On this evening we stayed in the cottages in Freycinet National Park in Tasmania. We loved the fact that (even before the days of cell phones) our rooms had no phones or televisions! We'd planned a time to meet Joy and David for dinner, and as we walked down the raised boardwalk to the lobby, we were followed by this possum! I can only attest to this one, but he was as fearless as our squirrels that will run to you in the hope of a treat...and I think that's what's going on here! US possums, I'm sorry to say, look like very large rats with a hairless tail (but they're good to have around a yard as they eat slugs and snails that would eat the garden after dark. We know we've had them -and see them most nights.) I'm sure you Aussies will tell me this is another marsupial like a wallaby or Quokka. He's certainly a darn sight cuter than his American cousin that shares the same name!
@illinilass At least you still have the right weather for getting good use out of it! I understand the desire of some we stop wearing fur, but once it's hanging in the closet, it's a shame we aren't supposed to be seen in it! I have a coat... @jamibann I don't see Ken as having changed much, but I have to say, today he is even more trim and fit! I'm in the first Aussie picture of this series, petting kangaroos. @wakelys@wakelys@corinnec They really are adorable! Thanks! @casablanca Somehow I missed that you'd lived in Oz! Where? And actually, this is the only possum we saw on out visits, but come to my backyard! On the outdoor camera just last night, Ken said we had the possum, a raccoon AND a skunk (who we saw with one of her babies about a week ago!) Doggon animal farm around here in the suburbs! @pusspup "Out" of the roof has a different connotation than "on" the roof! Yah, cute or not, we have our limits! @merrelyn Do tell! I'm curious what the NZ's don't like about them? And if they have them, they belong in NZ and they can't blame the Aussies for that! @agnesvanderlindeicloudcom@365projectorgchristine@rbrettschneider It's my daughter who seems to be questioning the intent of the possum! R.Brett, I'm pleased to see you back...you were on 365 in the past, I'm correct? And Agnes, thanks! @bluemoon Yah, the "snarl"! I watched one stand off our dog when we first moved here 50 years ago! But, so the story goes, when challenged, they're said to "play dead", as in "playing 'possum. When a child would pretend to be asleep in order to fend off a parental request, they were called out for "Playing 'possum". Question to the Aussies...do you use that expression?
@Weezilou We spent 6 months living and working in Sydney and travelled to many places within it while we were there plus visiting New Zealand on our way home to England. Spent 10 days there, mostly on the South Island. I have relatives in Australia also.
"playing possum" is an expression most older Australians would know - but probably not a lot of the younger generation. We have always had possums in our yard - they're cute but a bit mean!
@robz It's probably the same here! Our daughter's would know because we parents said to to them, but they likely haven't gone on to say it to their children! It's such a cute expression...and one that typically elicited a grin from the child pretending to be asleep!
@merrelyn Wow! I had no idea! It makes me think of rabbits being introduced to Australia and mongoose into Hawaii to eat rats (that didn't work either!)! Human Beings can get the ideas so wrong sometimes! Out of curiosity, would anyone nowadays make anything out of a pelt? And here, in poorer parts of this country, there would be people who still hunt for possum, squirrels and raccoon and eat them. (Ken replied yes when I just asked him if I was correct. He grew up on a rural farm and they ate a lot of things they hunted for.) In Canada I went to a couple of specialty groceries in Halifax and they carried a number of unusual meats for variety meals. And maybe, like the Kangaroo mince my friend was feeding the Maggies, possums could be made into pet food? I'm just wondering what might have been tried... Thanks for adding to the information!
@jamibann I don't see Ken as having changed much, but I have to say, today he is even more trim and fit! I'm in the first Aussie picture of this series, petting kangaroos.
@wakelys @wakelys @corinnec They really are adorable! Thanks!
@casablanca Somehow I missed that you'd lived in Oz! Where? And actually, this is the only possum we saw on out visits, but come to my backyard! On the outdoor camera just last night, Ken said we had the possum, a raccoon AND a skunk (who we saw with one of her babies about a week ago!) Doggon animal farm around here in the suburbs!
@pusspup "Out" of the roof has a different connotation than "on" the roof! Yah, cute or not, we have our limits!
@merrelyn Do tell! I'm curious what the NZ's don't like about them? And if they have them, they belong in NZ and they can't blame the Aussies for that!
@agnesvanderlindeicloudcom @365projectorgchristine @rbrettschneider It's my daughter who seems to be questioning the intent of the possum! R.Brett, I'm pleased to see you back...you were on 365 in the past, I'm correct? And Agnes, thanks!
@bluemoon Yah, the "snarl"! I watched one stand off our dog when we first moved here 50 years ago! But, so the story goes, when challenged, they're said to "play dead", as in "playing 'possum. When a child would pretend to be asleep in order to fend off a parental request, they were called out for "Playing 'possum". Question to the Aussies...do you use that expression?
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/possums/
https://predatorfreenz.org/toolkits/know-your-target-predators/possum-facts-and-control-tips/