Stuffed Wombat

SUPER soft and cuddly, this guy deserves a place of honor in ANY collection!

Our Stuffed Wombat

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed wombat is soft and sturdy. He has an adorable face with light whiskers and large detailed plastic eyes. His body is mottled light brown and black. Our stuffed wombat has a kindly expression and promises to be your friend. Check out our other wombat toys and gifts.

About Wombats

Wombats are an Australian animal about 40 inches long with a short, stout body and no tail. They are found in forested, mountains, and in the heath of Southeastern Australia and Tasmania. They like to dig and live in burrows and are generally crepuscular, but can be seen on cool, overcast days as well. They are a shy, slow, herbivore and are easy prey for dingos and tasmanian devils. Like other marsupials, wombats have a pouch to raise their young which they carry for about six months.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Koala

Check out the detail on this wonderful ne miniature!

Our Plastic Koala

Our small plastic koala bear toy is just the right size replica for your Australian animal life shoebox diorama. This small, leaf-eating koala model will fit in a shoe box along with examples of other animals from Australia. Add a kangaroo, wombat, or Tasmanian devil; create a landscape with rocks, plants, grass, make a river or stream from anything that strikes your imagination, and there you go - a scene of the diversity of life on our planet. Our plastic toy koala is made of solid plastic and is quite durable. Be sure to take a look at our other koalas.

About Koalas

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is not a bear, but a marsupial, found only in Australia. It lives exclusively in trees and is a herbivore. It looks a little like a wombat, but is a tree dweller. It has long sharp claws adapted for climbing and weighs 11 to 30 lbs. A baby koala is referred to as a joey and is hairless, blind, and earless. At birth the joey, only a quarter of an inch long, crawls into the downward-facing pouch on the mother's bellywhich is closed by a drawstring-like muscle that the mother can tighten at will) and attaches itself to one of the two teats.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Opossum Stuffed Finger Puppet

Death. By. Cuteness.

Our Opossum Finger Puppet

Our sweet stuffed mini opossum finger puppet measures 4 1/2 inches from nose to rump. It's tail adds another 4 3/4 inches. It's "fur" is a super soft material that feels like silk. The nose and eyes are hard plastic, the ears a soft leathery fabric, the feet and tail are cloth and the whiskers are nylon strings. The tail has velco on the tip and base to form a loop when folded in half. Slide your finger through the loop and into the pocket on the underside and it will look like the 'possum has its tail securely wrapped around your finger. To find our other puppets in this line, or see our entire inventory of stuffed beanies, plush finger puppets and stuffed animals, check out our Stuffed Beanies and Plush Puppets Page and Stuffed Animals Page. Come see our other opossum toys and gifts.

About Opossums

As with other small marsupials, the gestation period of an opossum is only about 12 to 14 days. The young are born at a very immature stage and must find their way into the mother's pouch. They live and feed inside her pouch until they are weaned at about 70 to 125 days. They cling to Mom's back until they are old enough to take care of themselves. Opossums are omnivorous, eating small animals such as insects, frogs, birds, snakes, small mammals, and earthworms. They eat carrion as well as garbage, but some of their favorite food is fruit. The most famous behavior of the opossum is "playing 'possum" when threatened or hurt. This is a completely involuntary response. The lips curl, the body stiffens, and a foul-smelling liquid is released, so a human or other animal might really believe the opossum is dead and leave it alone. It can even be picked up at this time and will resemble a dead animal. After a few minutes or hours, the opossum will again become animated and run away, hopefully having eluded the danger. Baby opossums will open their mouths, show their pointed teeth, and make a hissing noise if they feel threatened. Adult opossums do not hang from trees by their tails, but babies will sometimes hang from the mother's tail for a short time. An adult opossum will use its tail as a brace or an extra limb when climbing trees. They are usually solitary, will temporarily take over abandoned burrows, and prefer protection from the dark or dark areas, becoming active between dusk and dawn, and rarely coming into view during the day. Although many people consider opossums disgusting or a nuisance, they are essentially harmless, and many people find them very cute. They are extremely interesting small mammals.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Opossum ('Possum) Mom and Baby Stuffed Animals

TWO stuffed animals for the price of ONE!!

