The urban adventures of a baby opossum

Let me just start off by saying opossums are repulsive creatures. The long snouts and tails, the rows of nasty teeth, the nighttime foraging through garbage and dead stuff, the defensive hissing—they just aren’t in the same category as say a bunny rabbit.

But babies being babies, even opossums are somewhat cute in their juvenile form (I’m using the word cute loosely here).

So when a baby opossum begins his adventures in life in your yard, you have an urge to root for his long-term success. Such is the case in our own yard.

He’s quite the adventurous fellow, that opossum. He’s met my dog, who weighs approximately 69.5 pounds more than he does, yet he casually held his ground while the dog cautiously sniffed the air around him.

"Back off! I'm busy finding a couch to chill under!" Note: that's not our resident baby opossum, but you get the idea. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't handle something that looks like that.

And then the other night, as we’re vegging out in the living room, we notice our dog sniffing around the couch. I decided to investigate. Yep, there’s our baby opossum, just minding his own business.

Getting a opossum out of the house is no easy task. We pulled back the couch, attempting to throw a blanket on him, which he easily evaded. He then headed under the entertainment center for more opossum fun.

From there, we basically set up a makeshift channel of boxes and wastebaskets directing him outside. It worked. Eventually. Not before he hissed at me and backed so far into the corner he was doing opossum handstands.

My wife had another sighting last night when she almost ran him over pulling into the driveway. This lil’ guy just doesn’t quit.

Yeah, it might be strange that I’m pulling for a baby opossum’s survival. You would, too, I bet. He’s got quite the adventurous spirit.

Let’s just hope he brings his nastiness somewhere besides my yard/house when he becomes an adult.



  1. awww… Such a kind little story. I agree, opossums are pretty scary ugly, but being the nature lover you are, you have to embrace this little fellow and hope he survives. I have some that look for food on my porch and they act very casual around the racoon and my cat. Nice to see them all being so chill. Ha!

  2. A friend to Opossums…in his yard. sounds good. I used to think they were cute.. til I had a run in with one… but I think babies are cute for a reason. You never know since he is growing up with you .. you may just end up being more fond of him than you think is possible… like you already aren;t? 🙂

  3. I think it is cute, but those things can get to be a real problem…they were on animal hoarders one time. Don’t judge Eric…I’m home a lot. I have to watch something. 😉

  4. Oh God, that brings back horrible memories of the vole hiding in my couch!! You and your hunting dog were unable to catch that little critter either!!

    1. Cyrus is more of a “sniff ’em out, leave the rest to you” kind of dog. I suppose I need to step it up on my end, eh?

  5. Hilarious story Eric! I’ve never had one in the house before. In Atlanta we had a problem with chipmunks getting inside…and they ARE amazingly cute. Unfortunately, our cats also thought they were amazingly delicious….

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