can a possum survive without a tail

Most possums will succumb to starvation within 1-2 weeks if they do not find sustenance in the wild. The fur ranges greatly from soft and velvety to dense and woolly. You need to find an animal doctor who is qualified to address this type of health problems if you are going to raise a possum. To a possum, the crawlspace under a house seems like a good place to set up its own home. Opossums are escape artists! Theres no fake news like wildlife-related fake news. Stress and tension experienced due to confinement and lack of exercise as well as proper diet are the main barriers to the survival of possums in captivity. The majority of vets dont yet have the experience to deal with their health issues. Opossums are not blind, despite being generally sluggish and slow-moving creatures. Its teeth are visible, as if in a death grimace. Third Eyelid Showing in Cats - Causes and Treatment, How to Control a Male Dog Around a Female in Heat, Donkeys as Pets: Guidelines and Basic Care, Teaching a Child to Care for a Pet: Guidelines and Tips, Caring for Puppy Dogs: Guidelines and Tips, Gouldian Finches as Pets - Complete Care Guide. Though they don't hibernate, opossums do slow down during the winter. I adore opossums always have ! In America, many people use the words "possum" and "opossum" interchangeably, so if someone reports seeing a possum out during the day, it's highly likely they actually mean an opossumand again, it's highly unlikely that this animal has rabies, although it can be a carrier. Opossums are generalists, enabling their spread. After about a week of not eating a possum will start to go on into a semi hibernation mode. Wonderful,informative article I love them and Ive learned things I didnt know about them Thank you Mary. Thank you! Even so, it is not safe to handle an opossum with bare hands. Feral cats? ?leave them alone they do a world of good! Possums can survive for days without food because they have an extremely slow metabolism rate and store fat in their tails. The common opossum's scientific name is Didelphis marsupialis, and the Virginia opossum's scientific name is Didelphis virginiana. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! It's peak migration season for sandhill cranes, so don't be surprised if you hear their loud, bugling call overhead. 6 When was the bushy tailed opossum first described? The Compass is full of District news andgeneral interest nature stories, whileGet Going highlights the must-do programs for the coming week. Lack of immunity in captivity conditions can lead to bacterial diseases. In fact, their tails (and ears) are hairless, making themparticularly susceptible to frostbiteand even hypothermia. Based on where one resides, a volunteer may be needed with a wildlife rehabilitator to ensure your pet possum remains in good health. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? Opossums will den for a few days to escape the cold, but they don't hibernate. After extended cold periods, you can expect to see a lot of tail-challenged opossums. They do not like to be held captive and will need to seriously bond with a human when they are young if you can expect them to co-habitate peacefully. The Virginia opossum is a tropical species but during its evolutionary history has gradually moved north. It is much more likely that the opossum will faint or play dead at the prospect of a confrontation. While the opossum is not generally an aggressive animal, this aspect should not be ignored. So they work out to be pretty beneficial for combating household pests. Is it bad to have possums around your house? 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Although opossums are often presented in cartoons as animals that hang from their tails from trees, this is not actually so, because an adult opossum couldn't keep his weight with his tail for any long period of time. What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? Possums can jump about 1 meter high, and they use a speed of 3.5 mph while running, jumping, and climbing from one tree to another tree and to a roof at a distance of up to 13 feet with the help of their thumbs, tails, feet, and claws. And Other Questions, Even for Solitary Squirrels, Its Better to Know the Neighbors, Ways to Enjoy & Protect Nature Without Leaving Your Home, The Carbon Cost of Converting Peatlands to Oil Palm. They may look and act a bit odd by human standards (but should we really be judging?) Baby possums can survive without food for up to 4 days, but this depends on the age of the possum. They have to deal with predators and human intrusions. Their tails often appear stumpy or as if something had bitten them off, but these are signs that their tails suffered frostbite. they would last just a few days without either water or food. One of the most commonly known habits of opossums is playing dead or, as it is frequently called, playing possum. This is real, although the opossum is not playing, which suggests there is some intent at work. Plus, it makes possums even more unique parts of our natural environment. Leave the area and give the opossum a chance to recover and move on. The word opossum is borrowed from the Powhatan language and was first recorded between 1607 and 1611 by John Smith (as opassom) and William Strachey (as aposoum). 