I am the guy in the video and am always overwhelmed by the support and love from so many. I recently lost my momma after being her caretaker from battling cancer, and reading sweet comments helps me in more ways then I could have imagined. These comments have made it easier for me during our journey and even now. ❤
@@lorraineclark4413 the oldest recorded captive opossum was four years and five months, in the wild however one would be lucky to live to twelve months.
That is one way to put things into perspective. Blue Whales live up to 250 years, now that is crazy for any mammal! Normally you hear of reptiles like Tortoise and American Alligator Snapping Turtles which live so damn long. But for a mammal it is rare. I guess it isn't always the larger something is the longer it lives, look at poor Great Danes vs Chihuahuas life spans and it is 5 years average for Danes, and chihuahuas can live up to 20 years! So biology is crazy sometimes.
@@feath3rs No, I said that puts things into perspective what he said. We are long living animals, but there are much longer living ones which is why I mentioned it. Some things outlive us by centuries. That is what is mind blowing. Yes we outlive most of our pets by many untold generations, but some other creatures like the Greenland Shark can live up to 400 years. That is really extraordinarily long.
@@raindogred You are twisting their words. That is not even what they were meaning. They were saying compared to the long lives of humans that live on average around 80+ years and dogs and cats and most other pets that rarely live for more than a few years or 20 if lucky, they are a small percentage of your total length of life. They didn't mean they were not important to them.
I didn't realize they were so short-lived. To be so cute, and to bless the world with so much cuteness for so short a time seems tragic. Lil' Miss will be missed ❤
They were among the first mammals in the world and they had to deal with so many reptilian predators that natural selection focused their genes more on reproduction and not longevity. Google "R-selected species" for more information about why they have such short lives.
one of natures biggest mysteries to me is why these adorable creatures age so quickly. their metabolism is so slow that they dont even get infected with rabies. its so sad that a species would suffer like this. cudos for the guy that took her in. you are a kind spirit.
Their short lives increase the rate of adaptation because new generations occur extremely frequently. They can have 20 generations of offspring in one generation of human time. There's a trade-off for a long generational cycle -- less genetic adaptability. Since humans perform most of our adaptation to environment at the social level, we don't require many genetic generations to adapt. Animals with less complex brains or more stable environments don't require as high a generational frequency.
Some say that we're here on this earth to learn to love and because animals have such pure spirits they don't need be in this "school" as long as humans do.
I've heard they make good pets but if you are a person who gets really emotional over the passing of a pet, opossums aren't for you as they do have a very short life span. Seems a cruel trick of nature.
1-2 years....that's just tragic. I'm convinced that animal caretakers, like this guy, are the toughest people on this planet, because they have to raise and bond with all these animals, knowing one day they'll have to go, one way or the other.
@TrickZzZ I know people who works as caretakers they hate their jobs. From the system behind it to some of the patients. You won't believe how disrespectful old people can be when their life is in your hands.
I've befriended a mouse at work. It started when I would occasionally see him run across the window sill. After I found where his hiding spot was, I would leave some crumbs outside for him. Now when I walk by there, I will see these beady eyes looking at me, letting me know he is hungry. He eats from my hand know, sometimes nibbling away, and sometimes he'll take the food and run. I also leave a bottle cap of water for him. he enjoys that.
You better take it home or something before some asshole puts down a glue trap. If you care about that mouse you don't want to see what that glue trap will do to him/her
your a kindred spirit kenny...when i was young we rented a ski house for a couple years in the country. when this bunch of young people moved in there was a mouse that lived in the house. we treated it like a room mate and fed it some of our food at mealtimes, had its own bowl on the floor. nobody thought anything of it but we had to warn guests not to hurt it. we got some funny looks lol...it was still there when we left. just another one of gods creatures...
Ugh that ending hit like a ton of bricks but I’m glad ppl saw this. They aren’t a threat, aren’t infected with rabies, and clearly can be loving. RIP you sweet, smart animal.
hypocrite. I'm sure you really believe that they're a threat, infected with rabies, and not loving. But since you wanted attention on youtube you said the opposite.
Hm, not so sure about that I feel like most of humanity appreciates and likes animals. Our problem is lack of education and short-term thinking, combined with the greed of evil / rich people, leading to the extinction of so many creatures across the world.
I had a male. He was so tiny when I got him my vet actually told me he wouldn't live but I couldn't just give up on him. I called him "little bit" because he was barely anything and I didn't want to "name him" because I didn't think he'd survive (completely hairless, completely pink, mouth still sealed except for a tiny hole in the front, maybe 2 inches from nose to rump). I took care of him around the clock. It was weeks before I finally even considered the possibility that he might live. But he did. He was so affectionate and cuddly. He'd run to me the minute I got home from work. If he was napping he was in my lap. He was so completely trusting. More than any animal I've ever enteracted with. I only had him for 3 years (most opossums don't live that long) but I absolutely loved that opossum.
@@AG-nc7wj it definitely makes you appreciate them when you have them though. You know your time is short so you make the most of it. It's been nearly 10 years since I lost mine and I still miss him. He was a complete cuddle bug and I'm grateful for the time I had with him.
I had no idea that opossums had such a short life span. How heartbreaking it must have been to say goodbye to her. Suppose we can take comfort in the fact that she was one lucky opossum to have known only love and kindness all through her short time with such a great "Dad".
The way you phrased it is so inspiring, I never thought of animals that way. We are basically immortal to them. They know us all their life and we hardly age while we see them turn from pup/kit into an adult and then finally watch them pass.
It’s all relative. In the grand scheme of things our lifespans are little blips with respect to the age of Earth.. ~78 years, the average human age, vs. ~4.5 billion years, the estimated age of Earth. If those 4.5 billion were instead a year, our life would be like a nanosecond in duration. That creature lived a good ass life compared to 99.999% of his kind.
@@dangre00 a feral cats average age is 3 to 4 yrs due to injury's , disease , fights with other animals , starvation. Weather. The average house cat's age 12 to 13 yrs. I have many cat's and many more over the yrs 20 at one time and ferals also. Some die sooner some live longer. It's just what I've observed.
We used to have many snails and slugs around here. With that, came the opposoms. They would eat the snails. I rarely see snails any more and not as many opposoms either🤔 ( Droughts?) Cute story. They're cute little critters. Thanks for sharing.
RIP, Lil Miss. You experienced life from a perspective few opossums ever could. You lived a great life. Heck, many people would envy your lifestyle and the love you shared. Dylan should be proud.
I had no idea their life span is so short or that they can bond with humans. Lil Miss was a great friend to have, even if it wasn’t a long time together. ❤️
I will never understand why their lifespans are so freaking short, it’s really unfair. Skunks and raccoons also have pretty short lifespans. All 3 are some of my favorite animals, so that factoid always makes me very sad :(
We rescued a baby possum and she lived with our family till age 1 and a half. We named her Pandy and she was super friendly and kind. Possums are a special! ❤
Damn I literally starting crying when he said she passed away and that opossums only live a year maybe 2, I really wasn't ready for that. I'm feel so sad. R.I.P Lil Miss Dylan, you're truly one of the good ones, thank you
I,d be sad too , my Rats got much older, my parents got us Rats , and many other pets, and we even took em out in the park in the evening,.. ,🐾 part of the family 🐾
"A year later Lil Miss came to Dylan, she passed away." That broke my heart, but she passed with the one she loved and not alone in the wild...you're a sweet man Dylan
I had no idea the oppossum lived short lives. All the animals he rescues and cares for is incredible. Takes a dedicated and special person. Lil Miss was too cool. RIP 🎉
In my experience watching opossums the females will usually make it to around 2 years and I saw one who made it three. It's the males who rarely make it much past a year.
Aww that is so awesome. I remember back in 2002 my brother and I had a baby raccoon hanging around our door, and one night we heard him screaming outside so we let him in, it was so weird how he just came into the house, and was still screaming. We fed him some bread, salmon and apples, he got a bit quiet after being held for a bit. Later we found out his mother was killed, which we learned was the same adult raccoon we would usually hear or see around at night, and would often feed, which I know you're not supposed to do lol. Her body wasn't too far from our house, a car had hit her. We had him all checked out healthy no injuries, he wasn't so young that he needed constant care, we ended up keeping him though he was always free to leave, which he would usually go out at night, and come back in the morning. But if one of us were ever outside, he'd always follow us around, he was like a little brother it seemed. We had called him Rocky, since we were fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy comic as kids 😂 Whenever we'd watch movies, he'd be sitting up on the couch, or flat on his back on the floor with popcorn (no butter for him of course lol), it was hilarious as hell! Whenever we ordered or made a special dinner, we'd make something for him as well. The absolute funniest time was when we were pushing the car out of the snow, and he walked outside and stood up on his back legs, with his little paws on the car, as if he was trying to help, he was praised when the car was unstuck, to make him feel like he was a huge help lol. Miss him a lot, he passed away last year, he was pretty damn old, lived longer than he was supposed to.
@@StoufSto NGL for you.. All kinds of animals ended up being hit there, not to mention lots of accidents in general, in which a kid was hit, and an adult. The raccoon came from the back, which is all woods, where they lived, as we always saw them come and go from there. She just ventured out into the danger zone sadly..
