# Eww... There is a Random, Tailed Creature Breeding Outside My Window! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 19, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819 "2005-08-19T23:06:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/1 "2005-08-19T23:06:45Z")
My chow, [Doc](http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TwCbAhIYXMWo*Q5ALVOQJ8JnbnyRHeWcjYU3AeXzhPabxyJ1*XxmY7GRM0vHzPd3afrG2LdXdssJUy9ZnUsRJyiHGjntTWJThBj2AemVfwKyhlRNX*oMcA/Picture%20051.jpg?dc=4675531597312391345) hates cats. He would never actually _hurt_ a cat, but he just chases the cats down, corners them, and walks away. Did I mention he hates cats? Anyway, for days Doc has been doing his, “OMIGAWD!! CAT!!!” bark towards our shed and the random things stacked around the shed. I figured a cat was hanging out back there and maybe had a litter of kittens, so off to hunt cats I went (hunt meaning find…I could never hurt a fluffy, adorable, snuggly little- I’ll stop). I moved some things around to no avail, but Doc was still on the other side of the fence (this part of our yard is fenced off) barking and barking and barking. So I let him in the fenced off area and he makes a beeline between two, big stacked things. I grab his collar and toss him out. I try to move the two big items over, but they are huge and heavy so I only get them over less than a foot. Then I see it. A long, skinny tail sticking out from under one of the items. Then it the tail swished and didn’t move again. The tail seemed hairless (I was about 5 feet away) like a rodent tail, but we don’t really have rats around here. I’ve never seen a kitten with that long of a tail. Then I realized it could be a snake. So I screamed. Like a girl. :eek: 😛 I ran inside to find my dad, but he just went to the gym. So I’m left here, in my room, wondering what strange, creepy, tailed creature is breeding four feet outside my window. Why, oh why, couldn’t it be kittens? I love kittens. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/2 "2005-08-19T23:15:03Z")
Opossoms. They looooove sheds and woodpiles, and they have tails just like that. Stay away from them. They can be vicious when cornered. AND they scream like a human right before you hit them with a car at about 45 mph. DON’T ask me how I know. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/3 "2005-08-19T23:20:18Z")
I’ve never heard of anyone finding Possums in this area. I spend a lot of time on the fringes of town (where there are homes, but also the river and such). I’ve seen coyotes, wolves, bob cats, skunks, snakes of all kinds, even a couple baby bear, but I’ve only ever seen one possum. And there are almost no wild animals in this area of town (no raccoons, no possums…that I’ve heard of). Would a possum just randomly show up? ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/4 "2005-08-19T23:21:22Z")
I have to say, possums are just about the nastiest creatures ever. And yes, I did say possums, because I’ve never actually heard anybody every say the first o, so I’m motioning that we officially change the name to Possum. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/5 "2005-08-19T23:23:00Z")
Oh, maybe I should describe the tail? The tail is thin (like a kitten’s) and it was probably 3-5 inches long- sorta curled in a loose “S” shape. I just went out to take a picture, but the tail had gone back under the pile (eww). ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/6 "2005-08-19T23:34:54Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I’ve never heard of anyone finding Possums in this area. I spend a lot of time on the fringes of town (where there are homes, but also the river and such). I’ve seen coyotes, wolves, bob cats, skunks, snakes of all kinds, even a couple baby bear, but I’ve only ever seen one possum. And there are almost no wild animals in this area of town (no raccoons, no possums…that I’ve heard of). > > Would a possum just randomly show up? Sweetie… you live in Bakesfield… I live in the heart of Hollywood and I have Possum and Skunks. I’m willing to bet it’s a possum. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/7 "2005-08-19T23:40:43Z")
I’ll bite on this whole possum thing, but— what kind of possum would have that small of a tail? Baby possum? … … … [Aw, crap!](http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/May2000/img/f_baby_possum.jpg) Should I call animal control? I mean, I’m not sure that it is a possum or anything (my dog could be crazy-- and we already know about me 😃 ). Should we move the stuff and discover on our own? Burn down the house and run to Mexico with the insurance? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/8 "2005-08-19T23:57:41Z")
How odd. I’ve lived with (Ok, **JimSox5** , we’ll go with possum) my whole life, and never once considered doing anything about it…I vote for the burning and insurance to Mexico option. 😃 Yeah. They’ll just randomly show up. They pretty much live everywhere in North America these days, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/9 "2005-08-19T23:58:51Z")
No-one else thinking of the start of E.T. ?? Put out M&Ms. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/10 "2005-08-19T23:59:59Z")
They are fairly harmless unless cornered - just ugly. During my cat trapping days I have closer than I want to think about encounters with them. They will hiss at you and open their mouths very wide so you can admire their dental work. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/11 "2005-08-20T00:01:41Z")
> [@JimSox5](#): > > I did say possums, because I’ve never actually heard anybody every say the first o, so I’m motioning that we officially change the name to Possum. What about the Irish ones? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/12 "2005-08-20T00:03:14Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Oh, maybe I should describe the tail? > > The tail is thin (like a kitten’s) and it was probably 3-5 inches long- sorta curled in a loose “S” shape. I just went out to take a picture, but the tail had gone back under the pile (eww). Giant Rat of Sumatra? Perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/13 "2005-08-20T00:09:20Z")
Well, I wouldn’t want rats outside my house, so why would a possum be any different? Especially a breeding possum! Soon they will over take the house and make us worship them like gods… GODS! And, dearest **ouryL** , clearly it isn’t a Giant Rat of Sumatra. Duh. It’s a Mexican staring frog of southern Sri Lanka. Jeez! And, apparently, my dad isn’t for this whole Mexico option. He _always_ ruins my plans. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/14 "2005-08-20T00:19:04Z")
Now that **Diosa** has located the R.O.U.S., all we need to worry about is the lightning sands and the fire jets. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/15 "2005-08-20T01:12:23Z")
[Sweet little things](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/pic_unperfect/People%20Pics/angry_possum.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/16 "2005-08-20T01:32:15Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [Sweet little things](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/pic_unperfect/People%20Pics/angry_possum.jpg) Yikes. That’s gonna give me nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/17 "2005-08-20T02:04:26Z")
I, for one, welcome our new, bald-tailed overlords. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/18 "2005-08-20T02:07:52Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Giant Rat of Sumatra? Perhaps? _snerk_ Fergit the 'possum; the real question is, what the hell did you do to that poor dog?!? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/19 "2005-08-20T03:05:59Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [Sweet little things](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/pic_unperfect/People%20Pics/angry_possum.jpg) [Our](http://www.richard-seaman.com/Mammals/Australia/PossumSideView.jpg) ones _are_ sweet little things! When I was living in Darwin we used to hand feed a tribe of them that lived in a tree in the middle of town. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819/20 "2005-08-20T03:08:19Z")
Argh! I meant to ask if the OPs animal might be a [lizard tail](http://members.aol.com/stpom/oz2k/images8/goanna.jpg)? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eww-there-is-a-random-tailed-creature-breeding-outside-my-window/317819.md?page=2)