In my constant effort to find and eliminate woodchucks from my garden, (See Post on 5/13 "Large Pest"), I found this stranger in the trap. It is an opossum, which is a Western Hemisphere marsupial. It is somewhat different from the possum, that is principally found in Australia. The interesting fact is that they play dead, and look to be so as in photo 1. But, as I approached the trap, he, or she, came back to life, as in photo 2. This one put on quite a show with hissing, barking, and baring its teeth. I actually had difficulty letting it out as it kept going for my hand. This one had my attention! They have a prehensile tail and are omnivores, but really will eat whatever is available, apparently including people hands. As I have never seen one in my garden, I decided to let this one move on. Of course, they are nocturnal and it may come back tonight. But I think that I made him/her as nervous as it made me. I guess that they like broccoli as much as woodchucks...
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