Opossums

[cassiesmom]

We have so many opossums hanging around this summer. They give me the willies because of their hand-shaped paws and their tails. I know they don't transmit diseases, but they seem always to be hanging around. What is an opossum, anyway? I think there are also many more raccoons this year, but maybe that's just me.

[Ginger's Mom]

I am fairly certain they are marsupials. What really scares me about opposums are their mouths. They have very strong jaws and can open their mouths really wide (like at almost a 90 degree angle). I remember my first dog had a real interest in wild life and wanted to make friends with all of the skunks and possum in our neighborhood. Not what I considered to be a good idea.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I love opossums. I used to hand feed them at my old house. They usually are more scared of you than you are of them. I just wish I had some at the new house.

They might not be the prettiest things to look at, but I just think they are sweet.

"MY" opossums, would come to my house everynight and wait for me to bring them Peanut butter sandwiches. They would take them from me, and I could even pet them.

If I was you, I would either ignore them and make sure your garbage is contained or, do like I did and feed them. But they do keep coming back if you feed them.

Your opossum looks skinny to me. Poor little fella.

GOOD LUCK!

[lizbud]

We have a lot of them around my neighborhood. They only come out in
the evenings or after dark. They seem to be coming from a area south of
this block. They are really passive little buggers & never attack anything.

Someone told me they are attracted by dog/cat food left outside. They
are not pretty at all & Maggie & Smokey go nuts when they find one out
in the back yard on their nightly outtie. ( It quickly climbs the fence or
nearest tree)

[kt_luvs_kitties]

Yes, that is how we made friends. I was feeding the ferals, and looked out one day, and the opossum was sharing the food dish with the kitties, and the kitties did not mind.

After that, the opossum must have told his buddies, because I had 4-5 opossums that came every night. Then they had babies and we had them too. They would lay on the porch with the kitties. It was very special. If I could have packed them up and brought them with me, I would have. But they dont know this area, and with all of the strays dogs, and a couple of foxes, I was too scared to do it. I hope they are well

[Freedom]

Kate I am a amazed! The opossums around here EAT the kittens, up to about 6 weeks old. They are never permitted near our feral colonies! We shoo them and make them feel much more comfortable AWAY from the cats, kittens and colony turf.

[Twisterdog]

We don't have possums here. I had never seen one until I went to college in the midwest. The first time I saw them, I stopped to let a mother cross the highway, with all her babies following her, single file. It was adorable.

However, I have to say, the pictures Willow Oak posted ARE scary.

[critters]

I like 'possums too! Some years ago I lifted the top of the trashcan to find a cute little "baby Meezer" sleeping on the very stinky trash bags (it was 90-100 degree summertime). It hissed cutely but never really woke up. As I stood there looking at it, trying to figure out what was weird about it, I realized it was a baby 'possum!! To this day, I don't know how it got into the closed trashcan.