FA+
Shop
1528
Views
Views
140
Favorites
Favorites
Category
All / Doodle
Species Housecat
Size 475 x 468
File Size 69.2 kB
Report this content
★
More from AnimeCat
There's an OPOSSUM on Your Head!
Just a doodle inspired by my last evening working at the zoo. See, we have "Boo at the Zoo" the last two weeks of October which celebrates Halloween with trick-or-treating, magic shows, rides, etc. And we in the education department are in charge of the animal programs, among other things.
Well, yesterday evening, I had one of our juvenile opossums, Repeat, out for kids to touch and learn about, and she decided she was going to climb up my shoulder. From there, she decided my head was interesting, and did not want to come down. I had to keep a firm grip on her tail to prevent her form climbing entirely on top of my head.
...And then she started DROOLING.
And an opossum's drool STINKS. Of course, so does the opossum, but I digress.
Opossum. On my head.
Yeah.
...
I love my job. :)
Well, yesterday evening, I had one of our juvenile opossums, Repeat, out for kids to touch and learn about, and she decided she was going to climb up my shoulder. From there, she decided my head was interesting, and did not want to come down. I had to keep a firm grip on her tail to prevent her form climbing entirely on top of my head.
...And then she started DROOLING.
And an opossum's drool STINKS. Of course, so does the opossum, but I digress.
Opossum. On my head.
Yeah.
...
I love my job. :)
Category All / Doodle
Species Housecat
Size 475 x 468px
File Size 69.2 kB
I do love my job... but keep in mind that it's not always as fun as this. The night prior to this happening, I was bitten twice by this same opossum. And they have SHARP teeth and it did draw blood. Aside from being bitten, there's the times you get peed on, pooped on, covered in drool, hair, musk... I usually come home REEKING of critters.
And there's the cleaning out of cages, the feeding, etc. It's a lot of work, but I love it.
And there's the cleaning out of cages, the feeding, etc. It's a lot of work, but I love it.
Not to mention the time you were punched in the face by a birdie-fist! :D
One has to have a super passion for animals to be able to handle a job like that. I really miss working at the nature center, I loved going out on my own with frozen rats & mice for all the raptors and walking the back of the hiking trail to see all of the critters. :)
One has to have a super passion for animals to be able to handle a job like that. I really miss working at the nature center, I loved going out on my own with frozen rats & mice for all the raptors and walking the back of the hiking trail to see all of the critters. :)
Ooooooh no. You DO NOT want to mess with the wild opossums. They're mean and can carry many diseases, like rabies. They have 42 extremely sharp teeth in their mouths and will not hesitate to use them if they feel threatened. It's best just to leave the wild ones alone.
Ours at the zoo were hand-raised from infants, so they're used to people, but they're still wild animals and they DO bite. I've been bitten several times and it HURTS.
Ours at the zoo were hand-raised from infants, so they're used to people, but they're still wild animals and they DO bite. I've been bitten several times and it HURTS.
I worked at a zoo for almost 5 years when I was in college and I showed kids all sorts of cool animals. Reptiles, birds, rodents, insectivores, ect. ect. We had this HUGE lizard (http://www.monitorlizardcare.com/im.....izard-0010.jpg) and for some reason he thought he was a lap dog and would often try and climb into your lap, lick your face, ect. ect. He was an odd old boy but he was sweet. I miss those days.
I think you are so lucky to have the job you do.
I think you are so lucky to have the job you do.
You're BRAVE. I know better than to mess with a monitor lizard. They can take off fingers with those jaws. I'll handle reptiles, but the largest lizard I currently handle is a bearded dragon and the largest snake we have is an 8-foot albino Burmese python. Even with her we have have 2 people handling her, cause she's so large.
Oh that guy gets hand fed live baby chickens. Kids were always morbidly fascinated...have to admit I loved to do it. We had 10 different snakes, most small like corn snakes but we had 3 VERY VERY long and heavy big ones, I think they were all Burmese but its been so long I cant remember, and they were never aggressive...at least not with me. Most of the animals are constantly handled so they are used to kids touching them and us holding them. Though I think I was the craziest one to not be afraid to get my hands dirty or afraid to mess with one of the animals if they were having a bad day. Never have been afraid of reptiles. Growing up in the country I was picking up wild snakes as a kid so these big tame things are no problem...even at their grumpiest.
The worst were the parrots. Unpredictable at best and none of them liked me one bit. Never handled them and never wanted to. After one nearly took off a pinkie I strictly took care of the reptiles and other animals. Though I did feed and clean everyone we had even if I risked my fingers for those damn birds. Ungrateful is what they were. At least he reptiles went after their rats, rabbits, and chicks...they never bit the hand that fed them when I was the one doing it.
The worst were the parrots. Unpredictable at best and none of them liked me one bit. Never handled them and never wanted to. After one nearly took off a pinkie I strictly took care of the reptiles and other animals. Though I did feed and clean everyone we had even if I risked my fingers for those damn birds. Ungrateful is what they were. At least he reptiles went after their rats, rabbits, and chicks...they never bit the hand that fed them when I was the one doing it.
Comments