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September 07, 2006 - In pursuit of the opossum8A • The Suffolk Times • September 7, 2006 In pursuit of the opossum 7:30 MONDAY MORNING. Went to feed the chickens and what do you suppose was also out — not to feed the chickens but to cat them? An opossum. It was walking around the top of the chicken pen. Needless to say, I didn't waste any time in seeing he got off the pen and on his way. In the meantime, I called to Barbara to come out and get some pictures. By the time she got out and took one shot, the camera decided to quit. Dead batteries. That meant she had FOCUS to go back to the O N house and put in a whole new NATURE set of batteries and start again. by Paul Meanwhile, I fol- Stoutenburgh lowed the now- __ aroused opossum through catbrier, dead branches and over a wire fence, all trying to prevent me from following Mr. Opossum, who for some reason was having no difficulty at all keep- ing ahead of me. Once, when I cut him off and cornered him, he hissed and opened his mouth to reveal a mouthful of sharp, white teeth. Soon Barbara arrived with her camera, ready to photograph Mr. Pink Nose. Seeing I was doing pretty well in keeping up with him, he decided one place I couldn't follow him was up a tree, and so up he went into a small hickory tree. By now I could hear Bar- bara clicking away at the opossum, who seemed quite proud of having found a place I couldn't get to. I must say, he was quite out of reach in his lofty new position. That special long, hairless tail helps opossums in holding onto branches, and when young they can actually hang by their tail. A full -grown opossum cannot, for its weight is from six to 12 pounds. Opossums follow basically the same habits as raccoons in scavenging for food of any sort. To the farmer, the word opossum means trouble. For there is so much the farmer grows that the opossum enjoys: the strawberries, the sweet corn and just about every- thing he puts on the roadside stand is fair game for Mr. Opossum. The road kills we see of raccoons and opossums usually result from when they are scavenging for food after dark. We see road kills of all sorts of animals The deer are the most troublesome, for they can do a tremendous amount of damage to your car. It can be a costly r 1y t ;4 Sullolk iii,in_. i,I by Barbara SI- 1—b-1, Opossums are gifted tree climbers. With a prehensile (grasping) tall and a unique thumb finger, it takes to climbing trees when danger approaches. Opos- sums have between 16 and 20 blind, naked young that are born 12 to 13 days after conception. Today's article tells of their fascinating journey through life. affair. Oftentimes the collision involves the passengers in the car, as well. I'm sure the opossum that had its eye on my chickens stayed around later than he should for it's seldom we see these marsupials during the day. The terns marsupial puts them in that special order of animals that carry their young in the mother's pouch, along the same fine as the well -known kangaroos of Australia. Our opossum is the only a Spp Ev s D omiNro ,letvaau� LIVE MUSIC - Friday Evenings, Saturday & Sunday starting at �t 1:30 p.m, All Summer Long! Visit our tasting room on Route 25 in Peconic on the North Fork The 2005 New York State Wine & Food Classic Awards: WINERY OF THE YEAR www.ospreysdominion.com or call 1 -888- 295 -6188 Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stouterburgh marsupial in the United States. The remarkable thing about our opossum is that 16 to 20 young are born only 12 to 13 days after they are conceived. And here's the real kicker: size -wise they are as small as a large grain of rice. Imagine 16 to 20 of these tiny, blind, naked newborn opossums crawling through the thick hair of the mother, trying to find their way to one of the life- giving teats of the mother. Those who come late perish. Those who make it attach themselves to one of the 13 nipples and remain there in the mother's pouch for about 70 days. By then they have grown to about the size of a mouse. Now they are big enough to climb out of the mother's pouch and explore the world around them. They cling to her hair and literally ride on the mother's back, go- ing wherever she goes. From here on they hardly ever return to the mother's pouch, but will stay with her for three or four months. Opossums are characterized as being dull and simple- minded. They travel slowly. Fully grown they arc about the size of your average cat. They find a place to sleep anywhere they might be, under your porch, in the back -yard woodpile, in the hollow of a fallen tree — anywhere that might give protection from the rain and cold. Again like the raccoon, they do not hibernate, but in cold, rainy weather they'll curl up and sleep away the pe- riod of bad weather. Then when they get a break in the weather, they are on the prowl again, always looking for something to cat. Most of us have heard the term "playing 'possum," which refers to the annual's ability to play dead. When confronted with danger, such as a dog, it has three choices: it can climb a tree, as the one we had fun photographing did; it can stand and fight its adversary; or it can play dead. This is a state where the frightened opossum lays prone on the ground, mouth open, tongue hang- ing out, its eyes glazed over and its body giving off an objectionable odor — all telling its enemy to leave it alone. Once the threat is over it awakens and waddles off on its way. Enemies of the opossum are dogs, fox, coyotes, bobcats and — probably the greatest threat — man, with his speeding cats and manicured habitat. I have seen the classic picture of a mother opossum with young clinging to her back, but of course it was when I didn't have my camera. I'm still hoping for that one.The pictures we got in the tree will have to do for now. P.S. In a 1904 book, "The American Natural History;' by William Horna- day, the author comments about the opossum. "In the South, the flesh of this animal is much prized as food, and I can testify that when properly roast- ed, and served with nicely browned sweet potatoes and yellow corn bread, it is an excellent dish." gal a S, .