pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Well, I can clearly see that I should have cropped down to nothing but an eyeball if I wanted to stump anybody as to the identity of this cute(?) little guy.

I was on the back deck filling the bird feeders yesterday when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement. It was this half-grown opossum, hurrying away -- or at least he was trying to hurry, but his funny little feet kept punching through the snow crust, so that he'd sink down two or three inches and have to scrabble back up again.

I, of course, did what any reasonable person would do: I dashed pell-mell into the house, grabbed my camera, and dashed out the front door to head off the 'possum at the pass. :-D

Poor little thing; he was scared, trying to hide amongst the dormant trumpet vines, hissing if I got too close. So, after gently shooing him into a more conducive spot for photography, I backed off and cranked up the zoom.

Here's the shot I posted last night, and The Rest of The Photos, too.

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#5 The Wink

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#9

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#10

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#11 ...tail and all... They can hang from small tree branches using those tails to support them, for small amounts of time.

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gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I strongly dislike opossums. They constantly raided my ripened grapes in my arbor.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Excellent captures Sarah.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

These are nasty little creatures.

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Well, then you'll be happy to know that one of my cats -- Teensy, the biggest of the lot (story behind name upon request) -- ate one last week. :shock: :hunf: :!: :-P

(He upchucked it later. Inside the house, of course.) (And I do not employ a maid.) (Aarrgghh.) (That is to say, AARRGGHH!!!)

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Thank you, Jim. :)

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Yeah, well-toothed, and into-the-garbage-minded. :lol:

But I can't help it, I felt sorry for the little guy when he was having such troubles getting through the snow, and then when I frightened him.

And, regardless of my attitude toward people, things, or animals, I take their picture! <laughing...>

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

By the way, very good pictures.

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Thanks, ebbote. :)

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

A bit more info on opossums:

An opossum is short-lived and has high mortality rates at all stages. Mortality of young still in the pouch ranges from 10 to 25 percent. Of those that survive through weaning, fewer than 10 percent live longer than one year. The oldest known wild opossums were 2 l/2 to 3 years old.

Sunfish 33 Loc: Merritt Island, Fl

Thanks....I never knew that. Nice shots by the way!

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Thank you, Lamar! :)

Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England

Nasty maybe, cute yes! Love his matching ear tips, nose and feet. Excellent set. :-)

pianist38 Loc: Nebraska

Yes, I told my daughter that he or she was nicely coordinated, with all those pink accents. :D I think he'd had even had his nails done! -- though he'd afterwards gone digging in the dirt and sullied them.

And thank you, Sylvia!