Opossum Chase

Goose Lake Tallgrass Prairie

Morris, IL

As I was driving through the prairie today, I noticed what I immediately recognized to be North America's only marsupial.

It was a young opossum and he seemed to have a clear destination in mind.

He was not moving all that quickly, but he wasn't just wandering about searching for food either.

He was aware of my presence as I chased behind him capturing his journey, but did not seem very fearful at all.

He must have known that he would soon be in his humble home which would, hopefully protect him from whatever creature might be after him.

So, he lead me right to his little remote cottage in the woods which he promptly entered and began to defend.

Although the opossum's house seemed almost perfectly appropriate for him and his kind, I do believe it was originally intended as a home for much smaller, arboreal animals. A fallen birdhouse perhaps? But the opossum has made some modifications to the opening to accommodate his slightly larger body. And with the lid of the birdhouse extending and acting as a wind block for the doorway, he must stay pretty cozy in there. Also, he has the perfect location there with the tree providing additional wind block and security.

He never did much more than open his mouth and show me his sharp, but small adolescent teeth. He just wanted to be left alone in his house to relax in peace like many of us. I'm sure he would have bit my hand if I put it in the opening, but then he would have the right.

I felt honored to cross paths with such an interesting and unique being as he was just trying to preserve the only life he has been given. I cannot help but respect animals like this that are able to survive using the most simple of resources and tools in the same big and complicated world that we all live in.

February 26, 2010