# Opossums--spawn of evil, or adorably cute? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677 "2011-02-17T06:08:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/41 "2011-02-17T20:40:20Z")
I think they are cute. When driving I have opossum radar. I can be driving really fast on one of the dark twisting roads around here and suddenly for no reason I will slow down and then see an opossum trudge across the road. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/42 "2011-02-17T20:57:46Z")
I used to volunteer at a wild animal rescue place (in the US, so these are NA ‘possums). Them things is evil. They might conceivably be cute for the first few days of life, before they get that startle-hiss-baring-teeth reflex goin’ on. Their fur is always skanky-looking, no matter how healthy the critter is. And I am here to tell you that NOTHING poops nastier poop than possums. (shudder) ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/43 "2011-02-17T21:43:19Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Moving from IMHO to MPSIMS. Well, I feel sort of goofy. We don’t normally have polls in MPSIMS — it was brought to my attention by a Vigilant Poster™ that polls properly live only in IMHO, Cafe Society, or if you wish to give 'em a test run, ATMB. Yet here I up and move this thread to MPSIMS. :smack: In my defense though, Cute Animal Thread = MPSIMS. However, in the interests of harmony and setting things right with the universe, we shall now lob this furry critter back to IMHO. **Ellen Cherry Moving Moderator** ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/44 "2011-02-17T22:00:41Z")
The most common defense mechanism for most animals is to bare teeth, growl or hiss, and generally try to look as offensive and badass ugly as possible. Why are some posters surprised at this? Possums are just like other critters when their lives are on the line. Hey, back _me_ up in a corner and see how adorably cute I get. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/45 "2011-02-17T22:12:38Z")
Not only are they ugly but they stink and their teeth are razor-sharp. I’m not gonna kill one just because it’s ugly. But I’m not inviting one in for supper, either. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/46 "2011-02-17T22:21:48Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > I’m not gonna kill one just because it’s ugly. But I’m not inviting one in for supper, either. A veritable judgment if Solomon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/47 "2011-02-17T22:36:14Z")
I’ve got lots of them in my neighborhood, and occasionally see them in my yard. (There’s frequently one living under my tool shed.) They’re not as cute as armadillos (my favorites), but I like them, and I have occasionally fed and named them. I have no such fondness for raccoons. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/48 "2011-02-17T23:04:23Z")
> [@CT\_Damsel](#): > > When driving I have opossum radar. I can be driving really fast on one of the dark twisting roads around here and suddenly for no reason I will slow down and then see an opossum trudge across the road. On a tour a few weeks back the NZ tour guide said that she used to deliberately skittle any [possums](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Brushtail_Possum_%28New_Zealand%29)she saw on the road – this being NZ were the little b’stards are TB spreading, native bush eating vermin – but said that she’d had to stop because the foreign tourists kept freaking out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/49 "2011-02-17T23:31:26Z")
Look, I feel sorry for the little bastards. I found one in my trash can. He played dead. I laid it over in it’s side so he could get out, and backed off across the street, a respectful distance from those above referenced bazillion teeth. He turned his mangy little head to look at me. “You know I’m dead, right?” G-d didn’t give them any sense. They are so ugly that they are cute. And they have a bazillion teeth. Poor little guys. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/50 "2011-02-17T23:58:34Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > From the Wiki article, a [pic.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Newbaby.jpg) > Now come _on,_ that is cute. 🙂 Amazing. Few tiny baby animals are ugly, but possums manage it. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/51 "2011-02-18T00:36:31Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > I’d rate the coon, possum and ground hog about equal. There are just more coon. I know somebody that had large holes chewed in their roof a couple times until the coon died. No way. Racoons are way more of a menace. Those bandit-faced fuckers have paws like hands, and are petty damn smart - bad news for keeping them out of, well, anything. 😉 Plus, they are bigger and meaner. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/52 "2011-02-18T00:50:57Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Amazing. Few tiny baby animals are ugly, but possums manage it. I’m sure there’s a (possum) mother somewhere, that just looooves that face. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/53 "2011-02-18T00:54:58Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > On a tour a few weeks back the NZ tour guide said that she used to deliberately skittle any [possums](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Brushtail_Possum_%28New_Zealand%29)she saw on the road – this being NZ were the little b’stards are TB spreading, native bush eating vermin – but said that she’d had to stop because the foreign tourists kept freaking out. 🙂 ugh! I like animals; but NZ possums ARE ugly! ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/54 "2011-02-18T01:00:43Z")
I have a [Brushtail Possum](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Brushtail_Possum) living in my wine cellar (well, during the day - he goes out at night of course). We feed him an apple or a carrot every day. I got too close early on and he bit my finger (ungrateful sod) - he has _really_ sharp teeth. Just in the last couple of weeks we can pat him if we are very careful. Despite the bleeding finger incident, I still vote cute. Edited to add: I should have noted that I am in Australia. I wouldn’t be feeding one of the pests if I were in New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/55 "2011-02-18T01:46:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Amazing. Few tiny baby animals are ugly, but possums manage it. You, Sir, insult my opinions of infant marsupials. My Seconds shall call upon you in the morning! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/56 "2011-02-18T04:21:13Z")
The American opossum looks like what you’d get if you crossed a raccoon with a meerkat, yet manages to be as ugly as those two animals are cute. It’s like an example of the Uncanny Valley phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/57 "2011-02-18T05:14:37Z")
The American possum is one ugly critter, and evil incarnate. It’s a primitive throwback, a survivor of a time when dinosaurs walked the earth, and as such has only a set of instincts and as little intelligence as necessary to survive to breeding age. It’s not a cunning, conniving, lock-picking evil like the raccoon, or a lazy, take-no-guff-from-anyone evil like the skunk, both of which evolved eons later than the possum. When I was a kid we had dachshunds who cornered a possum behind the garage. It put up a a fight that went on from 3am until almost noon, and when they finally got hold of the possum it let out a scream that terrified me. After they killed it I looked at the teeth: every one of them was a sharp spike. How could a creature like that be anything but evil? Seriously, I don’t think any of those creatures are evil, but they’re the most common nuisance animals I’ve dealt with, along with mice, coyotes and armadillos. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/58 "2011-02-18T05:49:18Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > [Hmm.](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Jmv4oU5K4LM/Sj8Zri3dmMI/AAAAAAAAAmA/P9H1LuA2024/s1600-h/ugly-possum3.jpg) I call the big one “Bitey.” The American variety are ugly as sin. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/59 "2011-02-18T10:03:06Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Those New Zealand ones look like a fuzzy ball of fun compared to the ones here in North America. Cute right up to the point they panic and try to climb the nearest tree, which happens to be you. Once on top of your head they cling on for grim death with some rather sharp claws. Yeah, cute. But possum skins are awesome - really soft, and the Merino/possum mix wool is so good for gloves, socks, and hats. But roadkill possum can put you off cycling in NZ. Si ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677/60 "2011-02-18T15:59:05Z")
Now come on, how is [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZCBwu5lF-o&feature=related) not cute? What’s that weird noise? Is that some kind of opossum purr? Sounds digital. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opossums-spawn-of-evil-or-adorably-cute/571677.md?page=4)