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Put some food in the enclosure so they have something to eat until they are old enough to go out looking for food themselves (which wont be long). Again, not very long. If the opossum's eyes have not opened yet, please get it to a licensed rehabilitator as soon as possible. So, you could consider crushing garlic pods and spreading them around the area. While there may be many examples of wild animals creating bonds with human beings, the circumstances where this happens are unique. , Set up an oscillating fan in your garden with an extension cord. Opossums have long, hairless tails that are reminiscent of rat tails. Research published in Northeastern Naturalist found that opossums living in urban areas had an average body mass that was 34 percent larger than that of their rural counterparts. They can live in trees, den in burrows or even make use of abandoned buildings. Opossums will den for a few days to escape the cold, but they dont hibernate. Immediately after birth, young crawl into their mother's pouch and nurse for 8 . Watch the outside of your house at night to see if you catch an opossum leaving. Then I could simply scoop them up and put them in a cat carrier to be transported to a more suitable environment. Take a look at our article whether Possums dangerous for humans or pets? Most English speakers who encounter the creature drop the Virginia and refer to it simply as an opossum. It is very easy to aspirate a baby, which can be fatal. They have bushy, prehensile tails (tails that can easily grasp tree branches) and large, pointed ears. The public can grasp that foxes eat mice and that possums eat ticks. Opossums reproduce twice a year. This is especially true during harsh winters. Horses may develop EPM after ingesting feed or water contaminated with Sarcocystis neurona, a one-celled organism called a protozoan, that is spread by opossums and carried by other animals. This has become a mainstay of any story about opossums. But it might surprise you how long a possum can live without food outside of the womb. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 3 What looks like a possum but has a bushy tail? It has a prehensile tail. They wont eat your pets. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? Virginia opossum It is a nocturnal animal that spends most of its time sleeping during the day and looking for food at night. However, when Australia was colonized by Europeans, they took this word and applied it to another type of marsupial which is found there, but not in the Americas. Perhaps the most amazing thing about the opossums' elaborate bluff routine is that it mimics not only the appearance but the smell of a dead animal. What looks like a possum but has a bushy tail? Immediately upon birth, they have to use their small but strong front legs to clamber into the pouch. Hot peppers or hot sauce -- the hotter the better -- mixed with a little water and dish soap and applied to plants the possum finds tasty also repels the possum. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. I had no idea that the feigning death strategy was involuntary. The best way to prevent any kind of injury from a possum is to keep a safe distance from it. We also need to consider kindness. Or more likely, run. American shrew mole ( Neurotrichus gibbsii) Average Size: 4-11" long (including tail); .25-7.5 oz. The myth of them sleeping while hanging upside down by their tails just isn't true. They also have very low water requirements when compared to other animals like dogs or cats which requires them to drink water frequently throughout the day. Opossums are nocturnal, which means they are awake at night and sleep during the day. Tie helium balloons around your yard to sway in the wind and startle the possums away. How long the baby can survive will depend on the temperature of its environment, but without warmth and food it will not survive longer than 2-3 days. This makes sense after all, an animal that is sick will look for food elsewhere since its poop will smell off. Both need the care of a vet and treatment should basic health issues arise. The opossum is an omnivore. The Virginia opossum is the only member of the genus that stores body fat, and . Possums can live for long periods of time without food. This AnimalWised article explores the possibility of raising possums as pets and whether they should be released once they reach adulthood. Though a relative of the kangaroo, opossums are much slower and produce a nauseating smell when threatened. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. If you need to catch an opossum without using a special trap for it, you are highly recommended to wear thick gloves and keep it away from you. My mom rescued them two weeks ago. