The natural world is teeming with fascinating, often hidden rivalries.

Animals vie for territories and resources, and sometimes, they just can’t stand each other.

This was the case with a possum and a skunk, whose hilarious encounter was caught on camera.

Trail Cam Pro, a platform dedicated to showcasing the best trail cam footage, held a contest.

The winner was Betsy Potter, a woman from New York.

Her footage, which featured an opossum shoving a skunk into a pond, not only won the competition but also captured the internet’s attention.

But why would an opossum do such a thing?

Raccoons, opossums, and skunks share a similar diet, feasting on rats, mice, insects, and anything else they can get their paws on.

While they can coexist peacefully, they also compete for food, leading to occasional skirmishes.

Something also tells us that possums just have a sardonic sense of humor, too.

The opossum’s actions in the footage suggest that it simply wanted the skunk out of its way.

It was likely a territorial nudge, a gentle reminder to the skunk about who’s boss in that particular area.

It might’ve also just been a way for the possum to get his rocks off, too.

And how did the skunk respond?

Surprisingly, it played cool. It probably didn’t want to give the opossum the satisfaction of knowing it was bothered.

By the time the skunk clambered out of the water, the opossum had already left the scene.

The skunk didn’t seem interested in pursuing the opossum.

It simply continued with its routine, albeit with a slightly damper coat.

This brings us to the question: are opossums aggressive? Despite their hissing and attempts to look intimidating, opossums are not naturally aggressive.

They’d rather avoid a fight than engage in one.

Interestingly, opossums often faint or enter a catatonic state when scared. This is not them “playing dead” as is commonly believed, but an involuntary response.

This tactic has served them well evolutionarily, helping them avoid conflicts with other wildlife.

Opossums also provide a valuable service to humans.

How? by eating thousands of ticks that carry Lyme disease.

What about skunks? Are they aggressive?

Skunks are more defensive than aggressive. They pose no physical threat unless they’re rabid, but they can certainly assault your sense of smell.

Skunks have a unique defense mechanism: a spray that they only use as a last resort.

This spray doesn’t just stink; it can cause temporary blindness and be projected up to 10 feet.

We can only hope that these two creatures resolve their differences and become friends again.

Until then, we have this amusing video to enjoy. So, why not check out the video for yourself and share a laugh with your friends and family?

See how this possum handles unwelcome visitors at his favorite watering hole below!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Article Sources:

YouTube – Trailcampro

IFLScience

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By Jessica Adler

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Jessica Adler is a contributor at SBLY Media.