Our Mom and Baby Stuffed Opossums

Our stuffed opossum (sometimes called 'possum) mom and baby are so realistic, you may surprise your friends or loved ones when they see this charming duo! Our opossums are approximately life-sized, which helps to give that illusion. The mother opossum is 11 inches long from nose to rump, and her bare fabric tail adds another 12 inches when you pull it out straight. The tail is made to curl, and will pop right back into position. Also looking extremely real, the baby opossum is stitched right onto her back. Real opossum babies ride on their mothers' backs at this age. The body of the baby is 5 1/2 inches right down to its stitched pink nose (not seen in this photo); its tail adds another 3 1/2 inches, and has a crinkly curl built into the end. The baby's fur is soft and fuzzy, and is shorter than Mom's fur, as it's still a very young animal. Mom's toes are stuffed fabric, while baby's toes are cut out of flat fabric. The ears of both opossums have soft fabric inside and out. As with all of Fiesta's toys, this plush toy opossum pair meets the most stringent current standards of safety for children's toys. All parts are non-toxic and surface washable. Check out our other opossum toys and gifts. To find our other stuffed toy animals from Fiesta, or see our entire inventory of stuffed animals, stuffed beanies and plush hand puppets, check out our Stuffed Animals Page.

About Opossums

 

The hang-tag on our stuffed opossum pair says, "The opossum hideouts are located in a variety of areas including stumps, haystacks, vine tangles, attics, garages, road culverts, hollow trees, rock piles, crannies, under buildings, and in the abandoned burrows of other animals. Opossums are not territorial and do not maintain separate home ranges. They are exceptionally non-aggressive and non-destructive. They will not harm people or pets. They are more immune to many diseases than the other animals and are far less likely to carry rabies. Opossums are beneficial to the environment because they eat insect pests, snails and slugs. They have a remarkable resistance to poisonous snakebite such as the rattlesnakes, cottonmouth, Russsell's viper and Asiatic cobra. Opossum do not hibernate, and they are active at night."

 

Here's some additional info: Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. They are commonly also called possums, though that term is also applied to some Australian animals. The Virginia Opossum is the original animal named opossum. The word comes from the Algonquian language. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet and reproductive characteristics make them successful colonizers and survivors in diverse locations and conditions. Originally native to the eastern United States, the Virginia Opossum was intentionally introduced into the West during the Great Depression, probably as a source of food. Its range has been expanding steadily northwards, thanks in part to more plentiful, man-made sources of fresh water, increased shelter due to urban encroachment, and milder winters. Its range has extended into Ontario, Canada, and it has been found farther north than Toronto.

As with other small marsupials, the gestation period of an opossum is only about 12 to 14 days. The young are born at a very immature stage and must find their way into the mother's pouch. They live and feed inside her pouch until they are weaned at about 70 to 125 days. They cling to Mom's back until they are old enough to take care of themselves. Opossums are omnivorous, eating small animals such as insects, frogs, birds, snakes, small mammals, and earthworms. They eat carrion as well as garbage, but some of their favorite food is fruit. The most famous behavior of the opossum is "playing 'possum" when threatened or hurt. This is a completely involuntary response. The lips curl, the body stiffens, and a foul-smelling liquid is released, so a human or other animal might really believe the opossum is dead and leave it alone. It can even be picked up at this time and will resemble a dead animal. After a few minutes or hours, the opossum will again become animated and run away, hopefully having eluded the danger. Baby opossums will open their mouths, show their pointed teeth, and make a hissing noise if they feel threatened. Adult opossums do not hang from trees by their tails, but babies will sometimes hang from the mother's tail for a short time. An adult opossum will use its tail as a brace or an extra limb when climbing trees. They are usually solitary, will temporarily take over abandoned burrows, and prefer protection from the dark or dark areas, becoming active between dusk and dawn, and rarely coming into view during the day. Although many people consider opossums disgusting or a nuisance, they are essentially harmless, and many people find them very cute. They are extremely interesting small mammals.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Tasmanian Devil

MUCH more cuddly than the real thing!