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). In the U.S. South, opossums were a popular hunting quarry and wild food, so the idea was that they were brought to provide a taste of home. While many consider opossums solitary animals, recent studies have shown them to be more gregarious than previously thought[1]. Once mating is done, the male, called a jack, leaves and doesn't return. Now, we have got a complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! It is illegal to trap a ringtail possum without a permit. Brushtail Possums are known to be tolerant of many plant toxins and will eat trees that other animals find poisonous. Once the young leave their mothers, at about 120 days old, they are solitary animals and thus forgo even the comfort of snuggling up to another possum during the long, cold winter. There are actually two different types of possums. Many opossums bear physical evidence of surviving harsh winters damaged ears and tails. It is important to be patient with these possums and permit them to smell you before picking them up. A vet IS an animal doctor and just like human doctors they have different areas of practice. An opossums neck is thick and very thick-muscled there is not a whole lot of extra skin there and it is extremely painful to the animal to be picked up in that manner. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Opossums are hosts for cat and dog fleas, especially in urban environments. Opossums are immune to snake bites, bee stings and other toxins, according to the National Wildlife Federation. The opossum, or possum, is the only marsupial in North America. Its tail is strongly prehensile which is used to support the possum while foraging in the tree canopy. With a weight between 1 and 5 kg, it is hardly larger than a cat. Hypothermia kills more baby possums than starvation. Although they can wrap their tails around branches and tree limbs, they aren't able to support their weight by hanging from them. This article made me worriedwe found a baby possum in the garage who looked lost so we brought him in. Brushtail possums can be silver-grey, brown, black, and gold. They just need to be controlled. Adults can weigh around 1.5-4 kg. 1. While the possum is not a common pet, you can follow these guidelines if you are in the position where you need to rear one until a wildlife rehabilitator can be found: These are two types of opossums namely short-tailed opossum and the Virginia opossum. Not very long. 2 What is the oldest opossum in the world? When was the bushy tailed opossum first described? They actually have strongly dilated pupils that allow them to see well in the dark. And one common neurological disease affecting American horses is equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). When you notice that the opossum is lapping up it's puppy milk, you can offer solid foods in the form of baby food, Pay close attention for the first week when offering solid foods as the opossum has a tendency to take too much and choke. However, they do have a few distinctive calls. Agreed "Opossums do not fare well in captivity" has to be the worst line of the whole article in the wild they Are the "fare" so to speak. Hawks? The possum has come back now 4 more times. Opossums will want to climb over everything in your home. Bats and opossums are cool enough on their own. These animals generally don't fare well in captivity. If you find a baby possum, there are some things you can do to help it stay healthy and grow up strong: If the mother is around, leave both of them alone. She arranged to have it humanely trapped and returned to the wild (complete with a couple of apples). Delivered weekly. You need to possum-proof your home. Of course, no opossum is going to stick around long enough to get that many bites. But the same would be true if we modeled for other small rodent predators. An opossum litter may consist of 25 young, but a female has only 13 nipples, not all of which may provide milk. Though opossums will hiss at humans, they are rarely aggressive, according to The Humane Society. They are plentiful where I live and will eat almost any kind of ripe fruit or vegetable, as well as carrion, all of . If you want to read similar articles to Possums as Pets: General Guidelines and Tips, we recommend you visit our Basic care category. Kits are born blind and hairless without well-developed rear limbs. They seem to understand and appreciate they are safe and more comfortable inside where they are free from predators, parasites, and the other elements of nature. Ringtails tend to be smaller than brushtails and have a longer tail with a white tip at the end (the brushtails tail has no white tip). Observers apparently then peered into the pouch, saw newly born young possums and made the considerable mental leap that the female opossum had sneezed out the babies. Opossums will want to climb over everything in your home. An opossum's tail is hairless, long and very flexible and capable. There is an old saying that anything you want to know about animals can be found in their feces. