I wanted to share a few photos from my "Thanksgiving animal release" yesterday. Earlier this week we were given the opportunity to release an opossum, and of course I jumped at the chance. This juvenile female, born in the spring, was discovered in a posh part of town, beneath someone's air conditioner unit. She was malnourished and had abrasions around her mouth. The rehab center fattened her up and took care of her while the abrasions healed. It was a beautiful, sunny day and unseasonably warm (> 50° F) for late November in Minnesota - the perfect day for a release.
Back off, buster! I have fifty teeth and know how to use them!
The policy of the Wildlife Rehab Center at which I volunteer is to release all adult animals back to the exact location where they were found. Upon arrival at the WRC, however, I discovered that this would not be the case for this particular opossum. As hard to believe as this may seem, the people who found little Miss Opossum were *not* eager to have their furry friend back, and requested that we relocate her.
I drove the little opossum up to Bald Eagle Lake Park in White Bear Lake Township, Minnesota, in search of the perfect release location. I was looking for wooded or shrubby natural habitat on public land, near water but not too close to the highway, as thousands of opossums die every year from interactions with traffic. Even so, opossums are nomadic, so I knew that she would not remain long where I left her.
I drove around Bald Eagle Lake for a bit, finally choosing the best area I saw that was *not* in someone's front yard. I retrieved the kennel cab from the back of the car and set it on the ground nearby, opened the door, and waited for Mlle. Opossum to exit and begin her new life.
Nothing doing.
I waited a bit longer, but the little opossum was simply not interested in re-entering the real world, and a hot Thanksgiving dinner awaited me. I had been warned about this by the WRC staff. Opossums are nocturnal, and are simply not very energetic or even curious at 1:30 in the afternoon, their equivalent of our 3:00 a.m. This opossum wasn't as lethargic as some, but clearly had not the slightest inclination to venture out at this crazy hour. Realizing I might be stuck here all day if I were to wait for her to come out on her own, I picked up the back of the carrier, angled it, and unceremoniously dumped her out on the ground, growling and spitting.
OK, have it your way! I'm out of that stupid plastic box, now what do I do??
With the distinct air of a prospective tenant weighing the merits of a new apartment, Miss opossum spent several minutes surveying her new surroundings.
Opossum on the move!
Apparently finding the new digs to her liking, the little opossum made her move with a quick (for an opossum) dash into the undergrowth near the water. Taken a bit by surprise, I was barely able to catch her movement on camera.
One final look back. Is it my imagination, or do I detect just the tiniest hint of a "thank you" in her demeanor?
The operation having been brought to a successful conclusion, I loaded the carrier back into my car and returned to my parents' home for a delicious traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I hope little Miss Opossum also found a tasty Thanksgiving dinner, but as with most successful releases there is no way to know for certain.
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Comments: 41
Tom, I love doing releases, so I do document some of them with my digital camera. They are very emotional for me, and kind of bittersweet because you work so hard to make them well, then you never know what fate befalls them.
Zelda, I'll be sure to let you know the next time I have something interesting to release.
I also like photo #2, because you can kind of see the uncertainty in her eyes. She's been in a cage for a few weeks and is surprised to suddenly find herself free once again.
Charming pictures, and a most entertaining read.
My husband is a trapper....live traps, mind you...and he does re-releases, also. Unfortunately, he has to release away from where they were caught. He said your stories have inspired him to start carrying a camera and share them with Gather, as he's had the same experiences...a skunk, for instance, who didn't want to get out of the peanut-butter laden cage! l(yes, he got sprayed...ewww) lol
I love this story...thank you for loving animals!!
Mark, I left her in the park on the northeast corner of the lake, in a mowed area near some small maintenance buildings, not far from the railroad tracks. Opossums roam, so you never know, she may be in your backyard tomorrow, eating your dog's food.
Do tell her I say "hi"!
That last glance, it did look appreciative, didn't it?
When I was docent and caretaker at country museum, situated next to a year-round brook, and well away from any other human activity, I had many critter encounters - among them a mama 'possum and her brood. I have always saved my salad making scraps and stale bread to put out for whoever wants them. She learned to expect it and soon came scratching at my door if I didn't put anything out. I always had cat food to supplement scraps. She stayed around for weeks before moving on.
Excellent story. Fantastic pics.
Ruth, I love your wildlife stories. Would you consider joining the Wildlife Rehab group and posting some content?
Heather, you are correct. 50 teeth, and I believe that's the most of any mammal.
Jeff, you are more than welcome to "borrow" my idea of a Thanksgiving release. It seemed like an appropriate thing to do on a day set aside for being thankful.
Doing a release gives me an odd, rather bittersweet feeling. It's exhilirating and at the same time sad. I worry about the critters we work so hard to rehab, only to send them back out into the cold, cruel world. There's no way to know how they fared, whether they found a good territory or enough food to eat or got picked off by a predator or hit by a car.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading my little animal tales! I love these critters so much, and I really enjoy sharing my wildlife rehab experiences with you on Gather.