Opossums

[Freedom]

Oh yes, Kate, I would love to see those photos as well! Hope you can get to that 'chore' for us!

[Willow Oak]

One morning as I was prepring to leave for work, I stopped to say bye to my outside kitties. I usually will pick them up and give them a hug and check on their food and water. One kitty that I picked up felt kinda funny to me. I couldn't see that well because it was very early and still very dark. I put the kitty down and took a closer look. I went inside to get my camera, and here is what I was holding and hugging:



Cool, huh?

[Freedom]

here is what I was holding and hugging

I bet SHE (he?) was as startled as you were! (What the heck? All I want to do is EAT!)

Oh my, lucky you didn't get a bite or scratch, as I don't believe that was anymore used to a hug from a human than a true feral! (If you were routinely hugging your outside cats, they had been socialized somewhat.)

So was it the long snout that gave it away?

[DJFyrewolf36]

Willow, be glad that most Opossums are concidered friendly! The one roaming around here is a very nice critter. The elderly ladies of the neighborhood feed the oudoor cats and there are a ton of snails about so he has quite a few reasons to hang around! Hubby was outside the other night and managed to coax the little guy into eating a snail right next to his feet!
It was kind of gross seeing him devour a snail but at the same time it was neat to know that our opossum friend is trusting of us. I hope though no one thinks of him as a pest and traps him, or worse, shoots him

[Edwina's Secretary]

When we lived in Chicago a possum got stuck in our window well once. It was sound asleep. While we figured out how to get it out of the window well (it was too deep for it to climb out) I went to the basement and turned on the light. That awoke the possum who then lunged at the window. I was very grateful for the glass as it was rather terrifying looking when startled!

We put a board down in the window well and Possum was able to climb out.

[Catlady711]

While I happen to like Opossums, think they are cute, and frequently name the ones in my backyard, I'd still never get close to one or try to touch it.

http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0408/514790.html

Seems to me messing with wild animals, rabies being rare or not, is like playing russian roulette.

[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.