How To Wake Up A Possum Playing Dead

04.14.2008 - Everyone has heard nearly "playing possum". It'southward a defence mechanism of the Northward American Opossum. If it's attacked by a predator, sometimes it completely passes out, and appears dead. It is the instinct of many predatory animals to shake and kill a critter that is moving or fighting dorsum, just they often leave dead animals lonely. Thus, if attacked, past feigning death, the opossum doesn't receive any further attack. With luck, the attacking animal loses involvement and leaves. The opossum wakes up later 15 minutes or so, and walks away.

As far as I know, this defensive tactic is non necessarily the cunning move that people make information technology out to be. Information technology'due south not every bit if the opossum strategically knows that it should "play dead" and is conscious during the whole ordeal, sneaking a grin and a peek out of the corner of the eye when the assailant isn't looking. In reality, it'southward a reflexive action more akin to passing out in sheer terror.  The whole body goes limp, the natural language hangs out, the optics curl back, the heart charge per unit slows, breathing is very shallow, the whole bit.  After perhaps 15 minutes with no further activity, the animal's body knows that the coast is probable clear, so it wakes up and walks away.

I received the below e-mail and photo from a woman who watched the whole thing happen:

Hullo! I came across your site while looking for images on google and saw that you said that an opossum playing dead is probably rare so I wanted to share this story with yous.

My Keen Dane defenseless and carried an opossum to our backdoor. The possum was limp and lifeless. After my domestic dog dropped it and lost interest in the "dead" possum, I picket from my backdoor and noticed that information technology started breathing again.... I was pretty intrigued! I wasn't sure if it was slowly dying or if I was actually witnessing a possum playing dead! When my dog came around once more and grabbed the possum past the Caput (!!) and dragged information technology down the loma a little more, the possum laid lifeless still. I FINALLY got my domestic dog inside, locked him in the garage and went back to the backstairs to watch this possum. It was breathing again. Afterward xv minutes or then, it blinked, then wiggled its easily, it slooooooowly raised its head and looked around, and so rolled over on its legs and walked away like nothing had ever happened. Playing dead saved this opossums life and I can't believe it didn't harm my canis familiaris in any fashion. I've included pictures of the whole ordeal in this electronic mail. It'southward pretty slap-up. You mentioned on your site that playing possum was probably rare, I agree. So to run across it in person was pretty amazing! But wanted to share my story. :)

Thanks for your time,
Becky

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The opossum, (Didelphis virginiana) is a nocturnal animal that lives in Due north America. Information technology is a marsupial, which means that the females give birth to tiny immature, who grow in a pouch. These immature eventually cling to the mother's dorsum and drib off when they are large enough. Opossums are unique for many reasons. They have opposable thumbs, prehensile tails, 50 teeth, and several other unusual features. They are omnivores who eat well-nigh anything, they have excellent immune systems, and they rarely live more than 2-iii years in the wild. They are most commonly considered a nuisance species when they live in an attic or other structure, such equally under a shed, or steal pet food or threaten animals.

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Opossums are the only marsupials in Due north America, and this fact makes them distinct and unique. They as well have particular adaptations similar using their tails to hold tightly to objects and playing dead to go on predators abroad. Many people oftentimes ask if possums really faint or if they are just pretending.

Meet THE OPOSSUM

An opossum is a grey beast that is roughly the size of a cat; it has a long tail, snout, long hairs and a pinkish-tipped olfactory organ.

Opossums are omnivores and can eat vegetables, basics, eggs, and seeds as well as flesh and smaller mammals.

Possums are animals that avert fights at all costs. They are not very fast animals, and this makes them very easy prey to almost all animals, including foxes, coyotes, and dogs. Opossums volition growl, hiss, and in worst-case scenarios, they might fifty-fifty seize with teeth when they feel confronted and backed into a corner. They as well pretend to be dead, and people often refer to this human activity as "playing possum."

PLAYING POSSUM

When a predator approaches a possum, it freezes and falls on the ground as if it is dead. The fact is, the opossum is non really pretending, only truly faints. Due to its tiresome and peaceful nature, the opossum does not have many defence force mechanisms against predators, and its greatest asset may be a very sensitive brain.

In one case it feels attacked or under force per unit area, the opossum's brain snaps off, and every characteristic of a living thing ceases. The opossum'south breath becomes imperceptible, and a gland at the anal region produces a smelly, green pigment that makes its expiry very convincing. It besides sticks out its tongue and drools. It is, in fact, so compelling that you volition non know if a possum is expressionless or is just playing dead until you wait for several hours. Y'all can even poke it or move the possum without getting any signs of life. This pocket-sized marsupial puts on the greatest of acts.

Most predators volition not know what to practice with an opossum that is playing dead and volition walk away. The opossum will not move or even blink when the predators swat at it, bite or elevate it, and this convinces the predators that they are dead. The possums can play dead from several minutes to a few hours and will get up once they sense that there is no longer danger.

Playing possum is a suitable defense force mechanism. Yet, it has some risks that include:

Possums can play dead anywhere, even on busy roads. This trait does not help them against auto accidents equally virtually drivers exercise non come across them or believe that they are already dead. So, information technology is very easy for cars to run them over.

Most predators may not swallow a dead opossum merely will play with them. Sometimes, opossums wake upwards with injuries, fractures, and broken jaws.

In cold areas, they may feel frostbite on their ears and tails. The opossum is an intriguing animate being, and the best fashion to exist sure that it is really expressionless is for you lot to get out information technology lonely for several hours, nearly times, it will wake upwards and walk away.

How To Wake Up A Possum Playing Dead,

Source: http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/blog/playingpossum.html

Posted by: keithshou1999.blogspot.com

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