This little guy was not playing around when it decided to freak this mama out sending her screaming. I was heading to the back of the house to put a load of laundry in the wash. We have a thin nylon cover over our washing machine since its outside. I didn't notice anything, but when I pulled the cover back there sitting on top of my washer was this furball brandishing it's teeth at me. I thought it was a huge rat. In that moment there was something inside of me that said, "I need to scream", but I needed to decide how loud and how alarming the scream needed to be. It's funny how you can make logical decisions in less than maybe 1 second. My thoughts were, "if I don't scream bloody murder then my husband won't come running to save me fast enough", so in that moment I decided to scream with all my might (sorry baby). It worked and my husband came running. He was my knight in shining armor and saved me from this little beast. He took a rake and was able to pick it up and put it in a box so that Brother could have a look too. Turned out that the possum was hunting for a little frog that was also under the washer cover. (I really think I want an indoor laundry room)I was the protective mother and unsure if it would jump or attack. I think I freaked Brother out more than the possum by trying to keep him far enough back from this hissing, drooling rat looking thing. I wasn't sure if it was a possum because I expected it to play dead. Turns out that doesn't always happen after I looked up info on the web. It's only defense is really to show it's teeth, drool and hiss - it did a lot of that. Then sometimes it will "play" dead, but it's actually an involuntary response. Papa was worried that it probably had rabies, but I read that it's rare for them to have rabies. Papa also said that it's mother might be near and be aggressive. I didn't read anything about them being aggressive so I hope that is not true. I don't want a mean mama possum around.
After a few photos and me traumatizing Brother enough trying to keep him back, Papa sent the little guy on it's way towards an open lot with the rake. It was kind of a funny sight to watch because it wasn't heading in the right direction sometimes and papa needed to do a little chasing.The next challenge I have right now is that I need to go get the laundry out of the wash. There had better not be any critters back there.
8 comments:
I can't help but laugh reading this. I would have screamed at the top of my lungs too.
I can imagine your reaction! Sister Sprout nearly screamed just looking at the picture! :) Sorry but I have to laugh, too. Of course it's easy for me to laugh since I didn't have a possum on MY washing machine.
OMG! I would have freaked too! What a shock when you are in laundry mode! I have never seen a possum at close range. How sweet of your husband to send him on his way unharmed. A giant cockroach flew out at me from near my laundry machine the other day, and I screamed! My husband has heard me scream enough times that he waits until he hears a second scream before running to the rescue. Hmph!
thats one ugly critter
Im from Arkansas and believe it or not - those are fairly common around here,too.
I still would have screamed,though.
I must admit that your opossum is more exotic than our "Virginia" variety. I have always been fascinated by them. My dog has now "killed" the same opossum three times.
Haven't seen any more furry critters around the house. Porgracia! But I turn the corner with my eyes first and open the washer more slowly now just in case.
this made me laugh hysterically and then filled me with fear and dread about what i may encounter in the near future!
great photo, btw... it works very well to drive the whole fear factor home!!
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