Ohmystinkinheck

I ask you, how cute can something that has black wilted lettuce ears be?

Answer: NOT SO CUTE.

Sure, this not-so-little possum looks like he might have some cuteness factor to offer if you look at this photo.

But a bit of perspective will tell you otherwise.

As in, the perspective gained from grabbing the FULL PHOTO.

Uh huh, wanting to take him home and cuddle up now? I didn’t think so. It is true that like most animals in their early months they are adorable; you find yourself giving them sweet names like Stef’s Polly. You wonder how you could ever, ever, EVER force them out of your yard.

But then, in a matter of days, you know EXACTLY WHY you want them out of your yard.

You don’t?
Here…let me help you understand.

Now, before you think I’m some kind of mean landowner, displacing animals, cutting down trees and pouring cement everywhere, please understand. I HAVE CHICKENS. Possums kill chickens. We do not want possums killing our chickens, therefore, we cannot co-exist with the possums.

Get it?
Got it?
Good.

Rest assured this was a catch and release program - although Mr. OMSH only “released” because I asked him too; the possum he found in the garage foraging dog food was not so lucky.

Believe it or not, I wasn’t trying to catch this guy - at least not THIS TIME. This time I was trying to lure a stray cat that is eating up all our other cats’ food, as well as being a meanie to Meredith’s kitten, Rachel.

No meanies allowed in OMSHVILLE!

The night I set the trap I caught Rachel first. Poor thing was terrified and had to come in and do some lap time to calm down. She’s a fast learner though - hasn’t been lured back.

Next thing I caught - oh wait, not really “caught”, but rather “attracted”, was a dog. The dog pulled the trap halfway across the yard to the street. Not sure if he had plans to catch a cat too, but that was irritating.

And then, after a night’s rest we woke up to the possum.

Not bad.

At least it wasn’t a bad catch on my end.

This one, who I have named “Lucky” for obvious reasons, might not have agreed.

Sorry Lucky.

This here is my stake…you’ll be needin’ to find yourself another’n.

I’m the law of this land.

You might have fought the law, but in this case, the law won.

29 Responses to “I spell it ‘possum’, you spell it, ‘opossum’.”

1. Mandy

   That is the biggest rat I have ever seen in my life. Yes I actually read and yes I know that is actually a possum but it looks way too much like a rat for me to want to be even that close to it. Glad you got rid of it!

2. Shannon

   He is in no way cute and make sure you release him into a drum of water. That was mean Shannon, I know, I am my Grandfather’s child.
   I am glad you made a catch though. We got moles. And no I don’t want to trade although he would rid me of the chickens next door. hmmmmm
   No Shannon, bad bad bad!

3. daisycake

   Ok, I know they aren’t cute, and they look horrible (and apparently eat chickens, which can be a problem in OMSHville!) BUT did you know:

   *Possums date back to the days of the dinosaur?

   *they are N. America’s only marsupial?

   *unlike rats, (and much like cats) they are fastidious and groom themselves?

   *Opossums are extremely resistant to disease. They very rarely, if ever, carry rabies.

   *Opossums are sometimes referred to as the sanitation engineers of the forest. They help to keep the environment clean by consuming carion and all kinds of bugs, including ROACHES (shout out to East Texas!). They help gardeners by consuming snails, slugs, and other destructive creatures. They also catch and eat rats.

   And before you deem me some possum lovin’ freak, I know all this because we had a big possum and a smaller possum in our back yard the other day, so I asked Google about them. Turns out they are interesting and kinda helpful little animals!

4. Claire in CA

   I.hate.possums. That is all.

5. Angella

   I’m shivering in fear over here. *shudder*

6. Val

   That thing is not cute at all…and I am sure the chickens are patting you on the back for catching it too.

   Glad to hear he will be released…just make sure he’s no where near my house! ha

7. MMM

   AAACCCKKKK!

8. Mrs. Wilson

   That is so creepy.

9. The True Vine

   I feel exactly the same about ‘possums, *especially* when they are eating my chickens (who are there to provide lovely eggs for me). I also dislike it when they eat the lovely eggs.

10. paul1701

    Is that little guy having difficulty breathing, of is he as mad as hell? Wouldn’t want to put MY fingers through the mesh!

11. mary

    Oh yuck. It looks mean.

12. Kristin

    I’m even keeping my fingers away from the computer screen! Eekk. Good catch.

13. Aardvark

    We have many many possums in Alabama and they are mean. The ones around here seem to hold no fear of humans…which makes them even scarier.

14. Mr. OMSH

    …and I loved carrying that thing in the trunk of my formerly clean car.

    DaisyCake…I say this with love: you’re strange. Sorry. I had to say it.

15. DeeBee

    I think possums are the ugliest, scariest, creepiest things. I’m just saying.

16. Haley

    Only thing meaner than a possum might be an angry coon. Maybe.

    Too many memories from growing up in the country in Louisiana. Possums die!

17. karen

    I’m terribly curious about what a(n) (o)possum sounds like! Yours seems to be doing the heck of a lot of yelling…I’ve always thought of (o)possums as a rather silent thug.

18. Jersey Girl

    Scary! Not cute at all!

19. naomi

    any way you spell the name, they’re one of the major reasons i like living in the great white north. there aren’t many animals less attractive than an opossum (and i’m including vultures in that)

20. Shamelessly Sassy

    For a long stint of time, we had a family of possums living in harmony with stray cats in our backyard. I would feed the cats, and they would share with the possums. I hate possums. Hate them. PS. Two of the possums were albino, which trust me, is even creepier than a regular one.

21. Elda

    Here’s a new spelling for ya: TACUACHE. It’s Spanish for possum (at least in the Northern part of Tamaulipas). Anyway, a tacuache is the reason my poor dog stopped giving birth to her puppies only to have two get stuck in the birth canal. The stinking possum wanted to EAT the brand new puppies! So she went and chased it, caught it and proceeded to mangle it, and after we all thought it was good and dead - the stinker got up and scurried away.

    Another interesting tidbit is that you can eat them! LOL. Mom had an uncle who used to hunt them and then would cook them for her when she was pregnant with my older brother. How’s that for a pregnant craving? According to her, they’re pretty tasty. Maybe the next one you catch can be dinner. ;)

22. karen

    Elda speaks the truth - my copy of The Joy of cooking actually has instructions for preparing possum! And squirrel, which is much handier here in the northeast.

23. OMSH

    Okay, I’ve cooked squirrel, but the idea of cooking possum wigs me out a bit!

24. Dana

    Gross, gross, gross.

    Amen.

25. Shannon

    Let’s not cook the squirrel! Squirrels are good! Long live the squirrels!

26. the planet of janet

    *shudder* that is truly the nastiest thing i’ve seen in awhile.

27. KYouell

    This talk of cooking chickens and squirrels makes me want to eat at McDonald’s. Not many things do that. But ewwwwww!

28. Mim

    I think their babies are so cute but when I learned they had like 70 razor sharp teeth, I was forever turned off of the cutenes factor. Terrible little cusses…aren’t they?

29. Tiggah

    yes they are horrible RATS. i was awaken bout 30 minutes ago to one botherin my chickens…right infront of me it ran under the deck & attacked my chicken(cinnimon). by the time i ran in,got the broom….it was all over :(. I hate these animals!