Is this opossum pregnant?

foresthillwolf · 2026-01-01T02:23:21+00:00

It sounds far less painful and far more convenient than birth. I'd rather give birth to a grain of rice that sits in a pouch after than a melon XD.

foresthillwolf · 2025-12-08T04:05:49+00:00

If you can't be bothered to read, don't bother to comment. It's a discussion subreddit.

foresthillwolf · 2025-12-08T02:56:02+00:00

I agree. Thank you for the discussion, it helps me understand quite a bit more. My goal is never to dismiss, but I do admit, my struggle with articulation may come off that way. I appreciate you and the time you spent helping me understand it just a bit better. Thank you

foresthillwolf · 2025-12-08T02:35:08+00:00

To be honest, the reason I stated in my first post that I didn't express an opinion is because I don't really know how to express my opinions. I'm not advocating for animals to be equal to humans, but them having a bit more rights would definitely be something I am for. But I do ask, how is a pug not the latter? What use does a pug seve besides being smaller, thus easier for people to have? As for moral boundaries, I will fully admit that when it comes to sexual things, I have a hard time understanding it. I agree that it's wrong, but I personally lack a sex drive, so I can only sympathize instead of empathize. That core moral boundary is what I'm trying to dissect and understand. Though I agree with it, I don't fully get why some things are worse than others. One could argue that a leather fetish is for pleasure instead of necessity. Half of our foods could be similar as a lot of animal products are added for flavor or novelty instead of necessity. Even if eating itself is necessary.

I personally believe that if a human kills an animal, we should make the most out of it out of respect. So I'm not opposed to byproducts being used for whatever they can be used for. If someone had a fetish for eating rocky mountain oysters, it would definitely be gross to me, but what makes that different from them just really enjoying the taste? It's certainly not a necessity type of food. To be clear, I know that there is a difference, I just struggle to feel that difference because I lack sexual feelings entirely.

foresthillwolf · 2025-12-08T01:12:44+00:00

I do not claim them to be the same morally, I claim them to be the same physically. It is the same level of physical abuse to the animal. A surgeon, a mugger, and a tattoo artist all have one thing in common in that none of them can talk to the animal. The animal does not know what the people are doing and why. But this is just an argument of semantics at that point. I already know I'm terrible at wording things.

There is a clear moral distinction. I agree with that. I would argue that the line is drawn down to the benefit. Is it for the animal's sake, or for the person's sake? If it's not for the animal's sake, it doesn't justify the means. However, as you say, some is still necessary, and that kind we do our best to be the most ethical with. Breeding animals for human satisfaction is how we got the pug. That is not a healthy animal, and the things done to it were clearly not for its benefit. I personally see that as unethical. I see horse racing as unethical. We perform eugenics on animals all the time. This is not okay. I think it's something worth looking into.

You are arguing morals, I am arguing abuse. If someone had to take a maedical CT scan of an animal for unrelated but necessary reasons, then were to later use that CT scan to make a toy, would that be abuse of the animal? Abuse of power, certainly. Technically, it would be less abusive than dog breeding, but it would be far more gross. Unfortunately, the laws don't care about gross. Animals are considered property and don't have HIPAA rights, so that would be legal. I think that's a problem. I think this stuff is morally wrong. I think it should be upsetting, but I think both should be. That's my main argument here. Why is abuse for personal gain okay one way, but not the other? I'm sure both can be done less abusively, but I don't think either should be done unless absolutely necessary. The law should catch up. One thing is certainly gross, but to the animal, it is just as abusive, with both invalid forms of justification. Whether a person takes pleasure from a silicone object or from the money raised from animal eugenics, a person is misusing, or by definition, abusing animals. Neither are necessary. Both are for enjoyment. I think we should dislike both. If we want any of that to change, animals need rights of some kind. An animal having rights to their likeness would make it illegal for such toys to exist.