Wow, I didn't even realize they had such a short lifespan. She lived a full, happy life full of love. You gave her a once in a lifetime opportunity, I thank you for doing this! ❤️
I found a baby on the road. Took her home and raised her. She was so sweet and never was mean. Sat on my shoulder and drank iced tea. I still miss her😢
@@martynBVT "A few" is a lot longer than they live. They're elderly and usually die at 1, and if they make it to 1.5 or 2 it's almost unheard of. Rats have the same short lifespan. It's really unfair.
@@Dirk_Strider thats purely for in the wild. And they aren't actually elderly at 1, similar to a wild cat they would just be an adult that died. Stress, predation, bad eyesight, poison, and cars are all factors against a long survival for opposums. They might be able to live much, much longer if cared for within a home, health monitored and their stress relieved. You know, just like pet rats which have been able to live between 3-8 years in captivity when cared for properly.
I genuinely started crying when he said "...because Daddy always misses you". It is absolutely heart-breaking that they were only able to share a single year together - clearly a year of so much love ♡
Because he was loved and cared for by decent human beings! He belonged to his own special family and he lived longer because of you. Sorry for your loss and I respect you.
Some our of favorite furry companions don't live long enough relative to other animals. Dogs are a "man's best friend" and only live a fraction of what turtles and birds do. Parrots live an average of 50 years. You want a tortoise for your yard? Hope that yard survives 80 to 150 years.
The fact that Little Miss came back and wanted to stay says a lot. She had one life and she could have gone free but she wanted to spend all of it with Dylan. 🥺🥰
@@kekarthurthebastard226 thinking animals don't get attached in more ways than food is just stupid. Of course they get attached emotionally etc. They have those senses for survival just as we do. But hey studie animal science and prove everyone how wrong they are scientifically xD
her coming back even when he tried to release her was probably so confirming for both of them. She probably felt like "oh so i'm not trapped here, I CAN choose to leave. but i don't want to" and he probably felt the confirmation of all his love and hard work having such an intense effect on a typically solitary animal.
I feed them cat food every night. They love kibble and the ferals get along with them just fine. One night I had a possum, a racoon, and a cat all standing in line at the bowl waiting their turns!
I didn't realize that either. I have a opossum that eats the cat food with the feral cats too. Her baby likes sleeping in one of the cat houses I made for the feral cats. That kind of makes me sad that their life span isn't that long because I've gotten accustomed to seeing them around and love that they have no fear of us. They're pretty amazing.
My family rescued a possum after it's mother died when it was a baby. I can truly and honestly say, these little guys are some of the most caring, adorable, wonderful pets you'll ever have. For all of those who are uncomfortable with possums, give them a chance! 🧡
@@benjaminfranklin7030 Cause the nature of the universe is cruel, and reality is often bleak. You should know that if you're going to take on the name of a legendary nihilistic freemason.
I worked with half a dozen non-releasable opossums over the years as a wildlife educator. They're all so special, but one in particular - who actually looked a lot like Lil Miss (surprising since they all look quite different when you know them!) - really grabbed onto my heart strings, and my bond with her was so special. I had worked for over a decade with over a hundred animals, and I had never cried as hard as I did when she passed. Thank you for sharing the opossum love :)
A couple zookeepers that were raising a pair of babies told me that they ended up with feces on them every time they handled the young opossums. Has this been your experience at all? Otherwise I think they are super cute
@@ChevTecGroup I didn't raise babies, but it's not an issue with adolescents and adults. They're actually quite clean and use a litterbox without much training at all :)
The life span thing caught me off guard and got me thinking about something my mum said to me one time about our cats. She said that It's not good to keep them waiting to come inside because their lives are shorter than ours and that means that their experience of life is different. In the same way a year felt like an eternity as a child, because it's such a big portion of our lives up to that point, cats feel like it's a much longer time for them when waiting for us to wake up or finish the thing we were doing to let them in, compared to us who only think it's a minuet or so. Given that we're so much older than them, at a minuet seems like nothing to us. So now I let them right away so they get to be here with us as much as possible and not outside waiting. Perspective is a powerful thing and I see some people lamenting how short these creatures lives are, but remember, it's not short to them, and this little Opossum got to spend all her life with her human friend. It might hurt for us to lose them, but we get the privilege of loving all over again.
A few too many assumptions there, I think. We can't really know how cats perceive time. Besides, they don't seem to bore too easily given that they spend most of their time just lying around anyway.
It’s called imprinting. You became the only source of food, water, shelter, exercise, and affection she ever knew. You were her whole world. I’m so glad you were able to help her thrive. You gave her a very special life. Thank you for not discarding these precious lives based on stereotypes and wives tales. Every creature deserves to be treated with respect and empathy.
Yes yes, everyone knows about imprinting. If it was a case of simple imprinting, it would have affected every opossum he did this with, but he clearly stated that the rest were eager to be released and wanted nothing to do with him. Animals have different personalities as well.
I raised a possum from a little baby, named her Tia. She was an awesome possum and so loved by everyone and every animal in our home. I had my presuppositions about possums which turned out to be ALL wrong. She taught me so much about these sweet gentle loving and very beneficial animals. If you have one in your yard, then you’ve got an awesome little gardening helper. My sweet Tia was bathed and had the prettiest collar and the best of food. Possums fur is incredibly soft when it’s clean. They are clean creatures when they’re not wild. I loved to take Tia with me wherever I’d go because it gave me and Tia a chance to educate people about these beautiful sweet precious animals. Rest In Peace my sweet Tia. It’s been many years ago but I miss you so much still.
@@michelxyz were you there? I shot and killed that sob in my henhouse surrounded by eleven dead or dying birds. I now kill each one I find on my property
Such a short life span! 😢and you got to live with this amazing animal dad, what a pair you were!! And all amazing animal family too, little bit envious, well done!! Absolutely beautiful animal family story, thank you so much for sharing 😊😊😊😊
I had the intense joy of fostering 2 baby squirrels after my cat killed their mother. I had to get permission from Lands and Forests under the promise to release them when they were old enough. They stayed with me for 5 weeks and an officer suggested releasing them at the children's play park about 2 miles from my home. Lots of pine trees for nesting and lots of kids to mooch snacks haha. The day I released them, I placed their cage on a picnic table and opened the door. They sat on my shoulders for over an hour before climbing down and running off into the trees. We caused quite the sensation sitting there lol. I spent the time talking to the kids and their parents about fostering and caring for them and how important it was to let them free rather than keeping them caged.
This is fact I studied human conformity , humans subconsously alter their behavior because we have a instict that dislikes social consequence being bad to a person can get u a consequence which the brain doesnt want to deal with its apart of being a social animal we ajust behavior to fit group But when with an animal you dont have thesame instict so any behavior is your own choice Around people most dont chose to be good their instict makes them follow rules unless chose not to When with animals the8r no instict pushing u so its all choice
I cried a little when I heard in the video about her passing..wasn’t expecting that. I know when you have a bond that strong, the day they go away is tough and you just never fully recover. RIP little Miss!!
Nothing is ever lost to God !!!! Animals never sin . God made animals first . JESUS was born in a stable . Little King David took care of the family's sheep . White horses in God's home . If you.have a relationship with our Lord Jesus you will be there also .
The story of Little Miss is so sweet - losing her must have been so difficult. Our cat adopted us after our 8 year old rescue cat died of a heart condition. This new boy appeared a week later while we were just starting to heal. Buddy didn't even get a name until he'd been with us for a year. We were scared his family would suddenly appear even though we'd posted signs all over the neighbourhood in the hopes of finding his 'family'. Buddy had a very special bind with my husband who started showing some odd medical symptoms, beyond 3 fractures in his back from someone dropping a piece of lumber on his back from 1.5 stories above. My husband's inability to be free of pain became very frustrating - rarely over a period was he pain free. He and Buddy forged this amazing bond that I could not fulfill- they were best buddies despite some physical limitations. I think their bond helped my husband have a reason to become compassionate and needed. I wasn't able to be between their bond. As my husband became weaker their friendship was amazing, they needed each other to cope with life's frailties. Buddy passed away after being attacked by two coyotes, in our front yard. Two years later my husband passed away. These two were my life and although it's 2 years since I lost my husband of 33 years. I miss them both very desperately but I hope they've found each other in heaven and continued with their way of needing each other. I miss them both. I love you guys and miss their silly interactions and conversations. You guys were my love and my life, without the both of you to talk to I am lost & empty.... x o X O x o X O
I am so sorry that your life is full of grief, but I'm glad that it was rich in memories. Your husband and Buddy have found each other at The Rainbow Bridge where they are now whole and pain-free and waiting for you. I hope another animal finds you and brings you solace.
I got teary eyed reading that. I can certainly feel your pain. you are a special person because not many people could have had your understanding .Whew...you have some depth ma'am
I would give everything I have to be able to have a life like this guy. Owning land and taking care of rescued animals and rehabilitating them would be an absolute dream for me
Do it! Or donate to a cause that is! It is really not impossible, you can volunteer with a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in the States or abroad
Nothing more heartwarming than seeing a man be so tender, gentle, attentive and silly!!! Lil Miss was such a lovely little lady. I’m so happy they had their special bond. He is a very special man.
It likely explains why they never have been domesticated into pets, despite a few in captivity showing some aptitude for it. By the time you'd have them grown up and trained, they're done with living already.
Yeah :( about the same as a hamster!!! So crazy. I would think it would be more like squirrel in captivity they can live a long time!!! I always thought they were sort of similar since they can climb. Like a raccoon, rat and squirrel sort of mixed together.
I saved 3 babies out of a trashcan for a Mama Possum, she was wild and living in a tree. After I did that she would come over and look at me as if she trusted me & we became super close friends. I truly think they are one of the smartest beautiful animals on this planet!
Opossums have a weird bond with other species. They will form bonds with species who can provide protection and food source for them. They are definitely a lot smarter than originally given.
Have had some that I raised in Florida, and raccoons and they would follow me in the house and outside I could not get to far out of sight and would come looking for me,and they would use a liter box and they loved to play in the shower and liked the air dryer.
I once did the Samething with a Mom cat and her Kitten at my sheet metal shop ! It took 3 days For the Mom to completely Trust me after she realized I was caring for her and her Kitten ! I wound up taking them Home And the mom treated me Like I was her Husband ! Wouldn’t leave my side when I got home and sat on the couch with her ! She cuddled all night Till bed ! Best Cat I ever had ! I was Devastated when she died from Breast cancer !
This is what we’re supposed to be doing, taking care of this planet and it’s incredible wildlife. Instead, we work dumb jobs we hate so we can keep affording to live in places that separate us from each other and the world. It’s all wrong.
Individuals like Lil'Miss do come along and they bring joy and eye opening affection with them. So sad they live short lives but it doesn't diminish what they contribute to our shared earth - they touch it so lightly.
Thank you for being a credit to the human race!!! Your compassion for this little angel and for all the animals you rescue is just so wonderful and special!!!
I wish every human was like this guy. What an absolute incredible person. Thank you for doing what you do. Sincerely. This world is better with people like you in it
@@lucasmills9959 In his defense, most people and make such comments about wanting everyone to be like such and such a good person, Are rarely like that good person themselves
I never realized their lives were that short. Lovely little girl. BTW: the short clip of the goat trying to grab food as it was being poured down was hilarious.
@@ZERO_O7X Could be, but still shocking. I just read that a landmine sniffing rat died at eight years. I always thought larger mammals lived longer than small ones. Sad to hear it.
Just to try to add, I too was first shocked to learn that opossums may only have a 1-2 average lifespan, but after some research found they can live up to 4 years in captivity with proper nutrition, which apparently is actually quite complicated to achieve. Bless this man for doing what he could, even all the scheduled feedings, but they are literally THAT sensitive to nutrition issues it's hard to keep them alive very long. Wow, and I thought rats having totally social personalities that are fun to have as pets only living to 3-4 on average is bad, this would be even worse "emotional turnover" for to try to keep as a pet knowing no matter how good I try to feed it perfectly it would likely only last a year or so.
@@erincoco612 yea cat life spans in wild are 3-4 in domesticated its 12-20... so im sure they can live longer than 1-2 if you have the right vets and thye dont have and predetermined conditions
Rats only live about 2 years. Some are rare and live up to 3 or 4. Rats are as smart as any dog. They are affectionate, know their name, other words, and really bond with you. One of the smartest animals, too. Very misunderstood and maligned.
Lil Miss was a beautiful, adorable spirit and she and this beautiful human being shared a special bond .. I have a feeling that this precious spirit is still with this wonderful human being, and always will be 💞💞💞💞
Hah. You're that goober that tried, and failed to sue H3H3. And you're gonna ask for "more humans like you". You sued someone for fair use. Real stand up guy there pal.
Watching this makes me both smile and cry. At the beginning of November I lost my own little rescue possum LilBit. He had numerous disadvantages and wasn't releasable. Me and the cats miss him badly. He was the most amazing part of our lives while he was with us 😿😻
Most people truly dont realize how touching and grounding it is to interact with animals on such an intimate level. He hit the nail right on the head when he said "once you stop and observe the animals, their characeristics". I try to tell people all the time that you'll learn so much about not just animals, but ourselves by observing and interacting with them. From a New Yorker who loves animals, this hits home.
That is truly a gift. It just doesn't come for anyone to have. You really truly have to be gifted and gentle hearted to be so discerning and in tune with nature. My opinion.
@@snavisTM idk man, when I tell people things like that, they typically agree and seem to like me more. I told a fellow dog lover who had just told me the story of how her dog was shot in front of her as a child, "we don't deserve them." She was so touched that we both felt the same way about dogs. They're such pure souls. My dog whines, then waits by the door when my husband goes out to check the mail. He doesn't even interact with her much, yet she loves him more than his friends and even some of his family. How can you not see the beauty in things like that? I bet John gets mad puss too. Most of us women like men with a poetic side that they whip out every now and then. ;)
I miss mine every day. She was a perfect pet. Litterbox trained. Very clean. Slept about 15 hrs a day. Only ONE thing I hate about the Opposum, is the short lifespan. To this day, when I see one dead on the road, I'll check their pouch for babies...
@alan Rogs Yeah, they just age fast. 3 years is a good ripe old age. 3 and a half, if you're lucky. Mother nature is weird. An African Grey parrot with a heart smaller than a marble can live for a hundred years, but the poor ole Opposum only gets three years, and people actually run over the poor little fellers on purpose. They sure got hit with the unlucky stick... Breaks my old heart.
@@pagliaccisghost269 I have a job that requires me to drive a lot and the worst thing about it is seeing so many dead animals along the road. It makes me sad.
@alan Rogs Well, if you ever get a chance to get a baby Opossum, they make great riding companions. They sleep most of the time, and they're super clean. I knew a truck driver that had one named Dalila. She was a fat, sweet thing. Everyone loved her. You put your finger out, and they'll curl their tail around your finger, and hang upside down. Big snuggle bugs too.
Dude, they are the cleanest animals I've ever encountered. They will buddy up to people they trust. I've seen them bring their kids along and allow us to pet them and love on them. They would show up every night! To me that was a loving miracle.
Now imagine today having to explain to people how amazing and worthy human life is with Roe vs Wade being overthrown but the reality is some people are just evil no way around it.
@@scruffyRe - Lance is supporting the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, making America one of the only developed nations in the world where abortion can be banned by individual states, regardless of the cause of pregnancy (including rape and incest) because that's what the Bible thumpers want. The irony is that these are the same people who support wars, so life is only sacred until you are old enough to go and kill someone else. The "logic" of the religious.
This man gives me hope that someday I may meet someone that feels the same way I do about animals. His patience, compassion, and love is beautiful. We need more people like him in the world, desperately. We need people that will stop what they are doing and help an animal in need. That will put that animal first. I’ve picked up so many strays on the side of the road. Hundreds of cars just driving by, not one person stops. This is the problem. There’s a lack of selflessness in human beings. A lack of empathy and compassion. This is why I’m pretty sure I’m going to go through life without a human partner. Of course I’ll have all my animals around me. But I will never settle for anything less than someone who sees animals for the magical and special beings they are. They are innocent beings. Little angels. Precious creatures. Anyone who treats them as less than that is in my opinion, not human. I don’t have time for that bullshit.
Very well said indeed. Precisely my thoughts whenever I feed the animals that come to my backyard. It's sad how most people don't care. But the more they don't care, the more innocent lives I'll save.
That is so true! Animals are like our little brothers and sisters in a forever embodiment of children. And we really should take care of them instead of abusing their lack of self-protection capabilities. As there is a saying "With great power comes great responsibility." I felt the same two yeara ago, as my heart and eyes got opend for our fellow creatures and I sufferd a lot seeing what we are doing to them 😑 And as a good friend of mine says; "the more I open my eyes, the darker becomes the world." But we are not alone! There are a lot of compassionate people who are rising their voices for the voiceless. Being vegan is the first step in the right direction! Still its the beginning of the journey. We have to go out and be the voice for all animals, special the so called life stocks animals till their rights are implemented and protected. Look for animal rights activists in the near and get connected. You can use your compassion for the animals in a extended way as getting active for them ♡ Good luck and lots of love to all beings ♡♡♡
I love opossums, they are so cute and funny and intelligent! I’m always excited when I see one in person, especially when there are babies hanging on mama!! This is a beautiful story, and made me cry; it’s such an amazing love when you have such a profound relationship with an animal, it’s like you don’t know until you experience it. It’s not fair how short their time is with us… I try to cherish every day I get to spend with my cat, Gordie ♥️♥️♥️
Such a happy story. Lil Miss is so adorable. Raised 5 baby possums when I was a kid. All girls! Sweetest babies growing up. So gentle & loyal. Lived in the country & the maturing girls liked everyone, plus the dogs & cats. Wanted to be with me always & followed everywhere. Very dedicated to me & our life. So short of time. Dylan is a special, good man. Great Rescue Sanctuary.
