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Sunday, October 07, 2007

More About My Midnight Visitor


Perhaps I should have further identified the critter who visited us last week as an opossum, North America’s only marsupial. It should not be confused with its distant relative, the Australian possum, which was probably so named because of their family resemblance.

In reflecting on my encounter, I should not have been so surprised that my visitor made no move to run from me and the flash of my camera. Until a commenter reminded me, I had forgotten that the opossum’s reaction to threats is to feign death.

I also need not have been surprised to locate Alex on the front porch rather than on the back deck where I expected him to be. I rather suspect that Alex is neither stupid nor exceedingly pugnacious. So I do not think that he was willing to risk one of his nine lives in a territorial dispute with that opossum. Should you want to ask Alex about his motivation, may I suggest you contact him on his blog.

12 comments:

  1. The possums around here are extraordinarily laid back little creatures. I don't think Alex is in any danger.

    When we had a frequent possum visitor, the cats didn't play with him, but they didn't run, either.

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  2. I forgot about ‘playing possum’ meaning to pretend to be asleep or dead.

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  3. Playing "possum" in the middle of a highway as they do around here can be hazardous to their health. A cat may have 9 lives; not the opossum.

    He is cute though Alex says he smells bad.

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  4. I love it when I'm involved in sitting meditation on my back porch in my forested but relatively suburban community by the sea, and a deer quietly steps by, or a raccoon or possum ambles by, or a cardinal swoops in . . .

    Magical moments . . .

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  5. I have not seen any opossums since I have been out here. I wonder if there are any?

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  6. Ewwww....possums wig me out. Probably because they have too many teeth.

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  7. I think they are both cute critters.

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  8. yes, indeed, who is the cutest? perhaps i should ask alex that one ...

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  9. Ugh, I hit one of those with my car once...I cried afterwards.

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  10. Alex is a sharp kitty.

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  11. Ah, opossum. I learn such a lot from blogging.

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