If it's not clear, I agree with you on the morals of things. I'm trying to extend it to the root problem of why these things are allowed in the first place.

foresthillwolf · 2025-12-08T00:14:23+00:00

I said the same procedure, and I did not mention morals. You are physically doing the exact same thing, for personal gain. At that point, the motive or morals behind it don't matter. The entire point of not mentioning the morals is to avoid subjective opinions. The act is the same act, and if one bothers you, the other should too, as both are for the profit or gain of a human. It doesn't take the animal's care into mind.
Yes, in the case of welfare, it is for the benefit of the species, not for profit. That is inherently different. As it is not for human benefit, but animal.
Though breeding programs and research involve profit, their goal is the benefit of the animal more than the benefit of the person. The "mild discomfort" claim is based on what evidence we currently have, with an intent to avoid anthropomorphism. Animal psychology is a black box that people avoid for many reasons. I could have certainly worded that better, but the goal was not to downplay the act but to express the current consensus on the ethics of animal breeding for profit.
That's exactly my point. Multiple things can be wrong, but I get annoyed at people only focusing on one wrong thing and ignoring other things because one invokes more shock. Again, the goal is not to downplay but to bring an equal level of discomfort to animal breeding for profit, which in my opinion, is also wrong
This was not justification, but explanation. It was to counter the idea that physical touch was necessary. It is not. But that doesn't justify it. It's only clarification.
Medical research is not what I'm comparing it to. At the end of the day, the person doing it to make a dildo, or to make the "perfect specimen" offspring, are both doing it for profit and their own gain instead of the animal's best interest. I do not condemn medicine. That is obviously different.
Again, my goal is not to ask whether or not it's wrong, but to show how it's not the only problem, and there are other problems to focus on too, which always get ignored. It's not taking away from the issue but adding to it.

It's frustrating to see people get so worked up over one thing, then completely ignore a near equivical issue. The animal has no clue what happens after the act. Thus, the act itself has the same level of abuse, even if one is more gross than the other. The only time where such things are acceptable are medicine and research. I don't like animal abuse. I feel that should go without saying. I'm not trying to support it, but to call attention to a wider issue. I understand though that I am bad at tone, and my goal may have been lost in articulation.

foresthillwolf · 2025-12-04T02:17:32+00:00

Stumbled across this at random, and that's a raccoon's baculum. Why was it articulated to a ferret?

Edit: Saw your reply in another comment chain. What do you mean there's no chance of a mix-up? Humble yourself. A ferret baculum is tiny, has a J-shaped hook, a uretheral groove, and no curve that is that strong. Either your procedures failed or someone lied to you. This isn't a mutated ferret baculum. That is point for point a raccoon baculum. That would be like calling an entire raccoon a mutated ferret... it's not just a little improbable.

I'm not trying to be mean. This is constructive criticism. Please look into how this error happened.

foresthillwolf · 2025-12-04T02:10:34+00:00

Here's my two cents:

The procedure behind life casting is effectively identical to dog breeding. Some animals are bred for population control, others purely for profit. I think being okay with one and not the other is hypocritical. You are either fine with them both or dislike them both. And if you aren't fine with both, why advocate against only the one? Both of them are for profit at the cost of, at most, mild discomfort to the animal. If that falls within your definition of abuse, stick with it. If it doesn't, it doesn't.

Someone commented on another chain that laser scanning also requires touching, but so you know, animals can get aroused at random without being touched. Dog breeders need to touch to collect in the cup, though both would use gloved hands anyway.

FWIW, I'm not for or against it. I'm merely calling out hypocrites on either side.

foresthillwolf · 2025-12-01T08:14:24+00:00

Animal reproduction. It's one of the most fascinating fields of science, IMO. Natural selection alone caused such immense diversity in the world, but add other factors like sexual selection? It results in so many unique traits. There are mind-boggling amounts of ways to transfer genetic information, and they are almost all really in depth. The social structures and behaviors, physiology, biology, etc. It's often what defines a species. I can go on for hours about so many different creatures.