Our Tasmanian Devil

Our Tasmanian devil toy stuffed animal is amazingly realistic, but without the bite! It is beautifully designed and made of quality materials from Hansa. It is extremely soft with lots of cuddly fur. It has a 12-1/2-inch body and a 6-inch tail. White patches are realistically placed on the chest and body. Its legs are posable. Our taz is loving and promises not to bite. Also check out our other Tasmanian devil toys and gifts.

About Tasmanian Devils

Although ours is rather sweet looking, real Tasmanian devils are the world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupials. The body size varies greatly depending on the diet and habitat. Adult males may stand up to 30 centimeters (almost 9 inches) at the shoulder and are usually larger than the females. Tasmanian devils are widespread throughout their habitat and live from the seacoast to the mountains. They live in coastal heath, open dry forest, and mixed rainforest. They seek homes where they can hide and take shelter by day and find food at night. Mainly scavengers, they feed on whatever is available. Their powerful jaws and teeth allow them to completely eat their food, grinding up bones, fur, and all. The Tasmanian devil makes a variety of noises, from rough coughs and snarls to high-pitched screeches. A sharp sneeze is used as a challenge to other devils.

I was once fortunate enough to visit behind the scenes at the medical center of the San Diego Zoo. In the nursery they had a Tasmanian devil in an incubator, only a few days old. The tiny animal had pink skin and only a few very long black hairs. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. I guess you could say it was ugly, but then what baby animal isn't cute in its own weird way? I like them better with hair, but it was such a treat to get this unusual view of a baby Taz!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic Kangaroo Mom and Baby

Be truthful...just once, wouldn't you like to be carried like that?

Our Plastic Kangaroo Mom and Joey

Our plastic mother kangaroo with a baby (or "Joey") in her pouch is a wonderful addition to your Australian or marsupial (pouched) animal collection, your school project or diorama, or your kid's play room. And, your purchase helps save endangered species. This plastic kangaroo stands 3 inches tall from its toes to its ear-tips, and measures 4 1/2 inches from nose to tail. It has excellent lifelike details and is made of sturdy plastic or resin. It's great as a collectible plastic animal or as a toy. The baby is nestled firmly in mother kangaroo's pouch and doesn't come out.

About Kangaroos

The kangaroo is the national symbol of Australia and can only be found there. Male kangaroos are called bucks, boomers, jacks, or old men; females are does, flyers, or jills, and the young ones are joeys. They are often referred to as roos. The kangaroo's form of movement is hopping which they do at 13-16 mph. Kangaroos are herbivores, but the type of diet varies among the species. They are not raised commercially, but are hunted for their meat. It is thought that kangaroos would be a more environmentally friendly animal than the cow, since kangaroos don't emit menthane. Kangaroos tend to be crepuscular or nocturnal and choose to rest or sleep in the heat of the day.

 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed Wombat

Another wonder from down under!

Our Plush Wombat

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed wombat is soft and sturdy. He has an adorable face with light whiskers and large detailed plastic eyes. His body is mottled light brown and black. Our stuffed wombat has a kindly expression and promises to be your friend. Check out our other wombat toys and gifts.

About Wombats

Wombats are an Australian animal about 40 inches long with a short, stout body and no tail. They are found in forested, mountains, and in the heath of Southeastern Australia and Tasmania. They like to dig and live in burrows and are generally crepuscular, but can be seen on cool, overcast days as well. They are a shy, slow, herbivore and are easy prey for dingos and tasmanian devils. Like other marsupials, wombats have a pouch to raise their young which they carry for about six months.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Opossum Mom and Baby Plush Toys: NEW on the market!

