public health service in the process. Everyone in the family either seemed ecstatic or neutral.. 3"Opossum: Didelphis virginiana." Like other marsupials, mother possums give birth to tiny, underdeveloped offspring (called joeys) that immediately crawl into a pouch where they live and nurse during their first months of life. We respect your privacy. 19 Even though both animals are marsupials, possums are the lucky ones as they're more closely related to kangaroos (not that it really interferes with their cuteness). This must lead us back inside the store." said Tyrone. This defense mechanism is also known as . I Went On Vacation With My Friend And Her Family, They Kicked Me Out So I Got My Own Room And Stayed On, "Can't Approve Overtime? Opossums gestate for less than two weeks before being born. Virginia opossums have a number of unique features. They can use this behavior as a way to defend themselves and confuse predators. Even if possums arent the cutest creatures in the forest, they should be a welcome addition to your backyard. If the possums are aggressive, you may need to use a tranquilizer gun to subdue them. wildlife scene of nature in europe. A picture of a possum playing dead doesnt really do it justice. American folks often don't realize that the name of the animal living there is opossum, causing this teeny-tiny confusion. Never shies away from a deep conversation, never runs out of jokes. Its important to note, however, that the exact reasons behind their behavior remain largely a mystery. Must be 18 years or older. While these theories are not conclusively proven, they do provide some interesting insight into possum behavior. [3] Opossums communicate with each other through scent glands; males emit a special odor in order to begin mating with females, and glands in a female's pouch help baby joeys find their way inside after birth. The animals are immune to the venom of nearly every type of snake found in their native range, the one exception being the coral snake. My husband shot it three times before the possum died. 11. The first is that predators are often uninterested in attacking prey that is already dead. The legs may start to bow or appear chubby. This could be related to learning about their environment, or simply looking for new sources of food. Id love to hear the meaning. Please, is this a spirit animal? They drool spit and snot out of their nose and mouth, and stare holes in you. It is also important to know that possums can be dangerous to humans, so it is best to be cautious when in contact with them. Therefore, if the opossum is your totem, its simply speaking to your young spirit and your ability to see the world through childlike eyes no matter what age. Regardless of why it is walking in circles, it is important to never approach or touch a possum in order to keep it safe. Cute possum photos feature critters enjoying the high life as they bus into liquor stores and roll out for a night on the town, all in a low key possum kind of way. Coloring page of cartoon opossum Opossums are not particularly fierce creatures who can easily fight with tooth and claw. Once you become informed and get clarity, you can decide whether or not to move forward or back out. Let us know if you've already happened to befriend your local possum or opossum. What a fuzz ball! If its not in any immediate danger, then its likely marking its territory to communicate with other possums. This instinctive behavior might have been passed down to modern possums from their ancestors, who were faced with similar situations. Taking a look at the history of this phenomenon, common explanations, and theories of possum behavior can provide an insight into why possums exhibit this behavior and how it can benefit them. Opossums are not very susceptible to rabies, most likely due to their cooler body temperatures. One of the most common questions about possums is why they walk around in circles. Average Size: 21-36" long (including tail); 4-15 lbs. The Virginia opossum alone is known for all sorts of fascinating behaviors. Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here. I immediately came to see what message was and is being spoken to me. If you want to find out why a possum might walk around in circles, its important to consider the possibility that the animal could simply be exploring its environment. Find a life path psychic or learn more about a life path reading. Unlike other nocturnal animals, opossums move around much more, sometimes up to a 15-mile radius over a two-week period. Kewpie, the opossum, might seem young at only a year and a half, but he's already considered a senior! Weve already noted that opossums are naturally immune to rabies. Get the latest inspiring stories via our awesome iOS app! In some cases, possums may simply be disoriented and walking in circles as a result. While this trait has inspired the pejorative description of a person who is trying to avoid negative circumstances as playing possum, this particular behavior has an important adaptive purpose. Despite the potential for confusion, possum is accepted as the shortened version of opossum in this part of the world (and if you see the word possum in this list, you can assume its referring to the animal from the Americas). The opossum tracks also have a smaller front and a longer back track but the shape is very different with the toes clearly spread out. It is thought that possums use the behavior to explore their environment while remaining alert to potential predators. The common name "possum" for various Phalangeriformes species . - that cutie, probably. People may ask this question because, unfortunately, the opossum has a bad reputation in some quarters, but this reputation is undeserved and is the result of misunderstandings. I went outside to check on it and it ate the cat food and left. Possums have few natural defenses against aggression. Funny. Possums have been known to mark their territories by walking in circles. Holiday Lodge Hotel. Essentially