Many of our readers worried that David’s life would end up just too normal after his move to California. Well, we’re happy to tell you that’s not the case. Our fearless Jeep-loving leader may not have a backyard mud pit anymore, but he does now run a Jeep-themed zoo. First, David’s ‘Holy Grail’ Jeep Grand Cherokee overlander project collected cats, now there’s an opossum in it. There’s a whole ecosystem growing in that Jeep!
It might be time to call up David Attenborough because we have a new round of nature documentaries for him to film. Maybe we’ll title this one The Jeep Planet and explore how creatures persist or even thrive in the shadow of Larry Shinoda’s design. Reader amberturnsignalsarebetter takes the COTD crown today:
In your best David Attenborough voice:
“Here, in the suburban wilderness of Southern California, an ecosystem unlike no other persists.
Barren asphalt with diurnal temperature ranges in excess of 70 degrees would be intolerable for most domestic cats, but in this corner of the galpin desert a feline subspecies native to these parts, formally known as Felis cherokius, thrives on a diet of rotting cardboard, discarded In-n-Out burgers, and the occasional bowl of water from well-meaning humans.
Their symbiotic relationship with an introduced population of Opossum has, until now, never been documented in the wild. Little is known of the vehicular preferences of the Didelphis virginiana, as within their home range few vehicles last long enough for these pioneering mammals to colonize. However, new research suggests that a shared love of manual window cranks, unusual spare tire hangers, and surprisingly limited corrosion brought both opossums and cats together. It has been suggested that this collaboration may result in a functioning vehicle far sooner than would otherwise be the case if things were left to David Tracy, but the evidence is so far inconclusive.
What we do know is that over time this special environment will inevitably degrade, the mounting weight of feces, spare parts, and ‘unique’ accessories adding to the strain on an already tired habitat. But for now, at least until it actually becomes a Holy Grail overloading rig, this iconic sliver of nature can survive.”
Runner up is Mark Tucker from the same article with:
Jaws, huh?
You’re gonna need a bigger Jeep.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Just the vehicle for a road trip to Lester’s Possum Park!
I don’t know if that’s a typo for “overlanding”, but it’s a mighty appropriate synonym.
The animal, designed by AI, the opossum is a strange transient beast.
Overlanding is what they do, their offspring can cause overloading.
https://www.portercountyparks.org/blog/springtime-babies-opossumns
It might just be stopping by or hoping for a ride, unaware of the potential duration of a DT project.
An opossum now? At least the cats won’t have ticks.
Thanks for being the inspiration for my cool new sushi tail lights shirt amberturnsignalsarebetter.
And a special thanks to the Autopian crew for making it happen.
I’m stoked to wear it.
I an more excited about that t-shirt than any adult human has any right to be.
Time to go watch Mythbusters episode 235: scuba tank vs shark (reprise)