Virginia opossum named Basil finds new home at National Zoo

Earlier this summer, Basil, a Virginia opossum, was welcomed to the Small Mammal House at the National Zoo.

Basil had been hurt in a predator assault and had lost one of his eyes before he was discovered. He was sent to City Wildlife for medical attention and recuperation. According to the National Zoo, baby opossums are highly vulnerable to predatory birds, bigger animals, and snakes.

Basil had poor vision, thus it was doubtful that he would last very long in the wild, according to officials.

A news release stated that he was brought to the National Zoo to serve as an ambassador for his species.
Although they are mistaken for rodents, opossums are truly marsupials. They are the only native marsupials in North America and belong to the same family as koalas and kangaroos.

Basil, according to the National Zoo, is settling into his new home rather nicely. He is getting along well with the zookeepers and, being a nocturnal animal, is exploring his new home at night and resting for the majority of the day.

The zookeepers stated in a news release that “when we interact with him, we’ve learned that he is curious, mellow, and very much enjoys being cozy.” “Basil particularly enjoys curling up in a spot among his logs and his fleece blankets.”