Not a possum - possums are not cute; they look like really big rats and don't have prehensile tails. A lemur, maybe? Much cuter than a possum would be.
I have only encountered 'possums on my patio after they had been dispatched by my protective dog. I did not realize there was a cute possum minus the "o" on the other side of the world.
I had some trouble with a couple of Rattus norvegicus specimens that had burrowed their way around my house a few years ago. I set out a live-capture trap and, the next morning, found the BIGGEST RAT OF ALL in it: A Virginia possum. (So-called biggest rat because of their rat-like tail.) They have a very gamey, very woodsy smell to them. I knew about their teeth and their occasional bad attitude, so I carefully opened the trap, but the danged thing wouldn't leave! I had to close the trap again, take him or her around back, open the trap again and chase it out with the water hose. It climbed a nearby tree and glowered down at me for the longest time.
BTW, I eventually did catch the rats and, because the wife didn't want me to kill them, took them to a wooded area in the next county to let them go. I occasionally visit them and their offspring. We have some nice picnics together. (Okay, just kidding about the visiting!)
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Unfortunately that was a copy and it got removed. Here's the original http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_cvGg0p5IU
Cheers D!
Not a possum - possums are not cute; they look like really big rats and don't have prehensile tails. A lemur, maybe? Much cuter than a possum would be.
I was going to say--is that really a possum? Possums have naked, rat-like tails. At least, those in Virginia do.
???
Lurker111
It's a Common Ringtail Possum.
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/indeX.aspX?base=4877
;) It's not an Opossum, from the south, it's a possum- they live in Australia
Kay & Lurker111, the ones in the U.S. are commonly called 'possums' but their real names are opossums and they too have prehensile tails.
Will L
Thanks for the info. So it's one of those rare Australian critters that's -not- out to kill you. ;)
Lurker111
American 'possums also have something like 55 very sharp teeth. Pretty scary!
I have only encountered 'possums on my patio after they had been dispatched by my protective dog. I did not realize there was a cute possum minus the "o" on the other side of the world.
@Kay:
I had some trouble with a couple of Rattus norvegicus specimens that had burrowed their way around my house a few years ago. I set out a live-capture trap and, the next morning, found the BIGGEST RAT OF ALL in it: A Virginia possum. (So-called biggest rat because of their rat-like tail.) They have a very gamey, very woodsy smell to them. I knew about their teeth and their occasional bad attitude, so I carefully opened the trap, but the danged thing wouldn't leave! I had to close the trap again, take him or her around back, open the trap again and chase it out with the water hose. It climbed a nearby tree and glowered down at me for the longest time.
BTW, I eventually did catch the rats and, because the wife didn't want me to kill them, took them to a wooded area in the next county to let them go. I occasionally visit them and their offspring. We have some nice picnics together. (Okay, just kidding about the visiting!)
Lurker111
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