are ugly, rat-like creatures and you can't change my mind.

It's been so nice out that I turned off the heat and opened the windows. My bedroom window is level with the porch roof and my cats like to sit in them, as all cats do. Last night, one of the cats was making a lot of noise in the window so I got up to shoo her away. What greeted me on the other side of the screen was a growling opossum! I swear the thing was challenging me. Nothing I did scared it away.

Needless to say, I slept with the window closed last night.

By Sandysmom on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 11:14 am:

OOMMGG!! I would have been horrified! I hate opossums even though they are one of God's creatures too. (and snakes and spiders)

By Colette on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 11:44 am:

ICK!!!!! I hate rodents!

and snakes
and bats.

By Mommmie on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 12:06 pm:

We have them in out backyard too and I live in a huge city. They aren't afraid of people or cats. My cats like to follow them around the yard. They are looking for cat food, I think. They come right up to the door. Yuk.

By Shellyg on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 12:30 pm:

Opossums are not rodents, they are marsupials (sp?) closest relative is the kangaroo. They do not dig, and will not bite unless they are cornered. She might have had babies in her pouch and that is why she was not backing down. I happen to think that they are very cute!

By Colette on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 12:48 pm:

you're right, they are not rodents. But they have nasty little pointy teeth.

we don't have many of them around here, probably because we do have a lot of coyotes and fisher cats.

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 01:13 pm:

I think they're cute, but they haven't been a nuisance to us. I used to think chipmunks were cute as well, until they invaded our garage and one died in the venting system of my former van. Argh!

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 05:13 pm:

They will bite if they are cornered - nasty bites. - and it is the possum that decides whether or not it is cornered, not you. It may also come around to steal edible trash, but I assume you are careful about your trash/garbage. I did a quick Google, and they very rarely carry rabies, seeming to be more resistant than most animals. Still, if you haven't had your cats vaccinated for rabies, it would be wise to do so, even if you don't intend for them to ever be outside. (In Pennsylvania, all cats which spend at least part of their time in a dwelling are required to be vaccinated for rabies. Not the ones that are never in houses - I guess because it would be difficult to catch them to get them vaccinated. We always had ours vaccinated along with their other regular shots.)

By Nicki on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 05:47 pm:

I guess I'm with Shelly, I like them, but I also haven't had any bad experiences. We have an older one who lives somewhere in our yard. I see him often, checking our porch at night for any cat food. We were leaving some out for awhile for a stray cat. The big guy feels like family, lol. We enjoy seeing him, but keep a respectful distance!

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 06:05 pm:

Sunny, I'm with you, I can't stand the nasty little buggers. They get in our yard and Kali tries so hard to catch them. She actually did kill one once and left it on the patio as a gift to us. UGH!

By Bea on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 07:03 pm:

We came home once to find one on our back stoop raiding our recycle bin. It refused to be shooed and stood growling at us. What a nasty creature! I hate those rat-like tails. They live over on the shipyard property along with the huge ship rats and feral cats. It's a jungle over there.

By Tink on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 10:42 pm:

We don't get much wildlife around here but every once in a while, we'll find a possum outside at night. I hate them and, even if they aren't rodents, I think they look like giant rats with their pointy little faces, scaly tails and claws. *shiver* Yuck!

By Beth on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 07:23 am:

Well when I used to work midnights. I came home one night and looked over as I was going in the door and there was one in the bush next to the door staring right at me. I just about pea'd my pants. I was shaking and I wanted to scream but I didn't. That is the closest i ever want to get to one of those things. Have not seen one since. Thank God!