Nature Possum

Possum · **3 Likes**

A rare daylight outing for this little chap.

Dewman · 05-17-2018, 04:44 PM

This doesn't look like any possum I've ever seen. The eyes are far different than the ones we have locally. A very interesting creature.

Dave B · 05-17-2018, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

This doesn't look like any possum I've ever seen. The eyes are far different than the ones we have locally. A very interesting creature.

He/she? is the ringtail possum AU version, quite young. It lives on my sisters verandah and his pupils are like pinheads due to the daylight which they usually spend sleeping through. not the best shot but I was as surprised as the possum to see it out and about.

Dewman · 05-17-2018, 06:40 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Dave B

He/she? is the ringtail possum AU version, quite young. It lives on my sisters verandah and his pupils are like pinheads due to the daylight which they usually spend sleeping through. not the best shot but I was as surprised as the possum to see it out and about.

Dave, I thought it must be a possum from down under, because the possums we have here in the USA are quite different. Viscous little beasts with teeth and jaws like a dog and a bad disposition. Nasty, creepy critters in my opinion. They're nothing like the cute little bug-eyed guy in your photo.

SSGGeezer · 05-17-2018, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

Dave, I thought it must be a possum from down under, because the possums we have here in the USA are quite different. Viscous little beasts with teeth and jaws like a dog and a bad disposition. Nasty, creepy critters in my opinion. They're nothing like the cute little bug-eyed guy in your photo.

Possums are not vicious unless cornered Dewey! And they eat hundreds of ticks every week! They are great for reducing those nasty things. Possums are funny and eat slugs in the garden also. Porcupines do more damage.

**Des** · 05-17-2018, 08:49 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Dave B

A rare daylight outing for this little chap.

Nice shot Dave. Our ringtails (ie Common Ringtail Possum) are light grey rather than the rufous colour of this one. Must be some regional variation.

Originally posted by Dewman

This doesn't look like any possum I've ever seen. The eyes are far different than the ones we have locally. A very interesting creature.

The early European settlers in Australia called our group possums because they reminded them of the opossums of North America. They aren't related - all our possums are marsupials - that is, they nurture their young in a pouch (like kangaroos and koalas). There are 23 species of possums in Australia, and while some (like Common Ringtails and Common Brushtails) are very common, others are critically endangered.

Dave B · 05-17-2018, 08:59 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Dewman

Dave, I thought it must be a possum from down under, because the possums we have here in the USA are quite different. Viscous little beasts with teeth and jaws like a dog and a bad disposition. Nasty, creepy critters in my opinion. They're nothing like the cute little bug-eyed guy in your photo.

Lol, they sound nasty. Quite the opposites

---------- Post added 05-17-18 at 09:02 PM ----------

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

Possums are not vicious unless cornered Dewey! And they eat hundreds of ticks every week! They are great for reducing those nasty things. Possums are funny and eat slugs in the garden also. Porcupines do more damage.

Same here harmless till cornered and also good for eating nasties

---------- Post added 05-17-18 at 09:07 PM ----------

Originally posted by Des

Nice shot Dave. Our ringtails (ie Common Ringtail Possum) are light grey rather than the rufous colour of this one. Must be some regional variation.

The early European settlers in Australia called our group possums because they reminded them of the opossums of North America. They aren't related - all our possums are marsupials - that is, they nurture their young in a pouch (like kangaroos and koalas). There are 23 species of possums in Australia, and while some (like Common Ringtails and Common Brushtails) are very common, others are critically endangered.

Thanks, sounds like you know your possums. The ones iv'e met over the years seem not to cause any real problems,

Outlander · 05-18-2018, 08:44 PM

Have to admit its the first Possum I've ever seen , that being said back in the 70's there was this TV sitcom called the Beverly Hillbillies , the old lady acting on the show seemed to be obsessed with Possum always making a stew out of them , don't have them in my part of the woods , now I can say ive seen one or at least a variation of one from reading the posts !! thanks for sharing !!

Dave B · 05-18-2018, 09:48 PM

Originally posted by Outlander

Have to admit its the first Possum I've ever seen , that being said back in the 70's there was this TV sitcom called the Beverly Hillbillies , the old lady acting on the show seemed to be obsessed with Possum always making a stew out of them , don't have them in my part of the woods , now I can say ive seen one or at least a variation of one from reading the posts !! thanks for sharing !!

My Pleasure, Ive heard they make good stew to but have never tried it. I think this one is a bit cute for the pot.

**FozzFoster** · 07-24-2018, 11:40 AM

Originally posted by Dave B

A rare daylight outing for this little chap.

those eyes tho! haha nice one!

reh321 · 07-24-2018, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by Outlander

Have to admit its the first Possum I've ever seen , that being said back in the 70's there was this TV sitcom called the Beverly Hillbillies , the old lady acting on the show seemed to be obsessed with Possum always making a stew out of them , don't have them in my part of the woods , now I can say ive seen one or at least a variation of one from reading the posts !! thanks for sharing !!

I believe the animal they were talking about were 'Possums .... in other words they really were Opossums ..... which do have tiny brains and great hostility. They are also marsupials, incidentally.