&. a.,& q)c" . esp a. We're inviting ail gentlemen to 25% OFF haircuts and spa manicures. (Offer valid Fridays d'Saturdays tbrougbout.September) Visit us at paulizahcom 55 Route 48 • Mauituck, NY 11952 • Phone 298 -1119 HOURS: Tues., Wed., Sat. 10 am - 6 pm, Thurs., Fri. 10 am - 8 pm The Suffolk Times • September 7, 2006 n uursuit of the opossum Suffolk Times photo by Barbara Stoutenbur possums are gifted tree climbers. With a prehensile (grasping) tail and nique thumb finger, it takes to climbing trees when danger approaches. Opa ums have between 16 and 20 blind, naked young that are born 12 to 13 da fter conception. Today's article tells of their fascinating journey through life, 7:30 MONDAY MORNING. Went to feed the chickens and what do you suppose was also out — not to feed the chickens but to eat them? An opossum. It was walking around the top of the chicken pen. Needless to say, I didn't waste any time in seeing he got off the pen and on'his way. In the meantime, I called to Barbara to come out and get some pictures. By the time she got out and took one shot, the camera decided to quit. Dead batteries. That meant she had Focus to go back to the O N house and put in a whole new NATURE set of batteries and start again. by Paul Meanwhile, I fol- Stoutenbul'gh lowed the now- aroused opossum through catbrier, dead branches and over a wire fence, all trying to prevent me from following Mr. Opossum, who for some reason was having no difficulty at all keep- ing ahead of me. Once, when I cut him off and cornered him, he hissed and opened his mouth to reveal a mouthful of sharp, white teeth. Soon Barbara arrived with her camera, ready to photograph Mr. Pink Nose. Seeing I was doing pretty well in keeping up with him, he decided one place I couldn't follow him was up a tree, and so up he went into a small hickory tree. By now I could hear Bar- bara clicking away at the opossum, who seemed quite proud of having found a place I couldn't get to. I must say, he was quite out of reach in his lofty new position. That special long, hairless tail helps opossums in holding onto branches, and when young they can actually hang by their tail.A full -grown opossum cannot, for its weight is from six to 12 pounds. Opossums follow basically the same habits as raccoons in scavenging for food of any sort. To the farmer, the word opossum means trouble. For there is so much the farmer grows that j the opossum enjoys: the strawberries, the sweet corn and just about every- thing he puts on the roadside stand is fair game for Mr. Opossum. The road kills we see of raccoons and opossums usually result from when they are scavenging for food after dark. We see road kills of all sorts of animals. The deer are the, most troublesome, for they can do a tremendous amount of damage to your can It can be a costly ine passengers in the car, as well. I'm sure the opossum that had its eye on my chickens stayed around later than he should for it's seldom we see these marsupials during the day. The term marsupial puts them in that special order of animals that carry then Young in the mother's pouch, along the same line as the well -known kangaroos of Australia. Our opossum is the only marsupi m t e Umte tates. The remarkable thing about our Opossum is that 16 to 20 young are born only 12 to 13 days after they are conceived. And here's the real kicker: size -wise they are as small as a large grain of rice. Imagine 16 to 20 of these tiny, blind, naked newborn opossums crawling through the thick hair of the mother, trying to find their way to one of the life - giving teats of the mother. ose who come late perish. Those who make it attach themselves to one of the 13 nipples and remain there in the mother's pouch for about 70 days. By then they have grown to about the size of a mouse. Now they are big enough to climb out of the mother's pouch and explore the world around them. They cling to her hair and literally ride on the mother's back, go- ing wherever she goes. From here on they hardly ever return to the mother's pouch, but will stay with her for three or four months. Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutenburgh Opossums are characterized as g dull and simple - minded. They travel slowly. Fully grown they are about the size of your average cat. They find a place to sleep anywhere they might be, under your porch, in the back -yard woodpile, in the hollow of a fallen tree — anywhere that might give protection from the rain and cold. Again like the raccoon, they do not hibernate, but in cold, rainy weather they'll curl up and sleep away the pe- riod of bad weather. Then when they get a break in the weather, they are on the prowl again, always looking for something to eat. Most of us have heard the term "playing 'possum," which refers to the animal's ability to play dead. When confronted with danger, such as a.dog, it has three choices: It can climb a tree, as the one we had fun photographing did; it can stand and fight its adversary; or it can play dead. This is a state where the frightened opossum lays prone on the ground, mouth open, tongue hang- ing out, its eyes glazed over and its body giving off an objectionable odor — X11 telling its enemy to leave it alone. Once the threat is over it awakens and waddles off on its way. Enemies of the opossum are dogs, fox, coyotes, bobcats and - probably the greatest threat — man, with his speeding cars and manicured habitat. I have seen the classic picture of a mother opossum with young clinging to her back, but of course it was when I didn't have my camera. I'm still hoping for that one. The pictures we got in the tree will have to do for now. P.S. In a 1904 book, "The American Natural History," by William Horna- day, the author comments about the opossum. "In the South, the flesh of this animal is much prized as food, and I can testify that when properly roast- ed, and served with nicely browned sweet potatoes and yellow corn bread, it is an excellent dish."