And an Opossum in a Persimmon Tree

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December 28, 2007

And an Opossum in a Persimmon Tree

Persimmons are Visible in the Tree - if you Look Carefully

Lately there have been a lot of coyotes around our cabin. As a result, we're being extra attentive with our pets. Our 15 year old dog Sandy is hard of hearing and his sight is fading as cataracts cloud his vision. Our oldest cat Chuka had a couple of coyote encounters a few weeks ago, and has refused to venture outside since!

Last night while surfing the web, I heard a Great Horned Owl hooting just outside the cabin. I made my family aware not to let the cat out, as there was a predator in the area. A few hours later - just before bed, I grabbed the flashlight and took my dog out for his nightly walk. While scanning the trees for an owl, I came across an interesting sight! Up in our Persimmon Tree was an Opossum! No turtle doves though.

Now, I'm not unaccustomed to seeing Opossum. We had them in the Hudson Valley in New York, but that is towards the northern end of their range. The Opossum in New York often had frostbitten ears and tails, because with no hair to protect those extremities, they are susceptible to the freezing weather.

Back in the tree, my light caught the critters eye shine. I went back inside and summoned the family to take a look at the little feller. After snapping a few photos, I left the obviously shaken marsupial alone to forage in the tree. This morning I thought I'd share a couple photos with you.

I also found a Native American legend entitled Coyote the Hungry that I thought I'd share with you. It involves an Opossum, a Persimmon Tree, and a hungry Coyote. Enjoy!