Tonight -- an opossum in the yard. I don't know why they're called o-possums, it's the only word I can think of for which the initial letter is silent. But seriously, they are the only marsupial native to North America. And as ugly as the day is long. See what I mean? [image from http://www.iknowaguypestcontrol.com/catalog/images/opossum.jpg]According to http://www.opossum.org/facts.htm, opossums will "Hiss or growl and show their 50 sharp teeth when frightened; but, in reality, they are gentle and placid — they prefer to avoid all confrontations and wish to be left alone." I think the "50 sharp teeth" is the more noteworthy part of that statement. A couple of years ago, one tried to move into the winter hutch for the yard cats, and it was neither gentle nor placid about being dislodged from it. No "playing possum" for that particular representative of the species.
On the up side, according to the National Opossum Society (who knew?) opossums are more resistant to rabies than are other animals and they eat slugs and snails -- which is a help in the garden. And they're nocturnal, so being hideously ugly (did I mention that already? I'm so shallow) is not as onerous as it might be under other circumstances.
So -- live and let live up here in the northernmost reaches of the mainland portion the great metropolis.
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4 comments:
Hey, I think they're kinda cute, especially the baby ones. You have some pretty exciting wildlife for NYC. And here the world thought there was nothing but rats, cockroaches and purse pooches in the Upper East Side.
I stated that all wrong, because I know you live in the Bronx. Anyway, I'm not posting tonight! No! Too tired! Maybe I'll just keep adding comment after comment here, Do you mind? I like it here. Here is good.
Yes, Ellen, here is good!
And yay! for the possums! I should show you some pics of the ones that lived with us.
wv: caralur. Something to do with Bronze Age Danish lurs (horns)perhaps. A noun, I think
Interesting! i was going to post about 'possum's on my blog last night but really didn't have enough for a full post...i drove through my town's downtown (all 5 or 6 blocks of it) Monday night after stopping at the P.O. and as i came down a side street i saw a silhouetted critter crossing the street...was pretty sure it was a 'possum by the shape and scuttling walk, and as i got closer, it zipped down someone's outside basement stairs, pausing to look over its shoulder at me, giving me a good view of its long rattus-like tail. Actually i've got another good 'possum story...maybe i have a blog post's worth after all.
wv:comiedne...a slighty confused female comic?
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