New kind of "bird" at my feeder

[Crow Hunter]

First possum I've ever seen in my yard..

[Jim Almquist]

Cool to have one around. Not sure if I have ever seen one,

[delcecchi]

I have them periodically.   They look like the world's biggest rat.    And they poop all over my low platform feeder.   

[bobbymalone]

those things are poorly equipped to deal with a MN winter.   

[Ufatz]

So am I.

[delcecchi]

20 hours ago, bobbymalone said:

those things are poorly equipped to deal with a MN winter.   

 

They have been hanging in there for the last couple decades in tropical Rochester area.   

[bobbymalone]

5 minutes ago, delcecchi said:

 

They have been hanging in there for the last couple decades in tropical Rochester area.   

Yeah, but somewhere in Iowa there is an imaginary line where the ratio of road kill flips from possums towards coons.

 

Their fur is pretty thin.   Had one under the deck a few winters ago that would literally shiver as he scavenged bird seed.  Missing a handful of toes, some bits of ear, and the end of his tail was black from frostbite.

 

About 20 years ago, I plowed my first armadillo in southern Missouri with the car.   Now it's about 50/50 on roadkill whether its a possum or a dillo.   They made their way up from Texas I guess.

Edited February 22, 2018 by bobbymalone

[Ufatz]

I can recall,   farther back than you think, of running into one now and then and finding one inn a trap from time to time. And this was MORE than fifty years ago,  so they've been around a while. Maybe just an uptick in the population in southern MN.

[smurfy]

I caught one in a live trap couple years ago. Personally I'd try to rid yourself of them.

[delcecchi]

first one I ever saw in the flesh was crossing the street one rainy night in Rochester as I was driving to the pool.   Probably in early to mid 80's.  

Now I have them around pretty much every year, competing with the bunnies, racoons, and deer for the bird food.    Doesn't bother me too much since all of them come after the birds are done in the evening.   In the morning I put out half or 3/4 coffee can of black oil seeds.   And we start all over again

[knoppers]

I had one come up to me while I was sitting on my front steps in big lake one night, it came right up to my shoes, then turned and slowly walked away.

Edited February 25, 2018 by knoppers

[Ufatz]

Keep in mind fellas they are noted for their rabies propensity.  Don't get paranoid, but be alert.

[Mike89]

shoot first!!!