# POSSUM! Northside Chicago POSSUM! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 21, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904 "2021-10-21T12:28:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/1 "2021-10-21T12:28:48Z")
So I was leaving for work, closing my back caged iron Chicago doorgate, in the dirty alley, with nothing but urban grittiness all around me, when what should I see on the flat concrete parking space across from me? It was chubby with bushy white fur, a long rat like tail, and a cute pointy nose. As I watched, it yawned, showing a mouthful of the most adorable sharp predatory teeth. A POSSUM! A POSSUM graces this paved over wasteland. It promptly waddled under a car, as any right thinking possum would do. So Clarence’s yankee cousin lives behind my building. Cool. I mean, GOOD GOOD GOOD. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/2 "2021-10-21T12:41:41Z")
This thread really deserves an @Beckdawrek mention. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/3 "2021-10-21T12:47:08Z")
It would be cool if these started appearing posted throughout the neighborhood: [https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.18169-9/18274932\_1432976850056213\_7917775853429956037\_n.jpg?\_nc\_cat=104&ccb=1-5&\_nc\_sid=9267fe&\_nc\_ohc=T8hL-H2HbaAAX-6Yac-&\_nc\_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=88e8b70767c1714da245fd174d1e6615&oe=6198E850](https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.18169-9/18274932_1432976850056213_7917775853429956037_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=T8hL-H2HbaAAX-6Yac-&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=88e8b70767c1714da245fd174d1e6615&oe=6198E850) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/4 "2021-10-21T13:13:47Z")
We have opossums aplenty here in Chicago suburbia. You must have one on loan. I’ve grown fond of them over time, shifting from viewing them as mangy rat-critters to having their own vibe. Curiously, we have opossums and skunks in the area but I’ve never seen a raccoon at this house – I guess maybe there’s only so many “suburban scavenger” niches to go around. Here’s the cat, wondering wtf is up with this weird giant mouse: [![](https://i.imgur.com/CYYPh1I.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/CYYPh1I.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/5 "2021-10-21T14:39:55Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > It would be cool if these started appearing posted throughout the neighborhood **bobot** , thanks for posting this, I learned something. I thought opossums were waddling little bags of virulent rabies. Now I can just avoid them because they’re vicious little monsters. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/6 "2021-10-21T14:44:38Z")
It’s a meme I found on the internet. It’s gotta be true, right? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/7 "2021-10-21T15:01:25Z")
Possums are pretty common here in the near western suburbs of Chicago. We’ve had one hanging around the yard all year; the only real downside seems to be that the poops are sizable. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/8 "2021-10-21T15:26:21Z")
I haven’t seen them in awhile, but even here on the south side of the city, near Midway Airport, the occasional possum has been spotted. When I was in Evanston, though, possum and racoon aplenty. One died and was decomposing in our basement one summer’s day when one of my roommates found it, and I was designated as the marsupial mortician mostly because, well, I was the only one who was willing to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/9 "2021-10-21T17:31:18Z")
Bad, bad, bad🤭 I suggest buying Cheerios. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/10 "2021-10-21T18:42:03Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I thought opossums were waddling little bags of virulent rabies. From the [humane society](https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-opossums): > In fact, rabies is extremely rare in opossums, perhaps because they have a much lower body temperature compared to other warm-blooded animals. They are, however, one of the ugliest warm-blooded creatures on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/11 "2021-10-21T18:50:03Z")
Here is the correct procedure: 1. @Beckdawrek mails you her tranquilizer gun with dart, already proven effective on Clarence. 2. Chicago Possum gets traq’d, put in cat cage along with gun. 3. Cat cage with all contents dispatched c/o **Beckdawrek** , Arkansas. No further address details needed – every Arkansas state trooper knows where she lives. It is the stuff of legend. 4. **Beckdawrek** now has two possums, everyone lives happily ever after. The End. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/12 "2021-10-21T18:58:50Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > - Chicago Possum gets traq’d, put in cat cage along with gun. An opossum…with a GUN??? As if those teeth aren’t dangerous enough!! ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/13 "2021-10-21T19:00:37Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > They are, however, one of the ugliest warm-blooded creatures on the planet Wrong, wrong, wrong! They are cuteness personified. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/14 "2021-10-21T19:57:38Z")
Georgette agrees! Preach it! > **[MEpearlA](https://www.youtube.com/user/MEpearlA)** > > Join us for inter-species psychic life readings by Pearl, the ascended squirrel, along with the entertaining and informative series on Proper Opossum Care and the soon to be launched 'Don't Try This At Home' featuring Helen Hundun Panacea... [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cMuXb_v7tuU/maxresdefault.jpg "Opossum Lady - CeWEBrity Profile - Tosh.0") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMuXb_v7tuU) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possum-northside-chicago-possum/952904/15 "2021-10-22T01:13:16Z")
Well, as a semi-expert in husbandry of the wild 'possum I will, of course take your Yankee 'possum. I’ll southernize ‘it’, in a heartbeat. And I would agree. 'possums ain’t the prettyist things on the planet. I, myself have never judged creatures on their looks or their mental capacity. That’s how I live agreebly with my family. 🤗 I will speak to Clarence about sharing his bucket house. (It’s now in the garage, he’s getting closer to inside the house, eeeeekk!) He has his own cat, btw.