Brit Heck was disposing of items outside in her barn when she noticed something that stopped her in her tracks. An abandoned lettuce bag with something large, gray, and fuzzy inside sat at the bottom of the trash bin.
Initially, she assumed it may be a dead animal, but later, she noticed a tiny movement in the bag, which gave her the impression that something was breathing within. Heck gently picked up the sack out of concern that whatever was inside would be hurt. However, he soon learned it was Richard Nibbler, the family’s barn opossum.
Heck and her boyfriend found Richard in their barn three years ago, and he’s been hanging around ever since. They even set up beds and feeding stations for him, since it was clear he had no intention of moving out anytime soon. He usually just does his own thing, but on this particular day, it seems he smelled something in the lettuce bag that he liked and ended up getting himself a little stuck.
Heck managed to free Richard from the lettuce bag, but he didn’t exactly say thank you.
Heck told The Dodo that the man was “kind of furious” after being let go. Oh, he was appreciative, but it was disguised under a mask of a scowl and an expression that said, “Go away and let me eat this crap in peace,” in opossum. Although Richard Nibbler is the barn’s mascot, he is not amusing.
Heck assumed the trash can incident was over and went about her day. Richard, however, had other ideas.
“Richard responded by getting RIGHT BACK IN THE TRASH the next day,” Heck said. “Classic Richard. Obstinate. I think it was the smell of wet cat food because I throw the cans in that big trash can after I feed our two barn cats, Finn and Krebin …
That smell was enough to bring Richard waddling back in and heaving himself into the trash can once again to look for a special treat. I had to gently take his tail and lift him out, with Richard defiantly clinging to pieces of trash the entire time.”
Heck and her lover like Richard despite his pranks and his attitude. Even though he occasionally gets into mischief, he also appears to understand that the couple’s barn is a safe haven for him, and they are grateful to provide him with a space where he can unwind and be himself.
Opossums are completely safe for you and contribute significantly to society, according to Heck. We treat any of them that we encounter here with special care because evolution didn’t provide them many defenses.
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