Opossum With Rare Disease Was Saved From Cold Harsh Wilderness And Put Into Nice Warm Sweaters

“Playing possum” is an expression that’s used when someone fakes death. This possum wouldn’t be playing if it hadn’t been for one concerned Samaritan that dropped her off at South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (SPWRC). An opossum named Peach has a rare hair-loss condition called alopecia, which causes her to shed all of her body hair. And since fur is key at regulating body temperature, she wouldn’t have survived the cold of the looming winter.

Peach is finally wearing the knitwear that her supporters sent to her. As for Peach's future, very little is certain, since COVID-19 is obstructing everyone's plans. One thing is for sure, she won't be living in the wild. Barnes has told that she's expected to become an "educational ambassador," and will visit schools once they're open. Peach the opossum will be prime educational material for teaching about marsupials.