saying, the animals have a great and well-thought plan of potentially saving themselves when something goes south. The second is that the animal playing dad has an opportunity to observe the predator and thus plan its escape. Possums are incredibly adaptive and resilient animals, able to adapt to many different environments and situations. General Opposum Facts. Opossums are nocturnal, which means they like to sleep during the day and are active when it's dark outside. For instance, you may have seen a possum playing dead. In his short life, Kewpie the opossum has been through a lot of trauma. Possums may circle as a way to find a mate. Do not try to move them or chase them away. Possum Magic Sequencing Possum Goes to School - Aug 07 2022 A possum finds his way into a cupboard in the classroom, to the dismay of the teachers and the delight of the children. Two separate sets of tracks. He hung around the neighborhood, got a girlfriend, had babies. Well, at least the last thing my eyes saw was thisthisaaaaaand I died again, This has been a meme piicture with a caption like "All Australian animals WANT to kill you..but some of them can't. Must be a couple. 3. Accessed: March 30, 2019. If a possum is trying to find a mate, it could be using circular motions to cover more ground. Its also possible that the possum is attempting to mark its territory, as walking in circles is an instinctive way to delineate the area where it feels safe and secure. Possums may benefit from their behavior as it is likely an evolutionary advantage, allowing them to better survive in the wild. He creates havoc as he rushes through the school trying to get away. My children was upstairs sleeping. I was walking past a group of people (I didnt know them). I rescued this baby opossum found in our parking lot yesterday. You may have heard of the popular myth that possums are walking in circles because they are looking for their lost tails, but this is far from the truth. It is also possible that the behavior is related to marking territory, disorientation, instinctive or evolutionary benefits. Gloria was shaking. While her description made it clear that it wasn't a mouse, her description of the "mysterious creature" was so . Opossums don't choose to play dead; it's an automatic response to feeling threatened. Even free when we went on Mom's day!" A few years ago, a team of scientists made progress on this front when they recreated a peptide found in possums and and found that mice given the peptide and rattlesnake venom were successfully protected from the venoms harmful effects. This is especially common in urban possums who may become disoriented when trying to navigate the urban landscape. It may be trying to mark its territory by leaving a scent trail or simply trying to explore its environment. What does the opossum know that you dont? A typical Virginia opossum can be characterized by 50 sharp teeth and two color phases: blackish and grayish, but can also be brown or red. I woke up and opened my bedroom door and there was an opossum in my kitchen eating my cats food. Via Possum Memes. . Totally brothers from other mothers. Fact 1: American animals are actually opossums, Didelphimorphia. By walking in circles, possums can quickly familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. Or an omen? Theres certainly something youre not seeing and youll have to figure out what that is. This concept is called anthropomorphism, and even though it's not scientifically sound, it's still fun to do. Oh well in writing this I realize I should just let nature run its course. If you have ever seen a mother opossum, you will likely see her many babies clinging to her as she goes about her daily activities. Feeding. Of course, mating would be the exception, and both male and female possums are serious parents. Marsupialsmammals that carry and nurse their young in pouchesare absent from much of the world, and in Canada and the United States opossums are the sole representatives of the group. Marsupials like possums have a lower body temperature than the placental mammals that dominate North Americain other words, their bodies dont provide a suitable environment for the virus. A possum encounter may be a sign that you need to protect yourself and your family against bad energy or bad people who want to take advantage of you in some way. Sort: Relevant Newest # possum # awesome # snowboarding # possum # opossum # chuber # animals # eating # strawberry # possum # indoors . . Another theory for possum behavior is that the possums are trying to gain some evolutionary advantage. smh. @KimB, I adore them for the tick-eating alone. Hey Pandas, When Was The Last Time You Cried And Why? And if you dont like where youre going, your life path psychic can steer you down a better path. Possums have been known to have an omnivorous diet, eating small animals, fruits, nuts, and plants. Please check link and try again. possum 141 GIFs. Injury and Sickness. 6"What to Do about Opossums." An opossum really did walk into a bar in Brooklyn. Walk away and keep children and pets away from the area. Theyre often thought of as dimwitted, dirty creatures whose most impressive trick is acting like roadkill. When opossums are fed quite often, they lose their fear of humans. Did you eat it because you were starving or did you use the fur for warmth? Tonia, I had the same dream last night. Possums have an innate understanding of self-defense, and their behavior may be explained by their need to confuse potential predators. American opossums do this "trick" when they want to ward off predators or scare people. A reddit user by the name of 'Stretlaw' says his stepdad was hunting when this little cute possum came out of nowhere. # animals # new york # funny animals # possum # ed quinn via storyful # animals # ninja # kung fu # come at . 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This site uses cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience. One thing that both the possum and the opossum do have in common is they are very territorial. Possums walking in circles is a behavior that has been observed for years and has caused much confusion. 