I volunteered at a rescue when I was 17 & 18. I too had a baby opossum. A guy brought in this tiny little thing because his mom had been run over. I named him Oscar. He was the sweetest, cutest, smartest little guy. He liked to be in my pockets or my hat as well. I miss the little guy so much. Bless you for caring for all your animals. ❤
This is such a wonderful animal rescue story. Whenever possible, a wild animal rescue that consists of one caring human being who will be that animal's guardian angel for the rest of its life is the BEST rescue for that animal. I am convinced of that
I am the guy in the video and am always overwhelmed by the support and love from so many. I recently lost my momma after being her caretaker from battling cancer, and reading sweet comments helps me in more ways then I could have imagined. These comments have made it easier for me during our journey and even now. ❤
I am sorry for your loss. Sending you warm wishes of peace and comfort. I hope you will be rewarded for your good deeds
I am so sorry for your loss. Know that she is watching over you. Cats too! Bless you so deeply for the work you pursued to do.
Thanks for the video.
Bless you for being a gentle caretaker
You are a very, very special soul. Sending love and strength to you xxx💜🤍💛
❤
I had no idea their lifespan was so short. How very sad. What an incredible story.
What a nice fellow this guy is.
Their lifespan in captivity is usually 3-4 times longer. She may have had a health issue.
Nice pfp
@@lorraineclark4413 the oldest recorded captive opossum was four years and five months, in the wild however one would be lucky to live to twelve months.
In the wild they only live 1-2 years on average but in captivity they can live 4-5 years.
@@kandijaimz just like moths. Beutiful and amazing but sadly live so short... poor babies.
Always remember: An animal or pet may be a small part of your life, but for an animal you were their entire life...
That is one way to put things into perspective. Blue Whales live up to 250 years, now that is crazy for any mammal! Normally you hear of reptiles like Tortoise and American Alligator Snapping Turtles which live so damn long. But for a mammal it is rare. I guess it isn't always the larger something is the longer it lives, look at poor Great Danes vs Chihuahuas life spans and it is 5 years average for Danes, and chihuahuas can live up to 20 years! So biology is crazy sometimes.
@@BFKAnthony817 mate no one's having a whale as a pet
@@feath3rs No, I said that puts things into perspective what he said. We are long living animals, but there are much longer living ones which is why I mentioned it. Some things outlive us by centuries. That is what is mind blowing. Yes we outlive most of our pets by many untold generations, but some other creatures like the Greenland Shark can live up to 400 years. That is really extraordinarily long.
@@BFKAnthony817 tardigrades are basically immortal aren’t they
@@raindogred You are twisting their words. That is not even what they were meaning. They were saying compared to the long lives of humans that live on average around 80+ years and dogs and cats and most other pets that rarely live for more than a few years or 20 if lucky, they are a small percentage of your total length of life. They didn't mean they were not important to them.
I didn't realize they were so short-lived. To be so cute, and to bless the world with so much cuteness for so short a time seems tragic. Lil' Miss will be missed ❤
They were among the first mammals in the world and they had to deal with so many reptilian predators that natural selection focused their genes more on reproduction and not longevity. Google "R-selected species" for more information about why they have such short lives.
I know, even rats can live for 4 years.
My thought exactly. Too cute, too soon gone💔
@randall-flaggwhat 😭
@randall-flaggwtf😂😂
one of natures biggest mysteries to me is why these adorable creatures age so quickly. their metabolism is so slow that they dont even get infected with rabies. its so sad that a species would suffer like this. cudos for the guy that took her in. you are a kind spirit.
Actually, the rabies thing is because of their body temperature. It is very sad indeed. Especially for one that was living in captivity.
Their short lives increase the rate of adaptation because new generations occur extremely frequently. They can have 20 generations of offspring in one generation of human time. There's a trade-off for a long generational cycle -- less genetic adaptability. Since humans perform most of our adaptation to environment at the social level, we don't require many genetic generations to adapt. Animals with less complex brains or more stable environments don't require as high a generational frequency.
Some say that we're here on this earth to learn to love and because animals have such pure spirits they don't need be in this "school" as long as humans do.
@@LeniG-123 that's so accurate and heartwarming in a special kind of way.
@@michaeldavid6832 thanks for the thorough explanation, you seem like a biologist from the way you analysed it.
My God! This is the most wholesome thing I’ve seen all year.
1 to 2 year lifespan?!? That is just heartbreaking.
Yeah I didn't know that either. .,.. absolutely so so heartbreaking
I've heard they make good pets but if you are a person who gets really emotional over the passing of a pet, opossums aren't for you as they do have a very short life span. Seems a cruel trick of nature.
I had one for 8 years! They can live a long time if properly cared for.
@@artisticendeavors5076 From everything I've read, you were very lucky!
@@gregorylapointe4157 similar to rats
The world would be a better place if we had more people like this guy.
I agree. If we all helped a bit, the difference would be huge.
Instead, be like that guy
@@Aufbleiben no u, I’m already a foster dad for dogs lol
@@Littlestaxolotl Hey, my hamster had a great life
Yes, that was my first thought as well. This so so rare in this world that humans show any compassion or respect for other living beings.
this is the HELL on earth! you barely get a relation with an animal and they pass away! leaving us with pain, loss, missing ... TEARS!!!
@@GrendelSheperdand ...???
So heart ripping, and yet worth every minute.
... и тем не менее,. заводите милых зверюшек, любите их и поддерживайте, на то мы и Люди! Мы можем им помочь, а значит - ДОЛЖНЫ!
Your looking at it wrong, you give them the best life they could ever want and should happy for doing so. It hurts but they couldn't be more thankful
I was not prepared to learn she only lived a year.
Thank you, Dylan, for all that you do.
Awwwh
Common opossums only live to be about 1 -- 2 years maximum.
Why did I even read this :(
@@kitsulu8576 wow
Chances are, it was death by car like every other one you find on the road.🤷
1-2 years....that's just tragic. I'm convinced that animal caretakers, like this guy, are the toughest people on this planet, because they have to raise and bond with all these animals, knowing one day they'll have to go, one way or the other.
there are insects who exsist just to die the next day
also i agree with you
@TrickZzZ Man screw those folks, animals and their caretakers are waaaay better.
@TrickZzZ I know people who works as caretakers they hate their jobs. From the system behind it to some of the patients. You won't believe how disrespectful old people can be when their life is in your hands.
Yeah, that's a really short time on this earth for a mammal. Foxes also have short life spans... 5 years or so.
I work at a nursing home. Caretakers and nurses separate their feelings from their job.
I've befriended a mouse at work. It started when I would occasionally see him run across the window sill. After I found where his hiding spot was, I would leave some crumbs outside for him. Now when I walk by there, I will see these beady eyes looking at me, letting me know he is hungry. He eats from my hand know, sometimes nibbling away, and sometimes he'll take the food and run. I also leave a bottle cap of water for him. he enjoys that.
Mr Bojangles? Great pp btw.
Kenny, God bless you.
You better take it home or something before some asshole puts down a glue trap. If you care about that mouse you don't want to see what that glue trap will do to him/her
Update: You are now playing board games, like MouseTrap with it now.
your a kindred spirit kenny...when i was young we rented a ski house for a couple years in the country. when this bunch of young people moved in there was a mouse that lived in the house. we treated it like a room mate and fed it some of our food at mealtimes, had its own bowl on the floor. nobody thought anything of it but we had to warn guests not to hurt it. we got some funny looks lol...it was still there when we left. just another one of gods creatures...
Ugh that ending hit like a ton of bricks but I’m glad ppl saw this. They aren’t a threat, aren’t infected with rabies, and clearly can be loving. RIP you sweet, smart animal.
And they eat ticks.
for that alone they need to be pampered like royalty ticks are the worst
hypocrite. I'm sure you really believe that they're a threat, infected with rabies, and not loving. But since you wanted attention on youtube you said the opposite.
they also eat feces. @@MellowWind
They're incredible animals.
What a treasure of a man Dylan is. Not many like him around unfortunately. He brings light to this dark and cruel world.
I mean give me 10 acres and i'll do it
Hm, not so sure about that I feel like most of humanity appreciates and likes animals. Our problem is lack of education and short-term thinking, combined with the greed of evil / rich people, leading to the extinction of so many creatures across the world.
@@vapecat1982 me 2! I'd be happy with one acre.
That's a very pessimistic outlook. The world is safer than it's ever been.
He is precious. An angel on earth. 😇
I had a male. He was so tiny when I got him my vet actually told me he wouldn't live but I couldn't just give up on him. I called him "little bit" because he was barely anything and I didn't want to "name him" because I didn't think he'd survive (completely hairless, completely pink, mouth still sealed except for a tiny hole in the front, maybe 2 inches from nose to rump). I took care of him around the clock. It was weeks before I finally even considered the possibility that he might live. But he did. He was so affectionate and cuddly. He'd run to me the minute I got home from work. If he was napping he was in my lap. He was so completely trusting. More than any animal I've ever enteracted with. I only had him for 3 years (most opossums don't live that long) but I absolutely loved that opossum.
Thank you for ur story.
It's so sad that opossums don't live very long up to 3 years. It's sooo adorable !
