Evening star., 1949-09-17
This and That
By Charles E. Trace,peU
FALLS CHURCH, Va.

Dear Sir,
Il am very much concerned oyer the ap-
pearance of a small rodent-type animal
which showed up few nights ago for the
first time on the upper branches of dog
wood tree. whose branches touch the roof
of tie wellhouse
Il am not sure whether It is an opossum
Or raccoon. it beins dirty gray, with hog
type head, and thick rat-like tan.
1T seems to be about or 10 inches long,
minus tail. and appears about o'clock in
the evening. when the dog goes into others
(whatever that Isl because he cannot climb
the tree and get at it. -
IT wraps itself around q limb Of the tree
and later perches atop the wellhouse, but
during which nightly visits it travels along
the light wires to reach such perch, causing
the lights to flicker and the radio to be af-
fected by the fluctuation of the current, and
I fear its nightly visit might wear off the
insulation in time.
He emits no odor and I don't object to
him. but am concerned to know whether
he is carnivorous or herbivorous, something
Of the nesting habits, etc.
Having read of the nightly visits of your
opossum Blossom, I am inclined to believe
1t is the same type. and my airedale would
also like to know If it safe to have him
around. Sincerely yours. o. E. c."
This is young opossum.
It Is an on1nivorous animal, as proved by
its teeth and digestive apparatus
1t eats almost anything in the food line.
1t will eat everything from corn to insects
Ground-nesting birds. their eggs and
young appeal to 1t.
The animal loves young chickens, but is
equally fond Of moles, mice and young rab-
bits
The persimmon is q favorite dish.
It will be realized that here Is both use
full and not SO useful animal, from the hu-
man viewpoint, but It also must be said that
its good points far outweigh its bad ones.
When full grown, the opossum Is about
the size Of q housecat. Of which, by the way,
1t is not in the least afraid.
Both Smoky, the rat-catching Persian,
and old Malty. the common cat, gave Bios
som the 'possum all the room she wanted.
Smoky followed her, but kept at distance
Of at least four feet. while Malty simply
failed to see her, as he passed within two
feet Of her as she sat on the porch roof
His friends believed that Malty saw her,
all right. but just pretended not to see her.
Does this mean that cats, too, need face
saving devices?
Scientists tell us that no other animal on
our continent has the long prehensile tail,
the grasping hind foot and the marsupial
pouch Of our 'possum.
The pouched animals are among the most
distinctive Of all animals. and for that rea-
son it seems shame to thoughtlessly kill
the only American specimen.
Every one has read about the pouched
animals Of Australia, including the most
famous Of all, the kangaroo. .~
Well. the same fame attaches to our opos-
sum. She, In this case. possesses the same
external abdominal pouch, In which the.
young are carried.
This pouch serves as nursery for the
young animals. which at birth weigh only
from 10 to as grains! That is grains, not
grams. And that is pretty small. They are
sightless, hairless and entirely helpless.
There usually are from to IL young.
Even after the young are able to leave
the pouch they 60 no farther than the
mothers back, where they cling to her tail
with their own tails with their heads down
and their forefeet touching, her back.
This Is sight that few persons see any
more. It was more or less common In the
great woods which once made up so much
Of North America.
The opossum feet have naked soles and
i've toes. each with nail. except the hind
feet, which have the flrst toe nailless and
opposed to the others for srasping.
The teeth are sharp. but offer no harm
to dogs, certainly. II . possum or squirrel
can cause the house lights to blink. 1t Is not
the animal the householder has need to
fear. but the wiring, and an appeal should
be made to the light company.
The opossum Is q nice animal to have
around for obseryational purposes. It win
take bread and suet from the hand after
dark. but not ia the daytime.