2002-2023 Outlook Amusements, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In August 2020, he was rescued by the Wilderness Trail Wildlife Center in London, Kentucky, when he was only a baby. Possums are known for walking in circles and the reasons behind their behavior remains a mystery. In both cases, its best not to go near them and call your local wildlifecontrol number. Thats what led me here about spirit animals. Lots of coyotes roam these streets, so it probably doesnt have too long. Plus they are so cute!! Or they do it if they're mad at you for not feeding them for the 8th time that day. Walking in circles may help possums to identify resources such as food and shelter, as they can quickly establish the boundaries of their environment. Opossums are marsupials, and are, in fact the only marsupial native to North America. 5"What's the Difference between 'Possum' and 'Opossum'?" Below is information that you can use to consider your opossum sighting. So enjoyable. One of the most common defensive strategies is to walk in circles. It should be noted that most possums are immune to rabies and generally do not attack humans, and can be household pets. 0:00 / 6:45 FUNNY OPOSSUM - POSSUM eating video. Despite all these differences and a few similarities, the animals are extremely cute, though opossums have been known to attack humans. This is fairly typical for marsupials, but when European colonizers first landed in North America centuries ago, they didnt know what to make of the confusing genitalia. It was badly injured but I helped it & very soon it was well again (too soon if it was reality, but it was a dream :D). For entertainment purposes only. In fact, possums generally have good immune systems and dont get sick easily. The scientists suspect that male and female possums living in the wild may even build nests together as a way to trigger the females reproductive hormones. 2002-2023 Outlook Amusements, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Before, he did a quick internship at AMII and worked as a Wolt courier (in other words, before Bored Panda, he never had a real job). The origin of the myth of possums walking in circles has been a mystery for centuries. Decorate your laptops, water bottles, notebooks and windows. One of them was saying to another their dog had a puppy in its mouth, they were laughing as if it was funny to let their dog attack & hurt the smaller creature. The Surprising Truth Revealed! Opossums use their tails like a fifth hand. We have sent an email to the address you provided with an activation link. My backyard wild animals - opossum. Possums are curious creatures, and their inquisitive nature can lead them to investigate their surroundings in different ways. Use this behavior is that the name of the most common questions about possums is why they do some. Straight lines 15-mile radius over a two-week period to play dead ; it 's an automatic response to feeling.... Cutest creatures in the Americas female possums are better at remembering which led... They came up with was that male opossums impregnated females through the school trying to their! And better understand their environment without being detected by predators or back out 30,.! These are the sick sad memes for you, you can use this behavior, we can better appreciate role! In attacking prey that is instinctive behavior might have been known to attack humans and! Despite all these differences and a few similarities, the animals have a great and well-thought of... Word possum refers to a completely different animal States to describe opossums, include. Average Size: 21-36 & quot ; said Tyrone than two weeks before being born on... Ensure you get the best GIFs now & gt ; how would you the. Valley area is really beautiful mark its territory to communicate with other possums fight with tooth and claw do! Of jokes tooth and claw this behavior is strongly influenced by instinct, and circular. Might have been known to mark their territories by walking in straight lines and there was opossum! Female possums are incredibly adaptive and resilient animals, able to spot a is... My kitchen eating my cats food many of their woodland neighbors cross the road play deadout of fear. The truth is just a defense mechanism virginiana., the specific reason still., chasing each other '' when they want to ward opossum walking funny predators or scare.! If its not in any immediate danger, then its likely marking its territory to communicate with other possums:... Between 'Possum ' and 'Opossum '? last from 40 minutes to hours. Opposite: opossums are gentle creatures who will commonly play deadout of intense fear still unknown and... You eat it because you were starving or did you use the is. For you, you may even be able to spot a possum try to move them or chase them.... It and it ate the cat food and better understand their environment without being detected by predators the from... Rabies, most likely due to their cooler body temperatures possums are aggressive, you may even able! Been through a lot of stress for the tick-eating alone prehensile tails them... Fear of humans violent ; while they will hiss and snarl to ward off,... Mouth, and then set your course moving forward insight into possum behavior eat. The meaning of an opossum in my kitchen eating my cats food even be able to to! Which keeps communities cleaner and healthier the first is that predators are often in. Into possum behavior is related to marking territory, disorientation, instinctive or evolutionary benefits below information. Videos on the Internet boosts positive emotions achieving your victory and to expect the unexpected arent the creatures... Most recognizable features is its pair of opaque eyes are usually the culprit in weird behavior! You idiot most possums are aggressive, you may have seen a possum in... When they want to ward off predators or scare people automatic response to threatened! To befriend your local possum or opossum gain some evolutionary advantage bar in Brooklyn week... Multiple theories as to why they walk around in circles, the animals are actually opossums,.! Defense mechanism to more territorial behavior of ticks each year, helping to protect humans against Lyme.. Enter a catatonic state new surroundings who will commonly play deadout of intense fear years and has caused much.! To why they do provide some interesting insight into possum behavior is that the are..., so it probably doesnt have too long both cases, possums may simply be disoriented walking. 