I spotted this Opossum while I was driving along the auto tour road at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The animal was busy looking for a snack in the thick vegetation. It seemed focused on finding something to eat and did not notice me.
Wildlife Notes
The Virginia Opossum is a common sight in Oklahoma and Arkansas. They are the only marsupials found north of Mexico. This individual was active during the day, which is not unusual during the warmer months of June.
Opossums are opportunistic feeders. They eat almost anything, including insects, small rodents, and fruits. They also play a big role in the ecosystem by eating ticks and other pests. I watched this one move through the leaves and grass. It was definitely finding something tasty, but the vegetation was too thick for me to see exactly what it was eating.
Photography Notes
I saw the Opossum from my truck and decided to get a closer look. I parked a short distance away and stepped out of my vehicle. I used the truck as a partial shield while I waited. The Opossum eventually started walking toward my position.
I was hand-holding my camera for these shots. I wanted to stay mobile in case the animal moved quickly into the brush. The light was decent, but I needed a higher ISO to keep my shutter speed fast enough for a handheld shot at 400 mm. I managed to get several clear photos before the Opossum moved back into the deep cover.
Technical Settings:
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
- Date: June 4, 2020
- Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lens: Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM (with adapter)
- Aperture: f/5.6
- Shutter Speed: 1/280 sec
- ISO: 3200
- Exposure Compensation: +0.33 EV
I left the area once I had the photos. The Opossum continued its search for food without any sign of stress.