Virginia Opossum ~ Didelphis Virginiana

Literally the only photos I took today were of two different Opossums at The Wildlife Center of Virginia. This one is a patient who was attacked by a dog. He's doing well, recovering from some rather deep puncture wounds. Judging from his teeth, he's pretty young - those are some nice clean teeth! In this photo, he was trying to scare the person who came to get him out of his crate for his treatment. She was wearing "bite buster" gloves, so she just laughed at him.

The other opossum - in the extra - is an Education Ambassador in training. I'm not sure what his history is - I presume he came in as a patient, or as an orphan - but why he can't be released I don't know. He might be a bit younger than the dog bite opossum - at least, I think he's a bit smaller. Opossums only live for 2 or 3 years, even under the best of conditions. Right now he's being socialized by spending his days in the offices and being spoken to and photographed by anyone who wants to visit him. I took his photo during "rounds" which he attended along with the rest of us. He's being held by Alex, one of the Outreach Team. He - the opossum not Alex - has a cute little folded back ear.