I woke up this morning to find a possum on My stairs…
(I gave him some apple and lettuce.)
Poor little guy was so scared. Probably wondering what the hell he got himself into, sneaking into a house inhabited by two cats.
I’m not sure when he got in, but it must have been through My back patio door, which I sometimes leave open for My cats to go out in the backyard and get some fresh air and sun.
I decided to try to get him out by trapping him in a big, plastic bin that had some more apple at the back, but he was too scared, so I went to get a broom to nudge him into it.
When I went to get the broom, I noticed this:
I guess you have to have balls this big to mosey on into someone’s house! They’re bigger than some of the ones on you guys! LOL!
Once I had him in the bin, I escorted him outside.
Some facts about possums:
- They are North America’s only marsupial.
- Along with primates and humans, they’re the only mammals with opposable thumbs.
- Contrary to their reputation, they’re not mean. If they’re scared, they’ll show you their teeth, but they won’t lunge and attack you. (This misunderstanding may come from people thinking they’re ugly and that ugly = mean. I think they’re cute.)
- They are mostly immune to rabies. A wild dog is much more likely to have rabies.
- They are mostly or totally immune to some snake venoms, such as rattlesnakes.
- They are helpful at keeping pest populations under control, such as: mice, rats, ticks, cockroaches, and more.
- In addition to the above, they eat a variety of things, like carrion, snails, slugs, birds, eggs, fruits, plants, and grains. They’re like the sanitation crew of the wild.
So, if you see a possum, don’t be afraid — and certainly don’t be mean to or hurt it. Just leave it alone or give it a bit of food.