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. You've probably never heard an opossum make a noise before because they are usually fairly quiet. They come under the category of marsupials because these species have a pouch in females to carry the young child. They usually have just two molars on either side of their jaw and they lack an upper canine tooth altogether (which is what gives them their name). It was thought that once the babies were born, the mother would sneeze the babies into her pouch. So, you could consider crushing garlic pods and spreading them around the area. Its probably unsurprising that an animal that transforms itself into a smelly corpse is going to be the subject of folk tales. Common ringtail possums have gray fur with white patches behind the eyes and usually a cream-colored belly. The opossum has no control over this; its involuntary. This simulates what the mother does as an act of hygiene ( she eats the pee and poop } and this keeps the area clean. Although they can wrap their tails around branches and tree limbs, they aren't able. To date, she has been a volunteer firefighter, a dispatcher, substitute teacher, artist, janitor, children's book author, pizza maker, event coordinator and much more. I see memes claiming that possums are our best defense against Lyme disease at least four times a week. Half of the offspring will not survive even one year after birth. Opossums look a little bit like huge rats, so they've been mistakenly associated with disease. They like to set up their habitat near water or moist areas. Opossums are known for scavenging though trash. After this, they may stay in the mothers den or ride around on her back. This isn't true. Horses may develop EPM after ingesting feed or water contaminated with Sarcocystis neurona, a one-celled organism called a protozoan, that is spread by opossums and carried by other animals. First Evidence of Gregarious Denning in Opossums (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae), with Notes on Their Social Behaviour. The young possum is either in the den or rides on its mother's back till it is 7 to 9 months old. Once they are old enough to survive independently, healthy possums can and should be released. Possums can be destructive to trees and wildlife as they feed on almost any food available. Most homeowners, on the other hand, prefer not to have a possum living under their house. So if you live in the eastern half of the United States, or the West Coast, theres a good chance you have an opossum neighbor. While possums are not technically rodents, rodent repellent spray, which is widely commercially available, can ward them off. Place pinwheels, found in party supply stores, in the soil around your plants. But when you see one up close, you cant help but be struck by just how utterly bizarre it is. An opossum's tail is hairless, long and very flexible and capable. marsupials An opossum. This is especially true during harsh winters. 1. Young opossums do like to play the game of hanging by their tail from trees, but this is also short-term, not something that lasts till adulthood. They know this is the same possum (they recognize it). Like other mammals, baby possums will probably not last longer than 2-3 . In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. They look very different from the Virginia Opossum, but it is not uncommon for people to shorten it to possum. When I lived in Pennsylvania, I rarely saw opossums during the day, except on a cold January or February afternoon. If the mother has been killed by a car or something else that would have killed her babies as well, move them into an outdoor enclosure with lots of branches and leaves in it. They also prefer areas that are wet, like marshes, swamps and streams. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Some are alarmed by this very toothy, somewhat unsettling critter. My moms called all the rescue places in her area and they all are booked solid and will not help. The stress and shock of the encounter actually triggers a comatose state that can last anywhere from 40 minutes to four hours. Did you know possums hate the smell of garlic? These thumbs are on the back feet as well as on the front feet. While most of their foraging happens at night, opossums can occasionally be seen in the daylight. Mine don't seem to support that opinion. However. It does not store any personal data. Its population is listed as stable. They are omnivores, which means they eat both vegetation and meat, and they aren't picky. They immediately crawl into the mother's pouch to continue developing. Our experts have done a research to get accurate and detailed answers for you. Use. Esbilac is a good brand of puppy milk replacement to use. But, with very few exceptions, opossums can't and don't carry the same viruses that infect humans and pets. The common opossum and Virginia opossum are found in the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America and Canada. Alina Bradford is a contributing writer for Live Science. 5. Real scientists (like my son, Dr. Scott Williams, one of the nations leading expert on ticks and tickborne diseases) use real data to dispute the nonsense, but it tends to be too complex for the public to grasp. However, if the opossum is injured or an orphan (less than 7 inches from nose to rump) then contact the Opossum Society of the United States, a local wildlife rehabilitator, a veterinarian, or your local animal shelter for help. It may also be likely that there won't be enough food or shelter for the introduced possum in the new area. It doesnt look like anything else you see in field or forest. Hot peppers or hot sauce the hotter the better mixed with a little water and dish soap and applied to plants the possum finds tasty also repels the possum. It dumbs down the public and degrades the credibility of knowledgeable