Lmao this is weirdly adorable. Its an opossum. They are usually pretty skittish and avoid interaction with humans. They are notorious garbage thieves just like raccoons tho
Between the two, I’d rather have a possum. Raccoons are cute, but they’re major rabies carriers and aren’t afraid to rumble. I’ve seen one fuck up a pit bull. Possums just play dead and smell bad, lol
That sweet baby is an opossum. They’re North American’s only marsupial. They eat ticks and other disease carrying insects, have a low body temperature so practically, if not technically, immune to rabies. They have very poor eyesight and are known for playing dead or “possum” when they feel threatened, and are very shy. I had one that visited my squirrel feeder on my patio that was the sweetest thing. Came right up to me when I sat on my patio and didn’t run away. They’re fascinating animals are a benefit to the ecosystem. Also the ones I’ve been around seem to like dry cat food of all things, lol.
Without my glasses on, I mistook one of these one evening for my cat, Hoover. It came up on the back porch, right to my chair. Hoover had some dry kitty food on the concrete by my chair.
Poor thing has a little head wound. Possums are so beneficial. It was nice of you to offer it water. They are usually very thirsty little guys, especially in the summer!
this sweet opossum has an injury and could maybe use a little kindness while recovering. thank you for sharing some trash snacks with him. maybe you’d like to leave out a small offering of fruit and stale cat food?
I love you. I love that you looked at a possum, didn’t know what it was, and your instinct was care for it. Here, you look like you need some water to wash down that trash! Humans are gonna be okay, we’re all gonna be okay
They’re a blessing! They’re nature’s garbage disposal. They’ll eat anything edible on your property, including ticks, mice, rats, etc. And, they don’t get rabies.
I was walking home one night and the street lamp was out. This kitty walked across the sidewalk in front of me so I leaned down and called it. It stopped so I go to pet it. IT WAS NOT A CAT. I had never been close to a possum before. They have sooo many teeth.
You’ll do all right if you can put your trash in a can with a locking lid. Although, raccoons will tear the trash out anyways. Opossums aren’t as good with locking kids.
Opossums are so cool! They are North America's only marsupial, and also the oldest mammal, they have the most teeth of any mammal in the US, they eat tons of ticks every year, are very very unlikely to carry rabies even after being exposed to it, their "play dead" defense is actually them fainting, they can use their tails to hang from stuff (semi prehensile), and they are so cute!
This is a friend! They’re very benign visitors, and don’t tend to make messes like raccoons. When I lived with my parents, we often had possums that would share our cats food on our back porch. Like others have said, they are immune to rabies because their body temperature is too low for the virus to survive. As a kid, I used to chase them away, but they’re naturally very shy, so if you don’t want it on your porch, you typically only have to knock on the glass and let it see you through the door and it’ll skedaddle.
Seeing a possum this close without knowing about possums sounds like some real nightmare fuel. They are actually chill dudes though, nothing to be afraid of, you don’t want him getting used to eating your trash though.
They probably know what they are but might have never encountered one in real life before. I know they are super common my area but I’ve only ever seen one because of how skittish and seclusively they behave. They probably smell my dog too and stay away.
I saw one walking up the middle of the street in the neighborhood I used to live in Las Vegas late at night. It had scratch marks on its back like it had been in a fight with a cat or some other animal.
Opossum. I'm sorry OP but I have to admit that I laughed out loud at "it unhinged its jaw and hissed like a snake" 😂 these lil dudes are so weird, i love them
Thats a Virginia Oppossum.... Leave it alone, it will wander off. Not a threat to anything but ticks. They hiss, but don't normally attack when not trapped. They prefer to curl up and freeze. Hence the term "playing possum".
We have a young neighborhood possum and they eat the food our dog turns up her nose at. Our dog is very old and now picky about the fresh food that we prepare for her. When she leaves any, we’re happy that the possum will get the rest of it. (Dog is too old to hassle the possum like she would have in her youth.)
I am amazed that anyone would be confused by an opossum. Seen em every night in my yard while I was feeding my friends (about 20 wild raccoons that I hand feed) until I moved into the city. They liked cat food alot.