@@AG-nc7wj it definitely makes you appreciate them when you have them though. You know your time is short so you make the most of it. It's been nearly 10 years since I lost mine and I still miss him. He was a complete cuddle bug and I'm grateful for the time I had with him.
So cute
Do you have videos you could share?
I had no idea that opossums had such a short life span. How heartbreaking it must have been to say goodbye to her. Suppose we can take comfort in the fact that she was one lucky opossum to have known only love and kindness all through her short time with such a great "Dad".
Yeah it's really weird for an animal that large
It’s one to about 4 years give or take -
Ditto. I thought a decade or more would be its lifespan.
Me neither.. I thought they live as long as dogs..
When they are in captivity I guess it can double that but it's no guarantee
Man I got nothing but respect for this kid. What a amazing human being.
Are you calling a grown man "kid"?
Hes an old man
He definitely looks middle aged
Why call him a kid? Explain yourself.
Even though this opossum only lived for a year, this man gave this little guy the best life it could ever have.
Girl*
The way you phrased it is so inspiring, I never thought of animals that way. We are basically immortal to them. They know us all their life and we hardly age while we see them turn from pup/kit into an adult and then finally watch them pass.
@@chrisbustos1431 little guy is guy or girl. 😊
id like to know how it died. if it was living with him it should have lived alotttt longer than a year
@@tyreesneed they don’t actually live that long 💓
The tears that ambushed me when we learned she only lived a year. My heart.
❤❤
69th 👍
I don’t think they have a long life span . Sad
Well, you should instead think about it like once of the happiest opossum to ever live
It’s all relative. In the grand scheme of things our lifespans are little blips with respect to the age of Earth.. ~78 years, the average human age, vs. ~4.5 billion years, the estimated age of Earth. If those 4.5 billion were instead a year, our life would be like a nanosecond in duration. That creature lived a good ass life compared to 99.999% of his kind.
This was a heartwarming story. I can’t believe they have such short life spans. What a spectacular animal. I adore animals.
Pretty Spectacular Guy Too !!
A domestic opossum I'm certain will live much longer. Take feral cats; they will live 5-7 years, vs domestics living 18-20 years.
@@dangre00 a feral cats average age is 3 to 4 yrs due to injury's , disease , fights with other animals , starvation. Weather. The average house cat's age 12 to 13 yrs. I have many cat's and many more over the yrs 20 at one time and ferals also. Some die sooner some live longer. It's just what I've observed.
We used to have many snails and slugs around here. With that, came the opposoms.
They would eat the snails.
I rarely see snails any more and not as many opposoms either🤔 ( Droughts?)
Cute story. They're cute little critters. Thanks for sharing.
That's too short af a lifespan crazy
Possums get such a bad rap, but they're really gentle, meek creatures. So glad this kind person gave this one a good life.
It’s a shame she didn’t live longer. She did it her way though and was with her true love. RIP lil Miss.
my thoughts exactly
💔
She lived as long as she possibly could. Most opossums don't live that long.
@@mariaragonese2543 such short lives - most animal species the same size typically live longer. but she lived the best life she could have :)
@@mariaragonese2543 so unfair, why can't we trade her longevity for hillary's?
She was like 9 hours in the wild and thought to herself " yup that's enough" 😂
"I want my dad! DAAAADDDD!!!"
Had a crow did the same.... After a day ... Found our house and was like....what the hell!
9 hours when you live a year compared to a human is like being gone for 3 weeks. It’s like a child being abroad on a summer vacation for 3 weeks.
@@mjg1544 very true!! Haha!!
Not to mention .... Free room and board, good food. Who wants to pass that up?
absofuckinglutely not jesus. Possums are very very well adapted to the wild. They are NOT adapted well to being pets. Hence why it is DEAD
I literally cried when he said that she passed away a year later. She lived a happy life. :)
Me too
I'm still crying
Meet toooo.
Same,,,
😑
Thank God for such kind people that care about animals like this man❤️
I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t know their lifespans were so very short. They’re so cute
Same for me.
Wait, how long do they live for? :(
@@McMushTrippy Like 2 years maximum.
It’s 1 to about 4 years
Don’t feel shame for that or anything - lol
E gad
RIP, Lil Miss. You experienced life from a perspective few opossums ever could. You lived a great life. Heck, many people would envy your lifestyle and the love you shared. Dylan should be proud.
Thank you so much for your kind words 🙏 ❤
Powerful owls rip possum heads off btw. Gruesome…
I had no idea their life span is so short or that they can bond with humans. Lil Miss was a great friend to have, even if it wasn’t a long time together. ❤️
Yes, that's kind of shocking their lifespan is so short.
Ditto. I was like, "That's it?"
Yeah, I thought it would be at least 5 or 6 years. Shocking how short their lifespan is.
I will never understand why their lifespans are so freaking short, it’s really unfair. Skunks and raccoons also have pretty short lifespans. All 3 are some of my favorite animals, so that factoid always makes me very sad :(
@@thetwistedsamurai I just googled it. Skunks and raccoons have longer lifespans than opossums in captivity.
We rescued a baby possum and she lived with our family till age 1 and a half. We named her Pandy and she was super friendly and kind. Possums are a special! ❤
I’m so heart broken to find out that she only lived for 1 year, but it was filled with love and care , thanks god for people like this man ❤
Honestly, I thought they lived longer too. Now I'm sad
2-4 yrs depending on the breed, that's why I'm not going to get one 😭
😳
That's really short. You put a lot of love and effort in the upbringing but the lifespan is too short.
Damn I literally starting crying when he said she passed away and that opossums only live a year maybe 2, I really wasn't ready for that.
I'm feel so sad.
R.I.P Lil Miss
Dylan, you're truly one of the good ones, thank you
Go vegan for the animals💚
They live 1-2 years in the wild. The average lifespan for a possum in captivity is 3-5 years.
I,d be sad too , my Rats got much older, my parents got us Rats , and many other pets, and we even took em out in the park in the evening,.. ,🐾 part of the family 🐾
@@lenelli1349 if an opposum demands it.. 🐾
@@lenelli1349 people dont really eat opossums
"A year later Lil Miss came to Dylan, she passed away." That broke my heart, but she passed with the one she loved and not alone in the wild...you're a sweet man Dylan
I had no idea the oppossum lived short lives. All the animals he rescues and cares for is incredible. Takes a dedicated and special person. Lil Miss was too cool. RIP 🎉
In my experience watching opossums the females will usually make it to around 2 years and I saw one who made it three. It's the males who rarely make it much past a year.
Aww that is so awesome. I remember back in 2002 my brother and I had a baby raccoon hanging around our door, and one night we heard him screaming outside so we let him in, it was so weird how he just came into the house, and was still screaming. We fed him some bread, salmon and apples, he got a bit quiet after being held for a bit. Later we found out his mother was killed, which we learned was the same adult raccoon we would usually hear or see around at night, and would often feed, which I know you're not supposed to do lol.
Her body wasn't too far from our house, a car had hit her. We had him all checked out healthy no injuries, he wasn't so young that he needed constant care, we ended up keeping him though he was always free to leave, which he would usually go out at night, and come back in the morning. But if one of us were ever outside, he'd always follow us around, he was like a little brother it seemed. We had called him Rocky, since we were fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy comic as kids 😂
Whenever we'd watch movies, he'd be sitting up on the couch, or flat on his back on the floor with popcorn (no butter for him of course lol), it was hilarious as hell! Whenever we ordered or made a special dinner, we'd make something for him as well. The absolute funniest time was when we were pushing the car out of the snow, and he walked outside and stood up on his back legs, with his little paws on the car, as if he was trying to help, he was praised when the car was unstuck, to make him feel like he was a huge help lol. Miss him a lot, he passed away last year, he was pretty damn old, lived longer than he was supposed to.
NGL, you being a house that feeds them made it more likely they'd get hit by a car near your house.
That's one reason why you don't feed animals.
Beautiful story! Thank you for sharing!
What a great story -- I especially liked the part where he "helped" push the car out of the snow.
@@StoufSto NGL for you.. All kinds of animals ended up being hit there, not to mention lots of accidents in general, in which a kid was hit, and an adult. The raccoon came from the back, which is all woods, where they lived, as we always saw them come and go from there. She just ventured out into the danger zone sadly..
@@inkmage4084 Stop feeding the local kids too, then!
I like how the cat in the background just menacingly standing right there while watching his owner holding the baby opossum.
it's looking at that opossum like it was a mouse
Cat: "Soon.."
reminds me of Joe Rogan bit about cats, lol
Having lived with many cats and opossums, I promise you the cats do not mess with the possums... not more than once, anyway!
@@bengalkityy2594 😂😂
This is a perfect example of “If you love them, let them go. If they come back, they’re yours forever.”
Except forever is only a year 😭
Ya but what if you can't let go? Are you a dick for it?
🗣📢 *Pin Worthy*
In a crappy old world this was an inspiring and heartwarming story. Thank you
Wow, I didn't even realize they had such a short lifespan. She lived a full, happy life full of love. You gave her a once in a lifetime opportunity, I thank you for doing this! ❤️
They don't. In captivity, it should have lived 5 to 11 years.
