Learning To Co-Exist With East End's Raccoons, Opossums: Photos

BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY — Did you know that the opossum are the only marsupials living north of Mexico — or that they have 50 teeth?

Wildlife expert, nature photographer, and author Dell Cullum of Hampton Wildlife Removal and Rescue shared some scintillating animal facts on Mother's Day at the Long Pond Greenbelt Nature Center in Bridgehampton.

The lecture and slide show, "Flying Squirrels, Raccoons & Opossums (oh my!)", was part of the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt's free "Sundays at 2" series, a project spearheaded by FLPG's Dai and Jean Dayton and Sandy Ferguson.

Attendees were encouraged by Cullum to learn to live with native animals including the flying squirrel, the Virginia opossum and the ubiquitous and misunderstood raccoon — and to try not to exterminate them. He believes individuals who familiarize themselves with animals' habits and needs is the first step in successfully coexisting on the East End.

Photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography, soniboy@aol.com.

Reporting by Richard Lewin.

Animal photos by Dell Cullum.