Corralitas Drive: Daytime Opossum Alert

Photo: Diane Edwardson, April 13, 2013, 10:11 AM.  They say when you see nocturnal animals in the daylight, they're often injured or sick.  This big headed opossum seemed thin, but alert. Its nose was really bright pink, much pinker than it read on camera.  Judging by it's huge head, long canines & thick neck, I'm guessing it's a male.  (Click on photos to enlarge.) 

My dog & I startled the opossum while walking along the short end of Corralitas.  It was walking right along the fence line adjacent to the 2 Freeway. It must have smelled something across Corralitas it wanted, because despite darting back up to the safety of the underbrush on the 2 Freeway parkway, through the hole in the fence, it was in no hurry to hide from me.  I stood there for 10 minutes shooting photos from the street, waiting to see if it was injured.  It won and I got bored and went home after shooting dozens of photos that showed no evidence of injury.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, April 13, 2013.  The hole in the fence the opossum ran through was large enough for a bear to pass through.  To no avail, Corralitas neighbors have asked CalTrans for years to fix this and other parts of the fence on short end of Corralitas.  (Dashed lines added for illustration.)

If you feed your pets outside, pick up the food bowls after they eat.  Do not leave trash outside uncovered.  If your trashcan is broken or cracked call the City's 311 service and get it replaced, or use the City's website to get it replaced - for free - http://www.lacity.org/. Or get the City's new smartphone app.

Learn more about living with opossums and other urban wildlife on the City's Animal Services website.