Friday, March 1, 2013

Who's That Out There?


Bang! Bang! Bang! 
A few nights ago, I heard a big racket on the back porch and, thinking that it was surely a bear, grabbed my camera and turned on the outdoor light.

Only a possum, investigating the interior of the smoker.  He was singularly untroubled by the light and the flash of the camera. 

The first two pictures are through the glass of the window but when he'd finally had enough of the paparazzi and and began to trundle off, I opened the door and captured a reproachful parting glance. 

I suspect a lot of you are turned off by his naked tail but you gotta love those cute pink feet.
 
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13 comments:

Sandra Parshall said...

I love possums! They come to our patio to eat with the raccoons and red foxes. The baby coons seem fascinated by them, but the possums just go on calmly munching dry dog food while the little coons surround,them to sniff and examine. They're great fun to watch.

Novice Naturalist said...

I'm frequently disturbed by raccoons and 'possums--and often enough by bears. I bring in the bird feeders most nights--to save the drama of a bear encounter with my dog. I love living amidst all the wildlife and seek to do so safely, for all of us. I live within my town limits, in a fairly isolated spot by a creek. The critters are a gift.

Miss_Yves said...

"thinking that it was surely a bear, grabbed my camera and turned on the outdoor light."How courageous you are!
Never seen a possum (un oppossum in French) in front of a private house!Only in a zoo!

Kath said...

Love 'possums! Despite their ferocious teeth, they are amazingly gentle. The young make a sneezing noise to call to their mom And better than raccoons, they do not carry rabies.

Brian Miller said...

ha. we get them...occassionally one makes its way onto the porch or deck...my son actually had a stuffed animal oppossum he slept with as a young child...

Suz said...

Oh he's so cute....and harmless if you just let him be....he looks like a young one...and wet..poor thing...he must have been cold and hungry....glad you are a critter lover like me
...as long as they are outside

Deanna said...

He's a cutie pie.

Lots of foxes,bob cats, 'possums, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and of course deer here. No bears.

Frances said...

Thanks for those close up possum portraits, Vicki! Was this the first time a possum came right up to your house?

I guess the little guy will also be glad to see the end of winter.

xo

Tammy said...

Love the pictures. Most all critters are welcome here, as long as they leave my chickens alone! I keep the chickens up at night so usually no drama there. One time I did have a big boar 'possum come up during the day and take hens off the nest box. Had to put a stop to that, but usually we all live in harmony. I've 'fed out' lots of young 'possums on cat food. Ha....
Tammy

NCmountainwoman said...

Love those little pink feet, but have you ever seen those teeth? Oh, I know they rarely bite, but those threatening teeth would definitely scare me away.

Victoria said...

Such a cutie! The tail doesn't bother me at all, and I just love his little pink toes and nose. Possums are one creature we don't have up here. They are frequent visitors at my sister's home down in Redlands, though.

Stella Jones said...

Oh I think he's lovely. I've heard that they have nasty sharp teeth but they look so cute.

Glenda Beall said...

Since I have almost always lived in the country, I've had possom visits at night. Recently one was on my upper deck poking around my flower pots. My cat just watched him with no concern.
When we lived in south Georgia we had a regular night visit from Oscar P. Opossum, as my husband named him. We had glass walls in our living room and could watch him waddling around on the patio. They are cute and I've never minded having them visit at night. Love your photos, Vicki.