I used to think that the Possum was one of the ugliest creatures in the world.  It wasn't until I got over the fear of them that I realized what beautiful creatures they are.  I am blessed to be able to watch nature right from my back door.

I used to go out and chase them away with a broom and yes they do growl at you.  Never had I had one that came ofter me or even attempted to attack me.  They have a growl similar to a cat when it growls.  If you never heard a cat growl then you wouldn't know what I mean because it is different then a dog growl.

One night I got adventurous and went outside to take pictures of these creatures.  Please don't tell me that doing that is dangerous, because there is lots of fear going on that simply is not true--at least not for me that is.  You see I have this way with animals, dogs, cats, wild and other animals.  It's a gift they say, but I know it is only respecting the animals and understanding what they do, how they do it and why they do it.  I can sense if one is sick or if they are lost and need finding.  I have had this ability all my life.

Anyway, I went out to take some pictures of one of them. It was in a group with two siblings.  This one was quite a bit smaller then it's siblings and his mouth was mal-formed.  Instead of the teeth being up and down like teeth should be they pointed out and his nose snout was like it was pushed in. 

This little creature was not afraid of the many cats that reside and call my deck their homes.  I kind of felt sorry for the little fella because it also didn't seem to have the thinking ability to get out of tight spots and run down the stairs when cornered, like his siblings had.  Oh they would come up after an hour or so when they didnt' see their sibling come back to the nest.  They would corral the little fella until it turned around and went the correct way.

 So I began to watch and study this creature that I thought was so ugly and came to find out that they aren't ugly at all.  Even with his deformed snout and teeth he was put here for a reason.  The cats had cornered him one night and I took the opportunity to get a picture of him and so I did.  The little fella was so afraid and just didn't know what direction to go in because I was at one end and the cats were at the other end.  My cats are different then any cats that you would hear of.  Most cats are afraid of these creatures because it is said that they will not hesitate to attack and eat a cat.  My cats chase these creatures off the deck.  They also like to grab them from behind as they scurry off down the steps.  The big momma possums get the worst treatment this way and I haven't seen the bigger ones come up for a while.

Look at the picture to the right and see the feet of these cratures.  They don't stand on their toe pads like other animals do.  We can't even do what they do naturally with our hands.  The palm of their feet are flat on the ground and their toes spread out.  This is true for all four feet.  They climb very well too with them that way.

This one little fella has not come back in a long while and I thinkd he got hit by a car or just died.  He was really small and with his deformities I doubt he made it through 2 winters.

I don't know where these creatures find a place to bed aways from the cats and other nosey creatures.  The reports that say they sleep hanging from their tails is a myth, but little is known about them.  One night just maybe I will follow one to see where it goes.  Hahaha, I would really have a big desire to do this as the woods are thick in some areas and we do have some trees down.  I think they may make a nest under the fallen tress. Don't quote me on this though as I have never ever seen any next or anything that would suggest it be a possum nest.  Sometimes my cats will nest or lay in the woods too.  I also have raccoons and that is another story abut them.  Nothing is afraid of me and I not afraid of them.  I just respect their space and their needs.

Possums don't truly hibernate either.  They will sleep when the temps get really low but when they aren't so low they will come out a feed.  They may do this several times in a winter.  Their life span is that of a rabbit, very short, about 5 years.  I still have not figured where they sit on the food chain or their purpose in being one of the many creatures that are on the planet Earth.

There is a new little possum that now comes up on our deck for me to observe. I didn't think that possums would have babies this late in the year. He is about the size of a 5 month old kitten and he eats along side the cats. He will come up on the deck while I am there, if I do not move. I have attempted to talk to it and it is coming around. I do not worry so much about rabies here. You would know it if you saw an animal with that, believe me you would know if it had rabies or not. He still keeps his distance of about 3 feet from me, but tha is OK, That is the respecting his space. I don't encroach on his and he doesn't encroach on mine. This little fella is normal in all aspect except that he is almost a newborn and only one in the litter. I have not seen any other ones but this little one come on the deck. He is growing and he seems to be healthy. I just don't know why he seems to be the only one in the litter and has been born so late. The cats don't seem to mind him at all either.

Watching and learning from these creatures has been a pleasure and I don't really see them as ugly anymore.  There is beauty is one of natures ugly creatures only if you want to see it.