not-so-wildlife

[erilyn]

We've got several resident possums here at the moment. Not sure if the two (mum and offspring) who were in the chinese tallow tree out the front this evening are also nesting in the gutter out the back (you can see the top of a slumbering grey body during the day). Though you can only see the mother in these, the juvenile had scooted further up the tree.




Mama Possum wasn't bothered by the flash or anything.


This is probably gonna end badly, with possums nesting inside the roof or something, but in the meantime, they're cute :)

Comments

[ravensilverwing.livejournal.com]

Brush-tails are pretty and adventurous but I'm with you...I've got one that runs around in the roof...Inside the building and as I'm on top...alas...I love them...they're cute but at 4am when you're trying to watch random fandom crap and the cat's freaking out...not so cute...

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

I didn't think I had any possums around here - I don't have any large native trees near the house. I did, however, see a flattened ringtail in my street yesterday, so there must be a few :-(

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Pretty, adventurous and NOISY ON (AND IN) ROOFS, oh yes.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

There's always some around here, with the bush right next door, but this pair have been particularly bold and noticeable (and thus scoring themselves treats from my mother *g*). Poor little ringtail.

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

We've got afew that come for the bread left over from the lorikeets. And we often hear thumps and fights at awful hours.

Last night dad was coming over to get me at work, he was driving through Turramurra and there was a trailer by the side of the road saying "Possum Man". He turned into the side street just after it and there was a ringtail possum in the middle of the road. He got out and thumped his feet behind it to move it. It got up on the gutter and dad said it turned around and looked at him and starting standing up...dad backed away ;)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

That's something we've been spared lately - possum fights are so annoying. So loud!

Ok, now if it was a big brushtalk he might have an excuse, but a ringtail? Heeeeee :)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

They really are cute, but yeah, I wouldn't want them in my roof.

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

Brushtails are vicious. I think they can take on cats and dogs and win.

Heh! That's what I said, but he said it had this look...and I said maybe it thought he was a tree ;)

[hammerhead22.livejournal.com]

Your possums are so much cuter than the North American variety!

[not-nele.livejournal.com]

Oh furry creatures! I love furry things! Its amazing I havent just up and bought a dog or kitten yet. I'm staying strong.

And my mum started feeding a stray kitty. And then it left and broke my heart.

[plastiqueallure.livejournal.com]

They're gonna be ringing your doorbell next week, suitcases in hand. EEP! *runs away*

[turlough]

Cutesoftfurryanimals, squeeeee! How big are they? Cat size, or?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bettina_/]

Awww, cute!

For some reason I also expected to see a mammoth ;-).

[glendaglamazon.livejournal.com]

I was going to ask you if they were like the New Zealand possums (which aren't native to New Zealand, but were introduced and are now considered pests to be exterminated; I have some possum-fur gloves my aunt sent me) or North American opossums, but looking at the photos, I see they're neither. Yours are cute and look more like lemurs or bush babies. North American opossums are hideous, like HUGE white rats.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I think the NZ ones are originally Australian, different varities though? I have a possum fur scarf *g*.

googles opossums

Oh yeah, ours are cuter ;)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, about the size of a cat (not a large one though).

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

And this isn't even the cutest variety of possum! Though they aren't as common in my backyard *g*.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

They can be so freaking noisy, galumphing around on roofs, and when they disagree, the hissing and growling can be very disturbing *g*.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Nah, Mama Possum is about the size of a cat :)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

...now that's a mental image!

But probably far too true *g*.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I'd love a cat, but then I remember how much work they are, and they restrict flexibility with travelling, so I'm resisting. Plus, I'd have to wait til I move out, mum and dad don't want another cat.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh yeah. That's all the reasons I don't have one. PLus, you know, it'll be fun and then I'd get over it. But they are certainly fun when they are someone elses.

[ninjetti75.livejournal.com]

TOTALLY cuter than the North American variety. Ours literally look like giant rats. Like, back in the late 80s there was a campy kids-friends-with-the-monsters Halloween/"horror" type film called "Monster Squad"... ..the opening flashback to Transylvania in a dungeon... ..had a "rat" non-chalantly crossing the floor... ..it was a possum. Bored out of its skull, heh.

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

The kiwi ones are Australian in origin... they are slowly being eradicated here as they've decimated the native bird population and have the horrible habit of passing on TB to various other animals. My parents and their neighbours spent a year with traps up their garden and got about six I think, which the local council removed humanely for them.

So now we have possum scarves and gloves - possum/merino wool mix *happy sigh* I also have a fabulously ugly hat with ear flaps that has possum fur on the inside and it is my absolutely favourite winter wear. There's even a shop in Napier called "PossumWorld"!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bettina_/]

Heh, I know :-). Just a little Ice Age 2 reference ;-).

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Ah, haven't seen it :)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I wish we could eradicate and farm some of our many introduced pests too.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Heee, I have a friend who is very into rats, so I've heard other stories of non-rats playing the role of the "creepy rat" in movies.