Refuge Rocks Youth Program – Playing Possum or is it Opossum?

You’ve probably heard that possums like to play dead, and your mom may call it “playing possum” when you just lay there without moving. Is this really what possums are like? Do possums really like to play dead? Are they called possums or opossums? Maybe you’re walking through the woods at dusk when you see an odd creature shuffling along. As it passes, you are struck by the thick, naked tail, the pointed snout, coarse fur, and weirdly long fingers. It’s a Virginia Opossum! It’s a familiar and common creature in many parts of North America. Some find them creepy. Some find them cute. But, when you see one up close, you can’t help but be struck by just how utterly amazing it is. It has a prehensile tail. It has a thumb. It doesn’t look like anything else you see in field or forest. Come to our Refuge Rocks program to learn lots of interesting facts about the opossum. This free nature activity program is for youth ages 5-10.