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05-17-2018, 08:49 PM - 1 Like	#6
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by Dave B A rare daylight outing for this little chap. Nice shot Dave. Our ringtails (ie Common Ringtail Possum) are light grey rather than the rufous colour of this one. Must be some regional variation. Originally posted by Dewman This doesn't look like any possum I've ever seen. The eyes are far different than the ones we have locally. A very interesting creature. The early European settlers in Australia called our group possums because they reminded them of the opossums of North America. They aren't related - all our possums are marsupials - that is, they nurture their young in a pouch (like kangaroos and koalas). There are 23 species of possums in Australia, and while some (like Common Ringtails and Common Brushtails) are very common, others are critically endangered. Last edited by Des; 05-17-2018 at 08:55 PM.

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05-17-2018, 04:44 PM	#2
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	This doesn't look like any possum I've ever seen. The eyes are far different than the ones we have locally. A very interesting creature.

05-17-2018, 05:55 PM	#3
Dave B Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Central West AU Photos: Albums Posts: 258 Original Poster	Originally posted by Dewman This doesn't look like any possum I've ever seen. The eyes are far different than the ones we have locally. A very interesting creature. He/she? is the ringtail possum AU version, quite young. It lives on my sisters verandah and his pupils are like pinheads due to the daylight which they usually spend sleeping through. not the best shot but I was as surprised as the possum to see it out and about.

05-17-2018, 06:40 PM - 1 Like	#4
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	Originally posted by Dave B He/she? is the ringtail possum AU version, quite young. It lives on my sisters verandah and his pupils are like pinheads due to the daylight which they usually spend sleeping through. not the best shot but I was as surprised as the possum to see it out and about. Dave, I thought it must be a possum from down under, because the possums we have here in the USA are quite different. Viscous little beasts with teeth and jaws like a dog and a bad disposition. Nasty, creepy critters in my opinion. They're nothing like the cute little bug-eyed guy in your photo.

05-17-2018, 07:16 PM	#5
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Originally posted by Dewman Dave, I thought it must be a possum from down under, because the possums we have here in the USA are quite different. Viscous little beasts with teeth and jaws like a dog and a bad disposition. Nasty, creepy critters in my opinion. They're nothing like the cute little bug-eyed guy in your photo. Possums are not vicious unless cornered Dewey! And they eat hundreds of ticks every week! They are great for reducing those nasty things. Possums are funny and eat slugs in the garden also. Porcupines do more damage.

05-17-2018, 08:59 PM - 1 Like	#7
Dave B Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Central West AU Photos: Albums Posts: 258 Original Poster	Originally posted by Dewman Dave, I thought it must be a possum from down under, because the possums we have here in the USA are quite different. Viscous little beasts with teeth and jaws like a dog and a bad disposition. Nasty, creepy critters in my opinion. They're nothing like the cute little bug-eyed guy in your photo. Lol, they sound nasty. Quite the opposites ---------- Post added 05-17-18 at 09:02 PM ---------- Originally posted by SSGGeezer Possums are not vicious unless cornered Dewey! And they eat hundreds of ticks every week! They are great for reducing those nasty things. Possums are funny and eat slugs in the garden also. Porcupines do more damage. Same here harmless till cornered and also good for eating nasties ---------- Post added 05-17-18 at 09:07 PM ---------- Originally posted by Des Nice shot Dave. Our ringtails (ie Common Ringtail Possum) are light grey rather than the rufous colour of this one. Must be some regional variation. The early European settlers in Australia called our group possums because they reminded them of the opossums of North America. They aren't related - all our possums are marsupials - that is, they nurture their young in a pouch (like kangaroos and koalas). There are 23 species of possums in Australia, and while some (like Common Ringtails and Common Brushtails) are very common, others are critically endangered. Thanks, sounds like you know your possums. The ones iv'e met over the years seem not to cause any real problems,

05-18-2018, 08:44 PM	#8
Outlander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Easten Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,148	Have to admit its the first Possum I've ever seen , that being said back in the 70's there was this TV sitcom called the Beverly Hillbillies , the old lady acting on the show seemed to be obsessed with Possum always making a stew out of them , don't have them in my part of the woods , now I can say ive seen one or at least a variation of one from reading the posts !! thanks for sharing !!

05-18-2018, 09:48 PM	#9
Dave B Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Central West AU Photos: Albums Posts: 258 Original Poster	Originally posted by Outlander Have to admit its the first Possum I've ever seen , that being said back in the 70's there was this TV sitcom called the Beverly Hillbillies , the old lady acting on the show seemed to be obsessed with Possum always making a stew out of them , don't have them in my part of the woods , now I can say ive seen one or at least a variation of one from reading the posts !! thanks for sharing !! My Pleasure, Ive heard they make good stew to but have never tried it. I think this one is a bit cute for the pot.

07-24-2018, 11:40 AM	#10
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by Dave B A rare daylight outing for this little chap. those eyes tho! haha nice one!

07-24-2018, 01:34 PM	#11
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,179	Originally posted by Outlander Have to admit its the first Possum I've ever seen , that being said back in the 70's there was this TV sitcom called the Beverly Hillbillies , the old lady acting on the show seemed to be obsessed with Possum always making a stew out of them , don't have them in my part of the woods , now I can say ive seen one or at least a variation of one from reading the posts !! thanks for sharing !! I believe the animal they were talking about were 'Possums .... in other words they really were Opossums ..... which do have tiny brains and great hostility. They are also marsupials, incidentally.