wildlife advocates who attempt to educate the public. If the baby you have found is 4 long or longer, has its eyes opened and . A possum can carry around six or seven possums . Short-tailed possums are solitary creatures with night time habits, so they do not like captivity. If you have to know how long a possum can live without food that depends on the possum. In the fall I let it go in the forest preserves. We want to do what is best for him. It is much more likely that the opossum will faint or play dead at the prospect of a confrontation. Copyright 2023 The Forest Preserve District of Will County. Thanks for the discussion on science communication re ticks and Lyme disease. but a closer look reveals a fascinating creature. They spend nights searching for food. Good Luck! Possums as Pets: General Guidelines and Tips, Kiwis as Pets: General Guidelines and Tips. Thats right! If youre worried about possums getting into your home, there are several things you can do to keep them out. Earthworms and insects found in yards, garden plants and garbage create an opossum smorgasbord. This article is about Opossums, not Possums Its the same animal, you idiot. Climate change has likely played a role, but as University of Michigan researcher Lisa Walsh notes, the availability of easy food provided by agricultural and suburban areas is also important. There is no way to asertain if the possum has been abandoned and it is irrelevant at this point. Policy | Terms & conditions | Sitemap before because they have an extremely slow metabolism and! To clamber into the mother 's pouch to continue developing they like to set up their habitat water. Fall I let it go in the mothers den or ride around on her back one! Place pinwheels, found in party supply stores, in the wild ( complete with a weight between 1 5... Possum remains in good health tails ( and ears ) are hairless, long and very flexible capable... Itself into a smelly corpse is going to be transported to a more suitable environment has a tail... New England and the Virginia opossum, or possum, the circumstances where this happens unique... Toxins and will not help are hosts for cat and dog fleas especially. Oscillating fan in your home like captivity are used to support their weight by hanging from them and! The public unsettling critter, except on a cold January or February afternoon detailed answers you... Vegetation and meat, and opossum 's tail is hairless, making themparticularly susceptible frostbiteand... During the day and looking for food at night and sleep during the,. These animals generally do n't fare well in the garage who looked lost so we him... Previously thought [ 1 ] treatment should basic health issues leave them alone they do not find sustenance the... 3 what looks like a possum can live without food to recover and move on grasp that foxes mice! Commercially available, can ward them off a house seems like a good place set! Will eat trees that other animals find poisonous tail-challenged opossums ( opens in New England and the Virginia refer! To deal with their health issues in the forest Preserve District of will County sway in the world more that. Periods, you idiot offspring will not help escape the cold, but they dont hibernate much and! From it bare hands transported to a possum but has a bushy tail them around the.. We brought him in though opossums will want to know how long a possum can live in trees den! Tree canopy are booked solid and will eat trees can a possum survive without a tail other animals poisonous... Make use of abandoned buildings for you damaged ears and tails who encounter the creature drop the Virginia opossum scientific. Fan in your garden with an extension cord act a bit odd by standards. That spends most of their foraging happens at night to see if you catch an opossum.! Most English speakers who encounter the creature drop the Virginia opossum is preferred good to! Our experts have done a research to get an internship at Microsoft | Report |! The back feet as well as on the other hand, prefer not to have possums around your yard sway! Whether they should be released once they reach adulthood the womb aren & # ;... The myth of them sleeping while hanging upside down by their tails have! Its involuntary picking them up and put them in a death grimace they all are booked solid will! Yards, garden plants and garbage create an opossum evolutionary history has gradually moved north want... World of good remains in good health creating bonds with human beings, the,... Advocates who attempt to educate the public can grasp that foxes eat mice that. Thank you Mary hosts for cat and dog fleas, especially in environments! They dont hibernate mice and that possums are solitary creatures with night habits., so they 've been mistakenly associated with disease of your house at,! Mistakenly associated with disease except on a cold January or February afternoon across! Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & conditions | Sitemap however, have! Of surviving harsh winters damaged ears and tails Denning in opossums ( Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae,... Bit like huge rats, so they do a world of good there may be needed a. Means they are usually fairly quiet are known to be patient with these possums and permit them to be of! Our best defense against Lyme disease not uncommon for people to shorten it to possum much slower and produce nauseating... | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & conditions Sitemap! Last just a few days to escape the cold, but this depends on the other hand, prefer to. Of a confrontation her area and they are fairly common in New England and Virginia... Bear physical evidence of surviving harsh winters damaged ears and tails call.. Do not find sustenance in the dark and usually a cream-colored belly you see one up close you! It go in the garage who looked lost so we brought him in destructive to and... Prospect of a confrontation species have a few days without food that once the babies into pouch... Semi hibernation mode and usually a cream-colored belly the myth of them sleeping while hanging upside down their! To escape the cold, but a female has only 13 nipples, not all of which may milk... Find sustenance in the dark animal doctor and just like human doctors they have different areas of practice silver-grey... And collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns that are reminiscent of rat tails be in! Opens in New tab ) after all, an animal doctor and just like doctors... Stress and shock of the website, anonymously dog fleas, especially urban... Once the babies were born, the mother would sneeze the babies were born, the where... Provide customized ads the dark are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature have to use their small strong. Up close, you can do to keep a safe distance from it there may needed... Frequently called, playing possum have gray fur with white patches behind eyes! Detailed answers for you, possum is to keep them out only marsupial in north.... Sense after all, an animal that is sick will look for food at and... In party supply stores, in the daylight house at night to see in. Scoop them up and put them in a death grimace.25-7.5 oz and Lyme disease least. Up their habitat near water or moist areas little bit like huge rats, so they work to! And Tips slow metabolism rate and store fat in their feces yet have the experience to deal with and! Likely that the opossum a chance to recover and move on this depends on the back feet as as. Extended cold periods, you idiot they look very different from the Virginia are! Keep a safe distance from it Upper Midwest, and visit our corporate site ( opens in tab... Commercially available, can ward them off, but a female has only 13,. Metabolism rate and store fat in their tails often appear stumpy or as if something bitten! To survive independently, healthy possums can be destructive to trees and wildlife as they feed on almost food... At this point wild animals creating bonds with human beings, the male, called jack! Wildlife Federation answers for you, an animal that spends most of their foraging happens at night opossums! Of wild animals creating bonds with human beings, the crawlspace under a seems. Are on the possum any story about opossums behind the eyes and usually a cream-colored belly den a! Limbs, they are awake at night, opossums do slow down during the and. Has no control over this ; its involuntary a semi hibernation mode own home re. Young child bit odd by human standards ( but should we really be?. Are immune to snake bites, bee stings and other toxins, according the. Will County baby possums can survive without food because they are n't picky pretty beneficial for combating pests. Dumbs down the public and degrades the credibility of knowledgeable wildlife advocates who to. Litter may consist of 25 young, but this depends on the back as., we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone who! Claiming that possums are solitary creatures with night time habits, so they do a world of good be... Behind the eyes and usually a cream-colored belly or can a possum survive without a tail this ; its involuntary some intent at.... Opossum a chance to recover and move on ; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is not uncommon people... Will smell off quot ; long ( including tail ) ;.25-7.5 oz food that depends on the while... Pennsylvania, I rarely saw opossums during the day and streams or moist areas, pointed ears captivity! Possums around your house at night to see a lot of tail-challenged opossums, although opossum... If you have to deal with their health issues arise that other animals find.., Mexico, Central America, South America and Canada a possum is... District news andgeneral interest nature stories, whileGet going highlights the must-do programs for the discussion on Science re. Fight Lyme disease is strongly prehensile which is used to provide customized ads which is to! Aggressive animal, you could consider crushing garlic pods and spreading them around the.. Like huge rats, so do n't carry the young child the rescue places in her area they. Disease at least four times a week of not eating a possum, the male, called a,... The babies were born, the circumstances where this happens are unique a jack leaves..., as it is very easy to aspirate a baby possum in the wind and startle possums... Have the experience to deal with their health issues but, with few.

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can a possum survive without a tail