Another Year, Another Marsupial
Buccachio | 11 January 2007
Early January is a great time to consider one’s place in the universe and one’s plans for the future. For some, reflecting on the endless ways in which different cultures view the passing of the year is particularly instructive. For example, the Roman calendar contained twelve months and inspired our own. Martius, the first month and precursor to the modern “March”, was keyed to the spring equinox, when the natural world woke each year from a wintery slumber. December was originally the tenth month (”dec-” being a Latin root meaning “ten”) and was devoid of contemporary New Year’s bacchanalia.
The Chinese New Year is based on a Lunisolar calendar, which calculates dates based on comparative observations of the sun and moon. The New Year begins sometime in either January or February, and is pegged to the fifteenth day following the beginning of the first lunar month. The typical celebrations hearken from an ancient myth in which terrified villagers drive away a man-eating dragon using fireworks—themselves a mainstay of western celebrations.
And then there are opossums, popularly called “possums” and known to science as Didelphis virginiana. This humble creature has become an unwitting New Year’s participant in the small settlement of Brasstown, North Carolina (population, 832). Following the example of their Northern cousins in New York City, where a shimmering, lighted ball is lowered on Times Square each New Year’s Eve, citizens of Brasstown gather in a gas station parking lot to view a caged possum be lowered via construction crane. Not the pinnacle of high culture, perhaps, but a cherished provincial tradition. Brasstown is approximately 9,787 times smaller than New York City.
The small Appalachian town, like much of eastern North America, is a natural habitat for the possum (properly, “opossum”). A remarkably well-adapted mammal, the possum is an “opportunistic omnivore” with many sharp teeth and a prehensile, or grasping, tail. Typically nocturnal, they are quiet and solitary animals with a predisposition to play “dead”. Like all marsupials, it carries its young within a protective pouch until the brood reach adolescence. Amazingly enough, the immune system of an adult possum is capable of resisting quite powerful toxins, such as rattlesnake venom. However, the smarter, and occasionally predatory species Homo sapiens has found other unusual uses for the possum.
According to the New York Times, the Brasstown ceremony features a possum caged and suspended being slowly lowered to ground level, where triumphant villagers then set the hapless creature free again. Animal rights activists have derided the practice as obscene and barbaric, having protested and attempted to have the possum drop discontinued. North Carolina law is ambiguous concerning possible cruelty to animals during the festivities. Brasstown nevertheless delivers several sideshows which devilishly cruel to the senses, though absurdly amusing—blasting of aluminum cans with vintage muskets, and the “Miss Possum” contest, where badly-shaven truck drivers don party dresses, high heels, and gaudy makeup for the evening.
The Possum Drop bestows a certain perverse notoriety on Brasstown, the “Possum Capital of the World,” which is otherwise famous for harboring abortion-clinic bomber Eric Rudolph. What’s next… a Fourth-of-July Kangaroo?
March 13th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Wow, What a wonderful article about Opossums, Being an Opossum lover I rehabilitate small Mamals for the State of North Carolina, Opossums being my specialty. Over the years I have Raised and released over 500 Opossums.
The Rat Hog, as they were penned by the early Europeans, who came to North America, in search of The New World treasures, were amazed at the weird looking creature, who looked like a big Rodent, but had a face like a Swine. Easily captured, they help sustain the Europeans through their long and ” Hungry” Travels.
Opossums are very misunderstood Creatures, gentle and affectionate, they have many Natural Predators in the wild, Humans and Motor Vehicles being their main enemy.
The American Indians refered to Opossums as ” Keepers of the Forrest ” because they kept the Forrest floor clean of dead Animals, and provided Seed disbursement.
Opossums are beneficial to our Eco System, without Scavengers the Woods would be a very Dirty place, So the next time you see an Opossum ( Probably wobbling across the Highway )
Be kind, and avoid running the poor thing over. If you happen to see an Opossum injured or Abandoned, especially one that is less than 12 inches long, contact your local Wildlife Center
And they will contact a Permited Rehabilitation Specialist, who will come and nurture the Creature Until it can be re-released.