Opossum gets to eat my sweet corn

I'm hopeful that by the time this goes to print, all the snow of this winter, accompanied by record cold, will have passed. The opossum in the photo above appeared outside my window on March 4 as I was having lunch. I took his picture as he was eating a cooked ear of sweet corn intended for my winter meal.

On this particular day, the temperature had risen to about 30 degrees Fahrenheit, after two weeks of snow-covered ground and many frigid nights and days.

Opossums do not like to walk in snow. Their toes are bare and well suited for grasping tree limbs and vines while climbing, but their toes get cold when walking in snow or on ice.

Not often are opossum tracks seen in snow. Only a very hungry opossum will venture out on snow, and usually it will not go far.

A hollow tree will sometimes satisfy the needs of an opossum. More often, though, and especially during winter, the opossum will seek the safety and warmth of a den dug into the ground or the sheltered confines of a barn with hay.