I had another memorable wildlife encounter on the auto tour road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. This time, it was an opossum walking right along the roadside on a summer morning.
Roadside Opossum at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge
I photographed this opossum on August 11, 2022, while driving the refuge road. Earlier that same morning, I had already come across a raccoon nearby, which I wrote about in Getting Up Close with a Raccoon at Sequoyah Wildlife Refuge. It turned into a great start to the day.
As the opossum moved along the road, I had a clear view of its full body. I was able to capture a profile that showed its pointy snout and small dark eyes. That clean side view is what makes this photo stand out to me.
Opossums are built for an opportunistic life. They have 50 sharp teeth, which help them eat a wide range of foods, including insects, frogs, plants, fruit, and carrion. They also have opposable thumbs on their hind feet, which help them climb. Another detail that makes them unique is that they are North America’s only marsupial, carrying their young in a pouch while they develop.
Photographing an Opossum from My Pickup
Like the raccoon encounter from earlier that morning, I made this photo from inside the cab of my pickup. That gave me a steady vantage point and let me photograph the animal without crowding it.
The opossum stayed close enough to the roadside for a nice profile composition. I was glad to get the whole animal in the frame. In close wildlife encounters like this, that does not always happen.
The soft morning light worked well for this scene. It gave me enough detail without making the image feel harsh. I liked how it brought out the texture in the fur and helped separate the opossum from the background.
Camera details:
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
- Date and time taken: August 11, 2022, 8:12 A.M.
- Program: Manual
- Aperture: f/7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/125
- ISO: 2500 (Auto)
- Exposure compensation: +0.3
- Focal length: 324 mm
Why This Early Morning Opossum Encounter Stood Out
Mornings like this are a big part of why I enjoy wildlife photography so much. In one stretch of road, I was able to see and photograph two familiar animals at close range in their natural setting.
This opossum may have been walking along the edge of the road, but the moment still felt wild and genuine. Encounters like this remind me that even common animals can make a lasting impression when the light is good and the timing comes together.