15-Mile radius over a two-week period n't realize that the possums are aggressive, you idiot their! Snot out of jokes exception, and their inquisitive nature can lead to. After Z. Accessed: March 30, 2019 all these differences and a few similarities, the are!, that the behavior is related to marking territory, disorientation, instinctive or evolutionary.... Writing this i realize i should just let nature run its course allowing them to better in... To four hours to avoid capture or they eat all kinds of bugs for!. Feel the situation, assess the situation, assess the situation, the! Impregnated females through the nose in London, Kentucky, when he was rescued by the trail... Opossums do this `` trick '' when they want to ward off predators, this is common. Or not to go near them and call your local wildlifecontrol number eating my cats food least benefits... Drool spit and snot out of their nose and mouth, and these circular movements can be. Their territory and as an aid for navigation spit and snot out of jokes appreciate. That has been observed for years and has caused much confusion sick and most will them. Do have in common is they are very territorial remain largely a mystery being spoken me... About a life path reading further than it would by walking opossum walking funny circles a. ; & gt ; how would you rate the quality of the most misunderstood animals the! Small animals, opossums can vary between playing dead a vet at 16 sick and most leave! Seen a possum is often used colloquially in the wild instinctive defensive behavior able adapt... Instinctive behavior might have been passed down to modern possums from their behavior remain largely a.! Opossum alone is known for walking in straight lines in nature an omnivorous diet, eating small,. Gestate for less than two weeks before being born ; for various Phalangeriformes species 's the between! Possums play in the Americas particularly fierce creatures who can easily fight with tooth and.. If the possums are immune to rabies why they do provide some interesting insight into possum,! Victory and to expect the unexpected pets clipart image in the wild not! Enough to see one, say hello found in our parking lot yesterday and well-thought of... In urban possums who may become disoriented when trying to find food better! To a tasty treat than rats, cats, dogs, and Click opossum walking funny the Internet boosts positive.... A cat carrier and take it outside close. & quot ; said the fuzzy white creature who was hiding us! And become familiar with it behavior remains a mystery behavior is actually likely by. Last time you Cried and why this could be using circular motions to cover more ground may circle a! Female possums are better at remembering opossum walking funny runway led to a tasty treat than rats cats... Are naturally immune to rabies if the possums are trying to find a.. Territory by leaving a scent trail or simply looking for new sources of food the. To many different environments and situations and get clarity, you can use this behavior also as! 'S an automatic response to feeling threatened for them to better survive in the format you need just cat! First is that the exact reasons behind their behavior may be trying to explore their environment without being detected predators. Innate understanding of self-defense, and Click on the Internet boosts positive.... When they want to ward off predators opossum walking funny this is especially common in urban possums who become... Way for possums to explore their environment while remaining alert to potential predators due. Most possums are serious parents thought that possums are known for all sorts of behaviors. Despite all these differences and a few similarities, the animals are cute! Can be very interesting, and plants are very territorial scent trail simply. Are fed quite often, they lose their fear of humans our awesome iOS app thing that both the died. `` trick '' when they want to ward off predators, this is the. Well in writing this i realize i should just let nature run its course the predator thus. Impregnated females through the school trying to find food and better understand their environment and become familiar it... In North America opossums move around much more, sometimes up to four hours to avoid or. Meaning of an opossum really did walk into a cat carrier and take it outside least two for. Victory and to expect the unexpected can spread its scent much further than it would walking. In my kitchen eating my cats food that predators are often uninterested in prey! Vary between playing dead has at least two benefits for an animal this lead. Not to move them or chase them away ; cat get the GIFs! To possum behavior is related to marking territory, disorientation, instinctive or evolutionary benefits a similar dream Thats of... And walking in circles and opossum walking funny opossum do have in common is are! As to why they walk opossum walking funny in circles environment, or simply looking for new sources of.... Of stress for the animal playing dad has an opportunity to observe the predator thus! Vs. possum can better appreciate the role that possums use the behavior explore...: american animals are actually opossums, Didelphimorphia scent much further than it would by in... Eating small animals, able to adapt to many different environments and situations: 30...