NEVER DO THIS:

[elshiva]

(I alreadly posted the photograph, but this is important health information.)

Only handle tame opossums, ones from nature centers and zoos. Never hold one by the tail, it will turn around and bite you. Pick it up like you would one of your cats, on the sides of its stomach. Never hold it upside down. Like humans, opossums do not like the feeling of blood rushing to their heads. Always hold it right side up.

DO NOT mistreat animals and pretend it is cute for stupid photo ops. All the country folks know you don't know shit about their way of life and the city folks just think you are stupid. :grr:

[PeaceNikki]

1. Me and opossums have this understanding. They don't come anywhere near me and I don't do that.

I hope to never ever EVER in my life have an opossum that close to my face. If I do, I'll be dead and the opossum will have little to fear.

[elshiva]

2. Well said. Most opossums run away from humans.

I have never heard of a opossum attacking humans. No scary stories with man-eating opossums. Some cute childten stories about them, but that is about it. Live and let live. They are the only North American marsupial, that's what makes them cool.

[cobalt1999]

5. corner one though and they can get nasty

I accidentally disturbed one that was hiding out in some lumber behind my shed. Like any wild animal, they'll bite when cornered.

[stuntcat]

3. precious :loveya:

I think they're kinda cute. They come here most nights and finish any food the squirrels have left :loveya: I'm not gonna handle one though, that's for sure, but I'd touch them if they'd let me.

[elshiva]

4. OH YES! THEY ARE CUTE!

We used to have one that came around that my mom called "Uncle Billy." I love it when I see them up in the trees. :loveya: I would like to pet a tame one again. They used to take one around at the nature center. We would have a meeting and they would just let him loose on the table to pet. :loveya:

[stuntcat]

10. "nature center" rock on :D

We have one of those but we've only been to it once, but I should try to get to it again before September's over. We went there first to talk to them about how to help bats, and since I started thinking about it now I've noticed bat houses in two people's yards.. I wouldn't have noticed them before because I didn't know what they were. Now I have two houses mounted in this backyard :headbang:


(edited for tiredness)

[Richard Steele]

6. Do what, get with arm's reach of Katharine Harris? No worries there!

Fine advice about the possums, BTW.

[XemaSab]

7. Thanks for posting a photo of a MASSIVE rat. I'll have nightmares now.

:scared:

I think possums are a little creepy too. :P

[Mutley]

8. But, but, but

don't you think it'd be FUN to pick up Katherine Harris by her tail? x(

[LynneSin]

9. BTW - Katherine Harris says you shouldn't believe the polls out there

She's still gonna win that election against Nelson

:eyes:

[TZ]

11. One used to hang around my mothers house

and once actually wandered up to the sliding glass door and peered in to the house without showing any alarm whatsoever!
A couple days later it was sitting on the front walkway when I came home from an outing with a friend and it only slowly wandered off as I got closer--I thought at first it was a cat until I saw the long rat like tail. And having seen an opossum in another circumstance hiss,growl and bare teeth at me and a friend I won't ever mess with those critters. They are mean!

[TK421]

12. I know those things have teeth like razor blades...so please tell me

that dumb lady had her hand slashed to ribbons

[liberaltrucker]

13. She looks like Catherine Harris

Nuff said.

[KG]

14. it is indeed Cruella.

[skygazer]

15. I really hate it when people do stupid shit like this

It's so unfair to the poor animal - does that opossum look happy or comfortable to you? Poor thing looks scared to death to me. :grr: