Unusual sight on the seawall in the Alki area this morning – a possum! Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo. Nicola also told us about it this morning, and then we heard from local wildlife helper Kersti Muul, who says she’s been to the shore to assess it but it’s moved down to the rocks, has “normal gait” and “is preening,” so it doesn’t seem to be in need of help and will be left alone. Don’t know much about possums (aka opossums)? Here’s the WDFW infopage.
Please be aware that she has Joeys in her pouch.If she shows up again in an area with a potential human Wildlife conflict you can let me know and I’ll reassess if capture
is warranted .
Also please stop “feeding it”. Flaming Hot Cheetos are not in their diet.
Also refrain from approaching it closely for pictures or selfies.
.
If someone has fed her “Flaming Hot Cheetos” – or anything else spicy hot – she may be attracted to the water at the beach — salt water could kill her and the Joeys! Gone to the rocks? could be headed to water!
She’s not going to the water and she didn’t eat the Cheetos. The crow and gull cleanup crew took care of them. *Birds are unaffected by spice heat*
Just curious if that’s a flaming hot Cheeto pictured at the bottom left.
Lol. I wouldn’t know the difference but they def looked like Cheetos
Is there a reason she’s spending so much time at that seawall? Is she still there? I worry about dogs…
According to Washington Fish and Wildlife -“Opossums have adapted well to living close to people in urban and suburban environments. Except for higher elevations, opossums now occupy most human-occupied habitats in western Washington. Prior to European settlement of North America, the opossum was found only in Central America and the southeastern United States. During the 1900s, its range expanded northward and westward. Virginia opossums, also known as “possums,” first arrived in Washington in the early 1900s as pets and novelties. Some of these animals, or their offspring, later escaped from captivity or were intentionally released.”
I love possums and would love to see the joeys (cutest things ever) but wouldn’t dream of disturbing her. Thank you, Kersti, for keeping an eye on her and being her guardian angel.
There are two different Opossums that regularly visit our backyard in Pigeon Point.
This is concerning since they are nocturnal. Her pink eyes must be aching. Poor thing something has upset her routine.
Wonder if she lost one of the babies, in the water or something. Odd to be just hanging out in daylight so exposed. She’s cute.
It’s so cute! But… wonder why it’s hanging out in broad daylight. I hope it’s ok 🫤
Absolutely beautiful photo of her with the Puget behind. If she has joeys in her pouch, then it can be quite normal for them to be out in morning light, usually looking for food. However not disgusting Flaming Hot Cheetos!! Please don’t feed that to any animal!?! Hopefully people will leave her be and not frighten her. 💜During the pandemic a family of 6 young sibling possums showed up in my garden. Ever since, we’ve had 4 more generations appear and then eventually move on to other places to live and thrive. We seem to be a Haven for them. The word is out and it must have been shared! That our garden is a safe place to stay for a while. They are awesome for the garden and eat ticks and other pests. I’ve grown to absolutely love these lovely creatures. They are magical. Just around sunset they will all magically appear around our garden. I provide water and sometimes a little fruit from time to time. This little stayed for over 2 months! I called her BabyLoaf. She was the runt amongst her siblings and remained quite little. She would come right up to me a sniff my hand and let me pet her head. I miss her cute little face and her little button eyes. 
This was the third family to show up and the first time I witnessed her Joey’s still hanging on! Absolutely incredible to see!
G Unit, you’re blessed to have the company of these amazing marsupials! I’m jealous…Meanwhile, I’m concerned that this other mom might attract the wrong kind of attention – as in the kind of idiot who would throw Flamin’ Hot Cheetos at her.
Possum on the seawall sounds like a Presidents of the United States song. Possum on the seawallPossum on the seawallThat possum is meeeeee
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