This is a North American possum.



It is a true marsupial. The one pictured is a large male. The females are quite a bit smaller.

Close up of mug.



I have had a bumper crop of them in the last few months. This is the fourth one I have shot off my BBQ.

Pretty ugly animal compared to your possums.

The new world possum originally was a warm weather creature, as can be seen he's got no fur on tail or ears.They've been around for a looonnng time and will eat about anything.A real survivor !

Well, they don't last long on my property.

Shot off the BBQ hey....that saves some time.

Bakes, I kid you not, if I cook on the grill an hour after dark I can hear these beasties banging away on it.

Hey, did you ever post a picture of your new dawg? One where he is biting you?

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
This is a North American possum.



It is a true marsupial. The one pictured is a large male. The females are quite a bit smaller.

Close up of mug.



I have had a bumper crop of them in the last few months. This is the fourth one I have shot off my BBQ.

Pretty ugly animal compared to your possums.

Wouldn't it work better to shoot them before you put them on the BarBQ?

"... banging away on the BBQ ..."

Were their two of them? At least it was probably warm.


***

Do these possums also make horrible screeching noises?

I have never heard them vocalize at all except for a hiss. Even when a dog mauls them, no sound. They do smell badly, especially the males. Truly not something you would want to put on your BBQ as a meal.

It looks very much like a rodent.

So calling someone "possum" in North America is not a term of endearment?

I don't particularly like possums here either. They get in your sheds and roofs, crapping and pissing over everything. Sometimes fight in your ceiling at night, thumping around.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
"... banging away on the BBQ ..."

Were their two of them? At least it was probably warm.

Nitro X,

They say great minds think a like!

Regards,

Pete

One less Australian in New Zealand

Got the little bugger as he stole your hammer hey
Well done

Top-perditor .Remember the NZ NAT'L ANTHAM (Peter allans)I STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME!!!

For those who wish for a return of 'the old days' - www.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4409039.stm

Your possums look nicer than ours, not like our giant rat like creature at all. More like a cat.

Our possums carry disease as well.

Heres another couple of shots of our possums ...

Be careful. That top one is only playing possum!

Their feet definitly look similar. Yours look a little larger as well. Our possums have longer jaws and what seems like a hundred teeth!

BTW- I can trade a NA possum skull for one of yours for anyone who collects that kind of thing.

In order ter prop'ly cook the NA opossum, one first needs ter catch der bugger alive and feed it fer a week or so on corn meal mush or som'thin' similar. Then y'all belts 'er over der head and dips der carcase in scalding water ter loosen der hair an' scrapes 'er clean like a hawg before guttin' and cleanin'. Roastin' whole, well rubbed wit' seasonin', is recommended. Serve wit' a side of roasted yams soaked in butter and a big ol' bowl of black-eye peas.

Anne - you should get one of the Aussies to supply you a skull - they could throw a "roadkill" possum onto an anthill and in a couple of days the skull will be nice and clean . Course they cant actually "kill" the possum since they are protected by law as a native species.....and finding a roadkill might be tricky since aussie possums dont spend much time on the ground anyway .

Kiwi possums however have a fatal fascination for roads at night , must be the warmth thing , and running down possums is a national sport.

quote:

Originally posted by muzza:
Anne - you should get one of the Aussies to supply you a skull - they could throw a "roadkill" possum onto an anthill and in a couple of days the skull will be nice and clean . Course they cant actually "kill" the possum since they are protected by law as a native species.....and finding a roadkill might be tricky since aussie possums dont spend much time on the ground anyway .

I think sending a skull in the post may get an Aussie in a bit of trouble.

My pointer points them for me when they are in the trees.

Why? Do they search your packages before you close them up to see what you are sending?

Ann

You have to declare what is in the package and many packages are x-rayed. Sometimes you do have to show what is in the packages though I haven't for a long time. I am sure I had to show the contents at least once.

This came about due to some twits sending letter bombs and also 'white powder' which was claimed to be anthrax some years ago. The rules especially for ALL international mail were changed.

As for native species it is usually illegal to possess animal specimens or parts without proper licences.

Rangers or similar have the authority to enter properties for searches without any sort of notice or warrant.

I know of someone who has a taxidermied wedge tail eagle which was found dead in a paddock (probably from eating birds which ate poisoned grain). Technically even though they just utilised a dead animal it is a crime as the law says just let it rot.

Actually I shot maybe forty possums (plus lots of wallabies) on Kangaroo Island last year under a destruction permit but again I believe they have to be left to rot.

Yes it is all ridiculous. Our native species are very plentiful but usually totally protected.

Come and get some of your bugs and possum skulls yourself or Muzza can send you one !

Every postal parcel outbound from NZ is x-rayed now , but I doubt a bleached possum skull will cause much grief, but then again having had experiences with the staff at NZ Post .....I have a possum available at present too if you really want one . Will take a few days to remove the possum from the bits you want .

quote:

I don't particularly like possums here either. They get in your sheds and roofs, crapping and pissing over everything. Sometimes fight in your ceiling at night, thumping around.

Mate! I have the same prob at our place every time we have a Bar-Bee.Except it ain't Possums its The BLOODY ROO SHOOTERS I work with