The curious case of the baby opossum found in backyard
DEAR JOAN >> At 5:40 a.m. recently, I let the cats out and 10 minutes later they were all by my back bush intrigued with something that was squeaking. I went to check and it was a baby opossum trying to climb the fence. Don’t worry, the cats know to leave wildlife alone.
Anyway, a minute later I realized mama opossum was on the fence giving me an evil eye. I came inside and went out five minutes later and mother opossum was walking along the top of the fence with four babies clinging to her side. I suspect the one fell off as mother was passing under the overhanging tree. I couldn’t get my camera quick enough for a picture.
Is this the normal way opossums carry their young? I know the opossums adore dry cat food, but what else do they eat? How fast do the babies grow up? Today, they were like a really big mouse.
At least now I know what the squeaking is I hear sometimes at 2 or 3 a.m. I originally thought it was skunks. My cats get along fine with the skunks; It’s the raccoons that I’m most worried about.
— Ron Hook, Hayward
DEAR RON >> That is the normal way mama opossums transport their babies, although by the time they are up on her back, they’re closer in opossum age to teenagers.
Baby opossums, called joeys, leave their mother’s womb after just 11 to 13 days gestation. They are so tiny you could fit 20 of them into a teaspoon. They climb their mother’s body and crawl into her pouch where they attach themselves to a nipple. They’ll remain in the pouch until they are 2 to 4 months old, then they’ll start to venture out.
Instead of leaving her children behind when she forages, she carries them with her on her back. When the joeys are about 6 months old, they will simply drop off their mom and be on their own. Often, they look too young to be left alone, but that’s the way nature works.
Opossums are omnivores, which means they eat anything they can find: slugs and snails, fruits and vegetables, cat food, garbage, eggs, carrion and insects.
inAR JOAN >> Why do dogs always poop as soon as they get into our neighbors’ backyard for a play date?
I had our dog at the park and he took a big poop. He then went to play with his dog friend and took another poop as soon as he got there. We all had a good laugh about it but wondered why this always happens. They must feel at home? I know dogs take a pee to mark their territory.
Also, my neighbor boards dogs for friends and she swears that those dogs know the day they are going home. How can they sense that?
— Mary Jo, Idaho
DEAR MARY JO >> Dogs communicate a lot through their bodily functions. Urine marks their territories and poop can serve as a calling card, saying I’m here, as well as what I had for breakfast and what other things I’ve been doing today. It conveys the same sort of message as butt sniffing.
As for how dogs know when it’s time for their humans to come get them, that’s a mystery. The most likely answer is they are picking up on subtle signs from their caretakers. Dogs are extremely sensitive to things like that.