If you can’t beat them, trick them instead.
Possums are famous for “playing dead” when threatened, but they aren’t playing. Scientists say that the opossum actually goes into shock when overly stressed. So if you see a ‘possum lying on the ground, limp and unconscious, stand back. It has only fainted. Give it time, and it will revive and go on its way.
Several other animals are known to feign death – some of them my surprise you. At least 21 snake species are known to use this survival technique – here’s one example. When a hognose snake feels threatened by a predator, it flips over, belly up, with a gaping mouth that may ooze drops of blood.
Several other animals are known to play dead when they see no escape. Fledgling birds instinctively play dead to confuse predators. Pipistrelle bats are well known to feign death. So do some lizards. We’ve recently heard about an entire clutch of owlets playing dead, but they too got up and began moving when the threat passed. But here’s the biggest surprise – even spiders are known to play possum in order to prevent being eaten!
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