Our Mom and Baby Stuffed Opossums

Our stuffed opossum (sometimes called 'possum) mom and baby are so realistic, you may surprise your friends or loved ones when they see this charming duo! Our opossums are approximately life-sized, which helps to give that illusion. The mother opossum is 11 inches long from nose to rump, and her bare fabric tail adds another 12 inches when you pull it out straight. The tail is made to curl, and will pop right back into position. Also looking extremely real, the baby opossum is stitched right onto her back. Real opossum babies ride on their mothers' backs at this age. The body of the baby is 5 1/2 inches right down to its stitched pink nose (not seen in this photo); its tail adds another 3 1/2 inches, and has a crinkly curl built into the end. The baby's fur is soft and fuzzy, and is shorter than Mom's fur, as it's still a very young animal. Mom's toes are stuffed fabric, while baby's toes are cut out of flat fabric. The ears of both opossums have soft fabric inside and out. As with all of Fiesta's toys, this plush toy opossum pair meets the most stringent current standards of safety for children's toys. All parts are non-toxic and surface washable. Check out our other opossum toys and gifts. To find our other stuffed toy animals from Fiesta, or see our entire inventory of stuffed animals, stuffed beanies and plush hand puppets, check out our Stuffed Animals Page.

About Opossums

Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. They are commonly also called possums, though that term is also applied to some Australian animals. The Virginia Opossum is the original animal named opossum. The word comes from the Algonquian language. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet and reproductive characteristics make them successful colonizers and survivors in diverse locations and conditions. Originally native to the eastern United States, the Virginia Opossum was intentionally introduced into the West during the Great Depression, probably as a source of food. Its range has been expanding steadily northwards, thanks in part to more plentiful, man-made sources of fresh water, increased shelter due to urban encroachment, and milder winters. Its range has extended into Ontario, Canada, and it has been found farther north than Toronto.

As with other small marsupials, the gestation period of an opossum is only about 12 to 14 days. The young are born at a very immature stage and must find their way into the mother's pouch. They live and feed inside her pouch until they are weaned at about 70 to 125 days. They cling to Mom's back until they are old enough to take care of themselves. Opossums are omnivorous, eating small animals such as insects, frogs, birds, snakes, small mammals, and earthworms. They eat carrion as well as garbage, but some of their favorite food is fruit. The most famous behavior of the opossum is "playing 'possum" when threatened or hurt. This is a completely involuntary response. The lips curl, the body stiffens, and a foul-smelling liquid is released, so a human or other animal might really believe the opossum is dead and leave it alone. It can even be picked up at this time and will resemble a dead animal. After a few minutes or hours, the opossum will again become animated and run away, hopefully having eluded the danger. Baby opossums will open their mouths, show their pointed teeth, and make a hissing noise if they feel threatened. Adult opossums do not hang from trees by their tails, but babies will sometimes hang from the mother's tail for a short time. An adult opossum will use its tail as a brace or an extra limb when climbing trees. They are usually solitary, will temporarily take over abandoned burrows, and prefer protection from the dark or dark areas, becoming active between dusk and dawn, and rarely coming into view during the day. Although many people consider opossums disgusting or a nuisance, they are essentially harmless and many people find them very cute. They are extremely interesting small mammals.

Chocolate wombats?

I heard today from an American who has just come back from Australia that Australians do Easter a little differently than we do in the U.S. Since they don't like rabbits that much (see the history of Australia and the importation of rabbits in 1859 - that's the second importation, not the first) they don't want to see chocolate bunnies at Easter. Instead, they make chocolate wombats. What you see above is NOT a chocolate wombat, but a plastic wombat from our online gift shop. It may not taste as good (and we recommend that you don't eat it anyway), but it's non-sticky, non-fattening, won't cause dental cavities, and you can keep it around for years to come. Also, plastic wombats do not breed. I'm not sure about chocolate ones.