@@zufalllx No, opossums definitely don't live up to 11 years. They grow very fast and die very fast, even in captivity.
@@123forafurry I have first hand experience in this. You can't be more wrong
@@adamwest3512 First, rodents are mammals. Second, possums aren't rodents, they are marsupials.
@@zufalllx nope
I found a baby on the road. Took her home and raised her. She was so sweet and never was mean. Sat on my shoulder and drank iced tea. I still miss her😢
It's so sad that they only live for a few years
@@martynBVT "A few" is a lot longer than they live. They're elderly and usually die at 1, and if they make it to 1.5 or 2 it's almost unheard of. Rats have the same short lifespan. It's really unfair.
@@Dirk_Strider our rats got to like 4 years old in general
Hoping you mean a baby POSSUM?
@@Dirk_Strider thats purely for in the wild. And they aren't actually elderly at 1, similar to a wild cat they would just be an adult that died. Stress, predation, bad eyesight, poison, and cars are all factors against a long survival for opposums. They might be able to live much, much longer if cared for within a home, health monitored and their stress relieved. You know, just like pet rats which have been able to live between 3-8 years in captivity when cared for properly.
I genuinely started crying when he said "...because Daddy always misses you". It is absolutely heart-breaking that they were only able to share a single year together - clearly a year of so much love ♡
😢😭
Because he was loved and cared for by decent human beings! He belonged to his own special family and he lived longer because of you. Sorry for your loss and I respect you.
Some our of favorite furry companions don't live long enough relative to other animals. Dogs are a "man's best friend" and only live a fraction of what turtles and birds do. Parrots live an average of 50 years. You want a tortoise for your yard? Hope that yard survives 80 to 150 years.
I'm crying right now. Very moved & surprised they only live a short time. Many blessings to this kind hearted man 🤍
@N yes
She's adorable, I'm glad she found a good person in you 🥰
The fact that Little Miss came back and wanted to stay says a lot. She had one life and she could have gone free but she wanted to spend all of it with Dylan. 🥺🥰
Where food was
@@kekarthurthebastard226 sure, but it seems pretty obvious from the video that it was more than just food
@@kekarthurthebastard226 thinking animals don't get attached in more ways than food is just stupid. Of course they get attached emotionally etc. They have those senses for survival just as we do. But hey studie animal science and prove everyone how wrong they are scientifically xD
@@kekarthurthebastard226 You give us a bad name. Ywnbaw
@@snyggmikael wild animals pets maul their owners all the time.
her coming back even when he tried to release her was probably so confirming for both of them. She probably felt like "oh so i'm not trapped here, I CAN choose to leave. but i don't want to" and he probably felt the confirmation of all his love and hard work having such an intense effect on a typically solitary animal.
Opossums only live 1 to 2 years? I never knew their life span was so short. Gentle creatures, all said and told.
I feed them cat food every night. They love kibble and the ferals get along with them just fine. One night I had a possum, a racoon, and a cat all standing in line at the bowl waiting their turns!
I didn't realize that either. I have a opossum that eats the cat food with the feral cats too. Her baby likes sleeping in one of the cat houses I made for the feral cats. That kind of makes me sad that their life span isn't that long because I've gotten accustomed to seeing them around and love that they have no fear of us. They're pretty amazing.
Indeed! She should have been so much older. ❤️❤️❤️
You gave her a wonderful possum life. You're a good soul ❤
My family rescued a possum after it's mother died when it was a baby. I can truly and honestly say, these little guys are some of the most caring, adorable, wonderful pets you'll ever have. For all of those who are uncomfortable with possums, give them a chance! 🧡
They are wonderful creatures.
I always thought they were little monsters but they're actually cute.
It's sad that they have such a short lifespan. So adorable.
I had no idea it was that short! My gosh! Well she had a great life full of all kind of adventure and love!
Why do they have short lifespans?
@@benjaminfranklin7030 Cause the nature of the universe is cruel, and reality is often bleak. You should know that if you're going to take on the name of a legendary nihilistic freemason.
Is opossum still alive?
@@mikenuzzo3323 3:28
I worked with half a dozen non-releasable opossums over the years as a wildlife educator. They're all so special, but one in particular - who actually looked a lot like Lil Miss (surprising since they all look quite different when you know them!) - really grabbed onto my heart strings, and my bond with her was so special. I had worked for over a decade with over a hundred animals, and I had never cried as hard as I did when she passed. Thank you for sharing the opossum love :)
A couple zookeepers that were raising a pair of babies told me that they ended up with feces on them every time they handled the young opossums. Has this been your experience at all? Otherwise I think they are super cute
@@ChevTecGroup I didn't raise babies, but it's not an issue with adolescents and adults. They're actually quite clean and use a litterbox without much training at all :)
I am very sorry for your loss !! 💔💜🥁🐉🎤💕💞
I love possums too here in Australia. I also feel the same way about rats. 😍
Do you believe in the afterlife?
Beautiful pictures.. so hard to say goodbye😢, trust me, I know, but the time you had with her was priceless!
Little Miss can't be wrong, sorry for your loss.
The life span thing caught me off guard and got me thinking about something my mum said to me one time about our cats. She said that It's not good to keep them waiting to come inside because their lives are shorter than ours and that means that their experience of life is different. In the same way a year felt like an eternity as a child, because it's such a big portion of our lives up to that point, cats feel like it's a much longer time for them when waiting for us to wake up or finish the thing we were doing to let them in, compared to us who only think it's a minuet or so. Given that we're so much older than them, at a minuet seems like nothing to us. So now I let them right away so they get to be here with us as much as possible and not outside waiting. Perspective is a powerful thing and I see some people lamenting how short these creatures lives are, but remember, it's not short to them, and this little Opossum got to spend all her life with her human friend. It might hurt for us to lose them, but we get the privilege of loving all over again.
Our pets wait for us in Heaven. :) Look up Kat Kerr...
Old people feel the same way about the young
never thought about the perspective thing :)
A few too many assumptions there, I think. We can't really know how cats perceive time. Besides, they don't seem to bore too easily given that they spend most of their time just lying around anyway.
Yo les digo a mis hijos que los gatos y los perros viven hora a hora y día a día. Nosotros pensamos en semanas meses y años.
I’ve raised several dozen, and it’s absolutely true. They are the most amazing creatures I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.
I'm sure the love & companionship is worth the hearth break in the end... 💘
@@majinvegeta7777 it is, just like with any other animal. I’ve had thousands over the years, and it is never easier. I never feel prepared.
@@user-pt1cz4ot1e Youre such a beautiful soul. We need more people in this world to be kinder to each other, our animals & our mother earth..
@@majinvegeta7777 you’re so sweet. That’s very true, isn’t it? 💜
Love watching good people care for these sweet animals. You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat animals.
It’s called imprinting. You became the only source of food, water, shelter, exercise, and affection she ever knew. You were her whole world. I’m so glad you were able to help her thrive. You gave her a very special life. Thank you for not discarding these precious lives based on stereotypes and wives tales. Every creature deserves to be treated with respect and empathy.
well said. I had no clue they were such majestic animals.
Well said mate
THIS.
You mean the same methods he uses on the other possums but who don't stick to the guy?
I don't know man, doesn't seem to be it. :^)
Yes yes, everyone knows about imprinting.
If it was a case of simple imprinting, it would have affected every opossum he did this with, but he clearly stated that the rest were eager to be released and wanted nothing to do with him. Animals have different personalities as well.
I raised a possum from a little baby, named her Tia. She was an awesome possum and so loved by everyone and every animal in our home. I had my presuppositions about possums which turned out to be ALL wrong. She taught me so much about these sweet gentle loving and very beneficial animals. If you have one in your yard, then you’ve got an awesome little gardening helper. My sweet Tia was bathed and had the prettiest collar and the best of food. Possums fur is incredibly soft when it’s clean. They are clean creatures when they’re not wild. I loved to take Tia with me wherever I’d go because it gave me and Tia a chance to educate people about these beautiful sweet precious animals. Rest In Peace my sweet Tia. It’s been many years ago but I miss you so much still.
💔🙏
Possums killed my chickens
@@doug1039 That's bullshit.
@@michelxyz were you there? I shot and killed that sob in my henhouse surrounded by eleven dead or dying birds. I now kill each one I find on my property
How many years did she live? Is it true tbey only live 2-4 years?
Oh my heart... what a wonderful man. The world needs more people just like him...
There are, they’re just usually not as handsome
@@Garl_Vinland Lol
We all should strive to be like Dylan! What an awesome man that truly loves & respects all animals! Yes! Dylan is a sweetheart!
Such a short life span! 😢and you got to live with this amazing animal dad, what a pair you were!! And all amazing animal family too, little bit envious, well done!! Absolutely beautiful animal family story, thank you so much for sharing 😊😊😊😊
I had the intense joy of fostering 2 baby squirrels after my cat killed their mother. I had to get permission from Lands and Forests under the promise to release them when they were old enough. They stayed with me for 5 weeks and an officer suggested releasing them at the children's play park about 2 miles from my home. Lots of pine trees for nesting and lots of kids to mooch snacks haha. The day I released them, I placed their cage on a picnic table and opened the door. They sat on my shoulders for over an hour before climbing down and running off into the trees. We caused quite the sensation sitting there lol. I spent the time talking to the kids and their parents about fostering and caring for them and how important it was to let them free rather than keeping them caged.