It's an Opossum! They eat ticks and dont carry rabies so are nice to keep around but they are very clever and will get in your shed, or garbage! A spray bottle to squirter it will deter its efforts without hurting it!
Opossums are just non-aggressive like that. They can’t run very fast so their defense tactic is literally just to stand there and hiss very loudly, and if that fails, play dead. They actually have a low body temperature that makes them resistant to catching rabies.
Lmao this is weirdly adorable. Its an opossum. They are usually pretty skittish and avoid interaction with humans. They are notorious garbage thieves just like raccoons tho
Thanks for telling me. I was scared when I saw it because I thought it was actually just a really big rat.
Between the two, I’d rather have a possum. Raccoons are cute, but they’re major rabies carriers and aren’t afraid to rumble. I’ve seen one fuck up a pit bull. Possums just play dead and smell bad, lol
They also like to steal bird food at night
And I’ve heard they love earring Ticks too!
They are the only marsupial native to North America
This is the most frightening description of an opossum I’ve ever read lmao you’re killin me with the “unhinged its jaw” part.
Same lol OP managed to find a demon possum
It has a second pharyngeal jaw that shoots out while hissing lol
I spit my tea LOL was not expecting it
I guess
That sweet baby is an opossum. They’re North American’s only marsupial. They eat ticks and other disease carrying insects, have a low body temperature so practically, if not technically, immune to rabies. They have very poor eyesight and are known for playing dead or “possum” when they feel threatened, and are very shy. I had one that visited my squirrel feeder on my patio that was the sweetest thing. Came right up to me when I sat on my patio and didn’t run away. They’re fascinating animals are a benefit to the ecosystem. Also the ones I’ve been around seem to like dry cat food of all things, lol.
Without my glasses on, I mistook one of these one evening for my cat, Hoover. It came up on the back porch, right to my chair. Hoover had some dry kitty food on the concrete by my chair.
Can I follow you around listening to your stories?
LOL, my friend told me a similar story involving her tuxedo cat, Carmichael.
Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist. ~RAURGH!~
Thanks for the laugh.
Poor thing has a little head wound. Possums are so beneficial. It was nice of you to offer it water. They are usually very thirsty little guys, especially in the summer!
y'all, I love OP and all their incredibly kind responses in this thread
this sweet opossum has an injury and could maybe use a little kindness while recovering. thank you for sharing some trash snacks with him. maybe you’d like to leave out a small offering of fruit and stale cat food?
Yeah, I could probably spare some cat food and strawberries.
They eat ticks! A good dude to have around.
Rarely have rabies, too.
I love you. I love that you looked at a possum, didn’t know what it was, and your instinct was care for it. Here, you look like you need some water to wash down that trash! Humans are gonna be okay, we’re all gonna be okay
Extremely accurate description of everyone's first encounter with an opossum
They’re a blessing! They’re nature’s garbage disposal. They’ll eat anything edible on your property, including ticks, mice, rats, etc. And, they don’t get rabies.
And even chickens or ducks if you have them.
Didn’t even need to see the picture by the description alone. Excellent work! Haha! (Also Opossum)
That is a trash cat
They're my husband's favourite animal but they're not wild here and there's almost none in zoos etc so I'll need to save to go and see some in the USA
His name is Phillip and he enjoys soft jazz
You have an opossum!!!!! I love them. I had some that lived under my deck that were so cute!
You have encountered an opossum, and garnered 7 XP for this encounter:
Opossum. They eat lots of ticks and cannot get rabies. They are cool creatures.
Awww give him a little bed to sleep on
I wish I had one living under my porch. I love the little suckers so much.
I was walking home one night and the street lamp was out. This kitty walked across the sidewalk in front of me so I leaned down and called it. It stopped so I go to pet it. IT WAS NOT A CAT. I had never been close to a possum before. They have sooo many teeth.
That right there is a friend
You’ll do all right if you can put your trash in a can with a locking lid. Although, raccoons will tear the trash out anyways. Opossums aren’t as good with locking kids.
Opossums are so cool! They are North America's only marsupial, and also the oldest mammal, they have the most teeth of any mammal in the US, they eat tons of ticks every year, are very very unlikely to carry rabies even after being exposed to it, their "play dead" defense is actually them fainting, they can use their tails to hang from stuff (semi prehensile), and they are so cute!
