Thursday, May 08, 2008

O'Possum Sunday


















This is NOT a wildlife blog.

And this isn't from this past Sunday, but April 20. I found this creature cowering and sniffing the air just inside the threshold of my apartment that afternoon. It startled me, and then I was worried that it would take off in a flash and set up residence in my box spring or something, only to terrorize me or give me rabies in the middle of the night. Then I realized that the creatures don't move so fast (as anyone knows who has closely avoided -- or actually succeeded in -- turning the slowly waddling animals into roadkill).

However, I noticed that the big white-and-orange cat from down the block was hovering outside, and I didn't want to shoo the 'possum into those drooling feline jaws, so I gently nudged it out the door and then chased the cat away. The 'possum hid behind a potted plant, then started foraging in some flower beds for awhile. I'm not sure how it ended up faring, because it sort of just disappeared when I went back to check on it after awhile. I was a little worried because it appeared to be a "juvenile," and I've read that opossums generally take cover during daylight hours, so I didn't want it getting attacked or picked off by some hungry crow. Ah well, the circle of life and all that... Be strong, Simba.

In any case, I know they're kind of reviled as beady-eyed ground-crawlers, but O-possums are cute! After all, it's one of G-d's lovely creatures like all the rest of us, right?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

A: To prove to the possum it can be done.

Stash said...

Your blog could be a stand-in for all those Nature shows on PBS.

*ducks*

Papagayo said...

maybe it's just the fact that *everything* and *everyone* on the west coast is better looking than the east, but that is the cutest possum I've ever seen. Usually they're hairless and sick-looking when I catch them going under the deck or on the side of the road.

Ladrón de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) said...

When did you move to Kentucky? I've had a problem with these critters and raccoons. The latter are particularly vicious and destructive to gardens. When I called animal control they told me to call a trapper. Funny, there was no listing for Grizzly Adams by the Bay on Craigslist

Anonymous said...

I'll never forget the horror when a huge one was trapped in Heather and Lisa's garbage can at that one dump on lower Chapala. Noisy! Ugly! Gross!

Anonymous said...

Possum are mean animals and they will take your hand off given half a chance. You're like that family of Amurricans who went to Yellowstone, saw some "tame" bears, handed their baby to the bear to get a cute photo, and then freaked in horror when the bear started gnawing away at their wailing larval unit. I worry for your safety, animal lover.

Anonymous said...

So says the Angry Young Sparrow Lover. You know what carries disease, Chris? Sparrows, that's what. They all need to be incinerated, especially the ones too stupid to know not to fly into the Financial District.

Joe said...

EGGS-ZACKLY. What Huntington said!

And Ladron, I understand raccoons can be destructive, but what kind of a "problem" have you had with possums? I actually read an article last year that alerted me to the fact that they're the gardner's friend because they eat snails and other undesirables. Also, interesting that their low body temperature allows them to eat rotting fruits and other nasty things without getting all sort of nasty infections and sicknesses. Divine design, I'm telling you!

Ladrón de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) said...

Okay, now I know what to do with all that rotten fruit. I just freak out about them giving rabies to the cat. One evening at dusk, I was walking to the fire escape to pick up the cat to bring him in, and just as I was about to scoop down for him in the dim light, I realized I was about to pick up a...possum. In the meantime, don't take offense if I call you Jethro Kusala.

Joe said...

Haha, so what you're really worried about is them giving rabies to YOU (well, and the kitty too). Point taken. They do have a nasty set of teeth (more teeth than ANY mammal, doncha know?). Your worry is justified now. I've said it's ok for you to dislike them.