That's awesome 👍
🥺
👏❤️💐
You can tell the true nature of a man by how he treats children and animals.. this man is a truly gentle soul.. we need more like him in this world..
Not necessarily.... for instance.... I love animals
This is fact
I studied human conformity , humans subconsously alter their behavior because we have a instict that dislikes social consequence being bad to a person can get u a consequence which the brain doesnt want to deal with its apart of being a social animal we ajust behavior to fit group
But when with an animal you dont have thesame instict so any behavior is your own choice
Around people most dont chose to be good their instict makes them follow rules unless chose not to
When with animals the8r no instict pushing u so its all choice
@@Razzy316 Meaning?
@@madanalym4165 Hitler loved animals, whatever that means.
I love animals but hate kids
If we had more character like Dylan, the WHOLE WORLD be so much better place. keep it up and spread the word!
Lets start be like him.
Agreed....more animals, less Democrats. Perfect world.
@@dh-flies stop bringing politics into every conversation
@@stxrships940 fr, its become peoples personality types now lmao. Obsession.
@Fire Heart I bet you're the life at all the 3rd grade parties.
You are a special man, ❤❤❤thank you for opening your heart, home and life for this beautiful lil girl. She imprinted on you.😊
I cried a little when I heard in the video about her passing..wasn’t expecting that. I know when you have a bond that strong, the day they go away is tough and you just never fully recover. RIP little Miss!!
When mine died straight on the barbecue 🍖 surprisly excellent
Nothing is ever lost to God !!!! Animals never sin . God made animals first . JESUS was born in a stable . Little King David took care of the family's sheep . White horses in God's home . If you.have a relationship with our Lord Jesus you will be there also .
So sad! Poor thang!
The story of Little Miss is so sweet - losing her must have been so difficult.
Our cat adopted us after our 8 year old rescue cat died of a heart condition. This new boy appeared a week later while we were just starting to heal.
Buddy didn't even get a name until he'd been with us for a year. We were scared his family would suddenly appear even though we'd posted signs all over the neighbourhood in the hopes of finding his 'family'.
Buddy had a very special bind with my husband who started showing some odd medical symptoms, beyond 3 fractures in his back from someone dropping a piece of lumber on his back from 1.5 stories above.
My husband's inability to be free of pain became very frustrating - rarely over a period was he pain free. He and Buddy forged this amazing bond that I could not fulfill- they were best buddies despite some physical limitations. I think their bond helped my husband have a reason to become compassionate and needed. I wasn't able to be between their bond. As my husband became weaker their friendship was amazing, they needed each other to cope with life's frailties.
Buddy passed away after being attacked by two coyotes, in our front yard. Two years later my husband passed away. These two were my life and although it's 2 years since I lost my husband of 33 years. I miss them both very desperately but I hope they've found each other in heaven and continued with their way of needing each other. I miss them both. I love you guys and miss their silly interactions and conversations. You guys were my love and my life, without the both of you to talk to I am lost & empty.... x o X O x o X O
I am so sorry that your life is full of grief, but I'm glad that it was rich in memories. Your husband and Buddy have found each other at The Rainbow Bridge where they are now whole and pain-free and waiting for you. I hope another animal finds you and brings you solace.
♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️
I am sure that your husband and Buddy are together. Take care.
I got teary eyed reading that. I can certainly feel your pain. you are a special person because not many people could have had your understanding .Whew...you have some depth ma'am
What a beautiful story and how generous of you to share it. I hope your life continues to be filled with laughter and love.
I would give everything I have to be able to have a life like this guy. Owning land and taking care of rescued animals and rehabilitating them would be an absolute dream for me
Me too!
Do it! Or donate to a cause that is! It is really not impossible, you can volunteer with a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in the States or abroad
I feel you, also, your username + pfp are hilarious lmao
Same
@@the.corvidian lol I came here to say that
Nothing more heartwarming than seeing a man be so tender, gentle, attentive and silly!!! Lil Miss was such a lovely little lady. I’m so happy they had their special bond. He is a very special man.
Thank you for taking care of Lil Miss. (Shedding a few tears....). I didn't realize they have such short life spans. So sweet!
„You can have all my buttons, because I love you!“ That sentence is so powerful, it broke me up. Had to rewind and watch it again. Beautiful!
I didn't know they had such short lifespans. :(
Me either
It likely explains why they never have been domesticated into pets, despite a few in captivity showing some aptitude for it. By the time you'd have them grown up and trained, they're done with living already.
Me neither! That was really sad to hear at the end. About the same lifespan as rats. It's really surprising you'd think they would live much longer.
Biological life is horrible.
Yeah :( about the same as a hamster!!! So crazy. I would think it would be more like squirrel in captivity they can live a long time!!! I always thought they were sort of similar since they can climb. Like a raccoon, rat and squirrel sort of mixed together.
It's a wonderful tribute to a very misjudged animal. Sadly, there are non in the UK. I would want to save them too. You're a good Soul.
I saved 3 babies out of a trashcan for a Mama Possum, she was wild and living in a tree. After I did that she would come over and look at me as if she trusted me & we became super close friends. I truly think they are one of the smartest beautiful animals on this planet!
Animals often understand more than we realise.
Opossums have a weird bond with other species. They will form bonds with species who can provide protection and food source for them. They are definitely a lot smarter than originally given.
You restore my hope in humanity. Thanks!
Have had some that I raised in Florida, and raccoons and they would follow me in the house and outside I could not get to far out of sight and would come looking for me,and they would use a liter box and they loved to play in the shower and liked the air dryer.
I once did the Samething with a Mom cat and her Kitten at my sheet metal shop ! It took 3 days For the Mom to completely Trust me after she realized I was caring for her and her Kitten ! I wound up taking them Home And the mom treated me Like I was her Husband ! Wouldn’t leave my side when I got home and sat on the couch with her ! She cuddled all night Till bed ! Best Cat I ever had ! I was Devastated when she died from Breast cancer !
Damn...this made me cry. I love opossums, and I didn't know their lifespan was so short. That's not fair. This man's cool, I want to be his friend.
I understand how you felt for I feel the same. Wished they could live longer.. like 10 years at least
The music, the mission, the animals and especially
The Possum. They are awesome creatures, misunderstood gems. 💖
This man is living my dreams.
This is what we’re supposed to be doing, taking care of this planet and it’s incredible wildlife. Instead, we work dumb jobs we hate so we can keep affording to live in places that separate us from each other and the world. It’s all wrong.
My dream life too❤️😎
Possums invade my house to eat cat food sometimes. They make a much different, messier crunching sound. I touched them, they don’t bite back.
Individuals like Lil'Miss do come along and they bring joy and eye opening affection with them. So sad they live short lives but it doesn't diminish what they contribute to our shared earth - they touch it so lightly.
Possum and oppossums are different. Oppossums are in the West, Possums are in Australia I believe.
Thank you for being a credit to the human race!!! Your compassion for this little angel and for all the animals you rescue is just so wonderful and special!!!
I wish every human was like this guy. What an absolute incredible person. Thank you for doing what you do. Sincerely. This world is better with people like you in it
Mills.
Right.
💛
Fire H.
Your comment is stupid.
change yourself first.
@Fire Heart I haven't a clue how you managed to turn what I said into a negative but it's pretty impressive.
@@lucasmills9959 In his defense, most people and make such comments about wanting everyone to be like such and such a good person, Are rarely like that good person themselves
I never realized their lives were that short. Lovely little girl.
BTW: the short clip of the goat trying to grab food as it was being poured down was hilarious.
A short lifespan filled with enough wonderful memories to last a lifetime. I've rescued several and adore them so much.
@@ZERO_O7X Could be, but still shocking. I just read that a landmine sniffing rat died at eight years. I always thought larger mammals lived longer than small ones. Sad to hear it.
even more reason to shoot em on sight
Goats are hilarious!
When they mentioned she had passed away, it hit me hard. Such a gorgeous little soul!
I believe we will meet our beloved in the afterlife . No matter the differences in our biology.
I can see how much this guy loves his tiny baby 🩵 I was smiling whole time during the video😊
Just to try to add, I too was first shocked to learn that opossums may only have a 1-2 average lifespan, but after some research found they can live up to 4 years in captivity with proper nutrition, which apparently is actually quite complicated to achieve. Bless this man for doing what he could, even all the scheduled feedings, but they are literally THAT sensitive to nutrition issues it's hard to keep them alive very long. Wow, and I thought rats having totally social personalities that are fun to have as pets only living to 3-4 on average is bad, this would be even worse "emotional turnover" for to try to keep as a pet knowing no matter how good I try to feed it perfectly it would likely only last a year or so.
My opossum is 2 and she's in good health. Mostly they die before two because of predators or humans.