That's an opossum,dont fall its tricks they're deadly.
This is a friend! They’re very benign visitors, and don’t tend to make messes like raccoons. When I lived with my parents, we often had possums that would share our cats food on our back porch. Like others have said, they are immune to rabies because their body temperature is too low for the virus to survive. As a kid, I used to chase them away, but they’re naturally very shy, so if you don’t want it on your porch, you typically only have to knock on the glass and let it see you through the door and it’ll skedaddle.
North America's only marsupial. Shy and generally harmless. Beneficial because they are one of the few creatures (maybe the only?) that eat ticks.
Unhinged its jaw lol.
I don’t even need to see the pictures I already know it’s a possum
Seeing a possum this close without knowing about possums sounds like some real nightmare fuel. They are actually chill dudes though, nothing to be afraid of, you don’t want him getting used to eating your trash though.
Virginia opossum
I love opossums, they eat ticks and their body temperature is too low for them to carry rabies
Awww, a silly little trash goblin! I have a sticker with a picture of a possum screaming and the words “assigned feral at birth”.
opossums are North America's only marsupial and North Americans only prehensile tail.
How do people not know what possums are?
Right I was just about to say this they are literally everywhere
I dont understand how people dont know what a possum is.
They probably know what they are but might have never encountered one in real life before. I know they are super common my area but I’ve only ever seen one because of how skittish and seclusively they behave. They probably smell my dog too and stay away.
I saw one walking up the middle of the street in the neighborhood I used to live in Las Vegas late at night. It had scratch marks on its back like it had been in a fight with a cat or some other animal.
aww so cute rat thingy lol
I used to see them all the time around where I live. Haven’t in years.
Opossum
opossum.
I call the big one bitey
Opossum. I'm sorry OP but I have to admit that I laughed out loud at "it unhinged its jaw and hissed like a snake" 😂 these lil dudes are so weird, i love them
These are friends not foes, your description has me giggling (:
Why does nobody on this subreddit know what a possum is?
I need to know more about you and your childhood. Why were you shielded from possums?
Thats a Virginia Oppossum.... Leave it alone, it will wander off. Not a threat to anything but ticks. They hiss, but don't normally attack when not trapped. They prefer to curl up and freeze. Hence the term "playing possum".
We have a young neighborhood possum and they eat the food our dog turns up her nose at. Our dog is very old and now picky about the fresh food that we prepare for her. When she leaves any, we’re happy that the possum will get the rest of it. (Dog is too old to hassle the possum like she would have in her youth.)
We have one that loves our porch. We feed an outdoor cat and the raccoons and possums are on the porch every night enjoying the snacks.
Opossum
Opossums are very important for bug control. Don’t kill it they’re relatively harmless. Just leave them alone. Great for tick control.
That’s the great American possum. This majestic beast is what keeps the tic population under control.
That’s a… that’s a ‘possum
You made a possum friend! If you let it be, it’s a good thing to have around! They like eating ticks and snakes!
You have been visited by north americas only marsupial!!!
Sweet sweet opossum! I aspire to become the next
It’s perfect. Their avg lifespan is only 1-2 years because of us humans ):
A possum!!! One of my absolute favourite creatures
I am amazed that anyone would be confused by an opossum. Seen em every night in my yard while I was feeding my friends (about 20 wild raccoons that I hand feed) until I moved into the city. They liked cat food alot.
It's an Opossum! They eat ticks and dont carry rabies so are nice to keep around but they are very clever and will get in your shed, or garbage! A spray bottle to squirter it will deter its efforts without hurting it!
Start reading about rabies and watch some videos. Not saying they can/cant get it just a stay away from animals that are fine with you being there.
Its uncommon for possums to get rabies.
Opossums are just non-aggressive like that. They can’t run very fast so their defense tactic is literally just to stand there and hiss very loudly, and if that fails, play dead. They actually have a low body temperature that makes them resistant to catching rabies.
Doesnt look like possums I’ve seen around our house.
Do you live in North America? There are animals called that which are not the same in Australia.