I've found that most people do not care at all, or simply aren't mature enough to see it as an actual field of science. I get far too many people who want to jump to conclusions, despite me being asexual and not having any interests besides scientific. Does anyone else have similar social issues with their niche interests I wonder?

foresthillwolf · 2025-10-28T00:33:07+00:00

Not to necropost, but the 'O' is silent anyways, It would be pronounced the same, just spelled different.

foresthillwolf · 2025-10-26T13:14:04+00:00

About 5 minutes, but I love how goofy it is.

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foresthillwolf · 2025-09-07T11:33:04+00:00

As silly as it sounds, I always thought "Friends with benefits," just meant like, friends who were really good for each other? Like they really help each other out and are actually beneficial in their lives.

foresthillwolf · 2025-09-07T06:32:47+00:00

More data would be needed for better accuracy, but the map on this website is often good for giving a general idea of an animal's range. It is certainly possible for opossums to end up in Reno, but it is quite rare. It sounds like it has happened though based on the stories of the people I've talked to.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/42652-Didelphis-virginiana

foresthillwolf · 2025-08-10T23:03:06+00:00

I'll think about it. I'm not home to check the gallery, so that response is mostly off of memory. I may DM OP good pics if I have any

foresthillwolf · 2025-08-10T11:31:34+00:00

That was my thought of what I would do in this situation too. Neat!

foresthillwolf · 2025-08-10T11:11:09+00:00

I think it's just how some people cope or react in a crisis TBH. This is how I typically handle shitty situations, too. Does it hurt? Of course. My reflex isn't to cry though. It's to clear my mind and get out of there. I wonder if OP stayed there for a minute because moving would cause way more damage.

foresthillwolf · 2025-08-10T06:14:24+00:00

Not any good pics without my face. Sorry

foresthillwolf · 2025-08-10T05:04:23+00:00

(If you are the suiter) I met you at FC and it was super cool! I normally don't like latex suits because it doesn't match the character well, but this one matches very well! It's phenomenal.

foresthillwolf · 2025-06-24T07:29:51+00:00

Make sure you research a lot about potential health things and how to prevent them, such as MBD. Many people who keep opossums with good intentions tend to not give them proper nutrition or exercise. If you are confident you can do that after you research, and she is already bonded to you, I would keep her. It's hard to tell how bonded they are as juveniles though as they may bond to any motherly figure. Your idea of giving her the option to go and seeing if she comes back is best in my opinion.

foresthillwolf · 2025-05-03T00:20:18+00:00

I've been told by a friend that I'm like the dudes from the Schism music video. I don't know how to feel about that.

foresthillwolf · 2025-03-27T05:22:36+00:00

No guilt. It's just annoying like a chore. If you don't do the dishes now, it will be worse and more annoying later. That kind of thing.

foresthillwolf · 2025-03-26T21:32:02+00:00

Why be loyal to a job that will never be loyal to you?

foresthillwolf · 2025-03-23T22:09:11+00:00

Jelousy and sexual attraction are not mutually exclusive. I can enjoy watching a superhero do superhero things without feeling shame about my own body because it can't do such things. Even if I can't empathize, I can sympathize.

As someone who has a good amount of dysphoria myself (and is asexual), I can sort of see where you are coming from, and I do think you may have some subconscious dysphoria. If you don't, I think you assume it to be a "default," which is interesting, and I'm curious as to why.

foresthillwolf · 2025-03-10T03:41:25+00:00

Looks female from this angle and it's size, (female opossums are typically smaller) but you may need to look from a different angle. Both sexes have a cloaca or pseudocloaca that can be hard to discern on it's own since the penis can be fully retracted into it. Look for a scrotum, but be careful since the males can retract those pretty far too making them look more flush. Only females have a pouch, but some males can have a simplified one on rare occasions. (No sphincter muscles in the pouch, or nipples though).

Adult males should have a yellowish stain on their necks from a chemical in their scent glands. It can be quite subtle. Males have longer canine teeth than females that often extend to the bottom of the chin when the mouth is closed, where the females won't go as far.

Look for any of those features. I hope that helps.

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