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Question
QUESTION: i caught this on trail cam 9:40 PM dark can you help me with this? in lower left corner not a great pic I'm in northern,PA Bradford to be precise?
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ANSWER: Dear Jeremy,
It's pretty hard to tell because of the size and darkness, but this looks like an opossum, judging from the size and the tail. See here for more pictures for comparison:
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&ei=RmfnSvC3E9iytweb-7SyCA&sa=X&oi=sp
Your little guy doesn't look quite like our Didelphis virginianus, but it doesn't make sense that he'd be anything else (D. virginianus is the only marsupial native to the U.S.) unless someone released a pet. But then, that appearance could just be an artifact of the way the photo was taken.
Hope that helps.
Dana
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: could this be a small fisher i know they are back in this area? also some of the pictures you listed I've never seen are they just subspecies of possum.thank you for your time
Dear Jeremy,
It's not a fisher. Fishers are larger, dark brown and have a very lush coat and furry tail. You can see pictures here:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=fisher%20cat&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=
And yes. A few of the opossum pictures are of other species of opossums found in Australia or South America, so it's not likely to be those unless it's someone's released pet. The naked, prehensile tail in the picture you took is pretty much a diagnostic opossum characteristic.
Dana
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Answers by Expert:
Dana Krempels, Ph.D.
Expertise
I'm an evolutionary biologist with a passion for animals. Ask about natural history, behavior, ecology, evolution. PLEASE NOTE:
If you have found an "orphaned" or injured wild animal or bird:
Please don't waste time asking questions on the internet, as the answers may come too late. DO NOT FEED THE ANIMAL, and DO NOT HANDLE IT unless it is in imminent danger. (Many wild "orphans" are not orphans at all!) If you are absolutely sure it is orphaned, keep it warm and quiet, and find a LICENSED WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR HERE. Don't try to raise a baby yourself, or rehabilitate an injured anmal. Many a well-intentioned rescuer will do more harm than good, especially with baby birds and baby rabbits.
I.D. OF MYSTERY ANIMALS
Without geographic location, time of day and habitat, I can't help. A clear picture is always best.
I.D. OF MYSTERY ANIMAL SOUNDS
It's impossible for me to I.D. an animal call without hearing it myself.
COMPARATIVE STRENGTHS
I'm not an expert on comparative strengths of different animals (more complicated than you might think!) nor bite forces.
FIGHTING ANIMALS
I refuse to answer "Which of these two animals--X or X--would win in a fight?".
These hypothetical matchups range from impossible (Grizzly Bears and Gorillas don't even occupy the same continent.) to ridiculous (Someone asked me "Who would win a fight between a Great White Shark and a tiger?").
The vast majority of animals--even the fierce and powerful--are not as warlike as Homo sapiens, and it's childish to project our aggressiveness onto them.
Experience
I have been the fortunate caregiver to a group of Black-tailed Jackrabbits rescued from the Miami International Airport, and not releasable in this area because they are not native. I also have rehabbed and released Eastern Cottontails, and am in contact with many very experienced wildlife rescuers who regularly handle injured or orphaned rabbits and hares.
Organizations
House Rabbit Society
Publications
Exotic DVM journal
Education/Credentials
I have a Ph.D. in Biology, with main areas of expertise in evolutionary biology, genetics, botany, and ecology.
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