@@erincoco612 yea cat life spans in wild are 3-4 in domesticated its 12-20... so im sure they can live longer than 1-2 if you have the right vets and thye dont have and predetermined conditions
I have pet rats they actually average1-2 years sometimes 3 not 3-4
Rats only live about 2 years. Some are rare and live up to 3 or 4. Rats are as smart as any dog. They are affectionate, know their name, other words, and really bond with you. One of the smartest animals, too. Very misunderstood and maligned.
There are african rats that live 12 years but you cant have them as pets
Lil Miss was a beautiful, adorable spirit and she and this beautiful human being shared a special bond .. I have a feeling that this precious spirit is still with this wonderful human being, and always will be 💞💞💞💞
@Elsa ♪ 💞💞💞
More humans like you please.
Be that human.
More animals like Lil Miss please.
@@hangover4833 are you stating animals are bad and we need more like lil miss? All animals are kind and were the ones disrespecting
@@RandomZShorts15 i was simply playing along. But to answer your question, we are animals too.
Hah. You're that goober that tried, and failed to sue H3H3. And you're gonna ask for "more humans like you". You sued someone for fair use. Real stand up guy there pal.
Watching this makes me both smile and cry. At the beginning of November I lost my own little rescue possum LilBit. He had numerous disadvantages and wasn't releasable. Me and the cats miss him badly. He was the most amazing part of our lives while he was with us 😿😻
Lil miss may have not lived long, but through this story she's touched soooo many lives! What a gentle loving soul this guy is. Thank you for sharing!
👍❤ 🥲
Possums Only Live 2 to 3 years. That's a full life to opossum
Most people truly dont realize how touching and grounding it is to interact with animals on such an intimate level. He hit the nail right on the head when he said "once you stop and observe the animals, their characeristics". I try to tell people all the time that you'll learn so much about not just animals, but ourselves by observing and interacting with them.
From a New Yorker who loves animals, this hits home.
That is truly a gift.
It just doesn't come for anyone to have.
You really truly have to be gifted and gentle hearted to be so discerning and in tune with nature.
My opinion.
You tell people that all the time? Does it normally get awkward after? 😆🤦♂️
Are you vegan?
@@snavisTM idk man, when I tell people things like that, they typically agree and seem to like me more. I told a fellow dog lover who had just told me the story of how her dog was shot in front of her as a child, "we don't deserve them." She was so touched that we both felt the same way about dogs.
They're such pure souls. My dog whines, then waits by the door when my husband goes out to check the mail. He doesn't even interact with her much, yet she loves him more than his friends and even some of his family. How can you not see the beauty in things like that?
I bet John gets mad puss too. Most of us women like men with a poetic side that they whip out every now and then. ;)
Just don`t get to know the animals that are slaughtered to eat , they are just as wholesome . Better still do not eat them .
Rest in Peace Little Miss, it's a shame they didn't have more time together, this man has a heart of gold.
Dreamland:)
That picture of her baby self in your hand is so precious ❤❤
You're a good person, and the world needs many more of you!
I miss mine every day. She was a perfect pet. Litterbox trained. Very clean. Slept about 15 hrs a day. Only ONE thing I hate about the Opposum, is the short lifespan. To this day, when I see one dead on the road, I'll check their pouch for babies...
Wow! You are an awesome person!
Has anyone given a biological reason as to why they live such a short life? Is it that they simply age fast?
@alan Rogs Yeah, they just age fast. 3 years is a good ripe old age. 3 and a half, if you're lucky. Mother nature is weird. An African Grey parrot with a heart smaller than a marble can live for a hundred years, but the poor ole Opposum only gets three years, and people actually run over the poor little fellers on purpose. They sure got hit with the unlucky stick... Breaks my old heart.
@@pagliaccisghost269 I have a job that requires me to drive a lot and the worst thing about it is seeing so many dead animals along the road. It makes me sad.
@alan Rogs Well, if you ever get a chance to get a baby Opossum, they make great riding companions. They sleep most of the time, and they're super clean. I knew a truck driver that had one named Dalila. She was a fat, sweet thing. Everyone loved her. You put your finger out, and they'll curl their tail around your finger, and hang upside down. Big snuggle bugs too.
@@pagliaccisghost269 Their short life span would make me too hesitant
Dude, they are the cleanest animals I've ever encountered. They will buddy up to people they trust. I've seen them bring their kids along and allow us to pet them and love on them. They would show up every night! To me that was a loving miracle.
My opossum friend used to go to my backyard at night, carrying a bunch of children on her back. They make great mothers. Wonderful creatures
I wish everyone loved animals as much as this man does. It’s like pulling teeth to explain to people how amazing and worthy of life animals are.
Now imagine today having to explain to people how amazing and worthy human life is with Roe vs Wade being overthrown but the reality is some people are just evil no way around it.
@@lance9249 - Enjoy your bass-ackwards religious nation as it takes a step back to the Dark Ages.
@@CookinginRussia wait what did he say I’m confused 💀
@@scruffyRe - Lance is supporting the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, making America one of the only developed nations in the world where abortion can be banned by individual states, regardless of the cause of pregnancy (including rape and incest) because that's what the Bible thumpers want. The irony is that these are the same people who support wars, so life is only sacred until you are old enough to go and kill someone else. The "logic" of the religious.
@@lance9249 Found the idiot who likes to make everything political. Thanks for your shit take, Lance.
This man gives me hope that someday I may meet someone that feels the same way I do about animals. His patience, compassion, and love is beautiful. We need more people like him in the world, desperately. We need people that will stop what they are doing and help an animal in need. That will put that animal first. I’ve picked up so many strays on the side of the road. Hundreds of cars just driving by, not one person stops. This is the problem. There’s a lack of selflessness in human beings. A lack of empathy and compassion. This is why I’m pretty sure I’m going to go through life without a human partner. Of course I’ll have all my animals around me. But I will never settle for anything less than someone who sees animals for the magical and special beings they are. They are innocent beings. Little angels. Precious creatures. Anyone who treats them as less than that is in my opinion, not human. I don’t have time for that bullshit.
Don't give up looking. They're out there.
Well said❤️
Very well said indeed. Precisely my thoughts whenever I feed the animals that come to my backyard. It's sad how most people don't care. But the more they don't care, the more innocent lives I'll save.
You do not get to lecture or pass judgement on other humans. Follow the laws and do what you do and do not pass judgement on others.
That is so true! Animals are like our little brothers and sisters in a forever embodiment of children.
And we really should take care of them instead of abusing their lack of self-protection capabilities. As there is a saying "With great power comes great responsibility."
I felt the same two yeara ago, as my heart and eyes got opend for our fellow creatures and I sufferd a lot seeing what we are doing to them 😑
And as a good friend of mine says; "the more I open my eyes, the darker becomes the world."
But we are not alone! There are a lot of compassionate people who are rising their voices for the voiceless. Being vegan is the first step in the right direction! Still its the beginning of the journey. We have to go out and be the voice for all animals, special the so called life stocks animals till their rights are implemented and protected. Look for animal rights activists in the near and get connected. You can use your compassion for the animals in a extended way as getting active for them ♡
Good luck and lots of love to all beings ♡♡♡
Im sad that their lifespan is soo short. But she definitely lived a full life of love.
I love opossums, they are so cute and funny and intelligent! I’m always excited when I see one in person, especially when there are babies hanging on mama!! This is a beautiful story, and made me cry; it’s such an amazing love when you have such a profound relationship with an animal, it’s like you don’t know until you experience it. It’s not fair how short their time is with us… I try to cherish every day I get to spend with my cat, Gordie ♥️♥️♥️
This man has more compassion for this Opossum than most people have in their entire lives. Loved this
Yes, a man that loves and cares for animals is a benefit to humanity as well as to animals.....
much respect sir 💖
Most people have kids lol
@@davidfowler3082 many people who have kids don't have compassion for them
@@Dreamscape195 yet you don’t know the rest of this dude life
That includes you and all your bullshit. You don’t even know the rest of this dude life.
Only 1-2 years for such a wonderful companion would break my heart, never knew possums lived such short lives.
Such a happy story. Lil Miss is so adorable. Raised 5 baby possums when I was a kid. All girls! Sweetest babies growing up. So gentle & loyal.
Lived in the country & the maturing girls liked everyone, plus the dogs & cats. Wanted to be with me always & followed everywhere.
Very dedicated to me & our life. So short of time. Dylan is a special, good man.
Great Rescue Sanctuary.
They have the Rat quality. Steal your heart fast, and then leave you just as quickly. Makes that short time all the more precious.
I adore opossum. They’re so affectionate. Opossum love is a real heartbreaker ❤️❤️❤️
So sad that their lifespan is so short... the emotion I will feel ...
He seems such a genuine person. Glad to see that people like him exists :)
Yes
I volunteered at a rescue when I was 17 & 18. I too had a baby opossum. A guy brought in this tiny little thing because his mom had been run over. I named him Oscar. He was the sweetest, cutest, smartest little guy. He liked to be in my pockets or my hat as well. I miss the little guy so much. Bless you for caring for all your animals. ❤
wow
This is such a wonderful animal rescue story. Whenever possible, a wild animal rescue that consists of one caring human being who will be that animal's guardian angel for the rest of its life is the BEST rescue for that animal. I am convinced of that