opossums
Pouch-bearing death feigners
Opossums is the plural of opossum, a marsupial native to the Americas—the only one found in North America.
Opossums are nocturnal scavengers known for "playing possum," feigning death when threatened.
They're often considered pests but consume large quantities of ticks and other nuisances: Opossums have been raiding the garbage again.
Pouch-bearing mammal
- pouchSmall flexible bag
- prehensileAdapted for grasping
- nocturnalActive during darkness
- omnivoreEats plants and animals
joey · teeth · fur · claws · snout · whiskers · tail · gestation
Outdoor space behind home
- trashDiscarded worthless material
- garbageDiscarded waste material
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
coexistence · suburban · pest · attic · deck · compost · garden · pet food
Faking death as defense
- hissingSharp sss sound
- droolingSaliva spilling from mouth
- foul odorUnpleasant smell
- catatonicImmobile from mental withdrawal
predator · survival · instinct · threat · freezing · escape · feigning · vulnerability
Displeasing to look at
- misunderstoodIncorrectly comprehended
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- AppalachiaEastern U.S. mountain region
- SouthernOf the region below
hunting · stew · hillbilly · memes · internet · cute · underdog · resilience
Limiting parasitic arachnid populations
- Lyme diseaseTick-transmitted bacterial infection
- carrionPutrefying animal remains
- pest managementControlling harmful organisms
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
beneficial · snake venom · immunity · biodiversity · food web · decomposition · seed dispersal · insectivore
marsupial
Pouch-bearing mammal
- pouchSmall flexible bag
- prehensileAdapted for grasping
- nocturnalActive during darkness
omnivore · joey · teeth · fur · claws · snout · whiskers · tail · gestation · litter
backyard
Outdoor space behind home
wildlife · coexistence · suburban · pest · attic · deck · compost · garden · pet food · chicken coop
playing dead
Faking death as defense
catatonic · predator · survival · instinct · threat · freezing · escape · feigning · vulnerability · immobility
ugly
Displeasing to look at
- misunderstoodIncorrectly comprehended
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- AppalachiaEastern U.S. mountain region
Southern · hunting · stew · hillbilly · memes · internet · cute · underdog · resilience · hissing
tick control
Limiting parasitic arachnid populations
- Lyme diseaseTick-transmitted bacterial infection
- carrionPutrefying animal remains
- pest managementControlling harmful organisms
ecosystem · beneficial · snake venom · immunity · biodiversity · food web · decomposition · seed dispersal · insectivore · natural pest control
- living thingsplants, animals, animal, creature, birds
- mammalsbears, bats, sheep, cats, anteater
- vertebratesmammals, mammal, birds, bird, reptiles
- wildlifewhite-tailed deer, birds, mammals, elephant, reptiles
- nocturnal animalsowls, bats, raccoons, moths, fireflies
- pestsants, ant, bugs, cockroach, cockroaches
opossumshoney badgers
Fierce African weasel relatives
wolverines · fighters · porcupines · skunks