Night Visitor

[mamculuna]

Sitting on the couch reading my Italy books and trying to figure out the Milan ATM system (I like to deal with the yucky parts of travel while I'm still here--but I'll still get lost), I heard a lot of slurping and banging of food dish from the porch where our outside cat eats. She's not such a lady, but still she has those dainty cat nibbling ways, so I thought this must be someone else. When I turned on the light, I saw a huge possum--not fazed at all by the light and not pausing in its snack. S/he was lots bigger than the cats, even Orange (our 15 pounder), and looked more tan than grey. The nose and tail didn't look pink like those I see deceased on the road, and when s/he finally lumbered away, I could see no fur on the very back with a very raw looking place, kind of like the things cats with flea allergies get. Poor thing. I googled and read that possums don't usually fight people or cats, aren't very destructive, and rarely carry rabies. Hope all that's true. Still, I was glad I have appointments tomorrow to take both cats for shots--even though I'd probably rather try to wrestle the possum into a cage than BC, the outside cat.

I've seen them for years in the trees and beside the street, but never before so up close and personal. After this, BC gets fed only in the morning.

Comments

It was a wildlife kinda weekend!

[an-old-one.livejournal.com]

I returned from my customary Saturday morning breakfast date and sauntered across the road to have a look at a small yard sale. As I turned to re-cross back to my own house, an animal about the size of a greyhound, but thicker through the head and body, trotted by. It was a grizzled, mottled sort of greyish blond color, with very long legs and a long tail that hung straight down. There were a lot of people around and I said, quite loudly, "What the hell is that?!" to which several replied, "That's a coyote!"

Okay, I live in East Vancouver, fairly inner city and close to downtown and this was 11 am! What the heck are coyotes doing trotting around very unconcernedly in my neighbourhood??

Jabba is an indoor cat, but Mooch is a miniature poodle, so we're keeping a close eye on him when we let him out into the backyard, even though it's fenced. I have nothing against urban wildlife, but they better not try to eat my Moochie!!

;o)

Re: It was a wildlife kinda weekend!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I've heard that coyotes are moving everywhere (guess they made money during the 90's...)For sure we have them in the Appalachians (in fact, Barbara Kinsolving has a book about that!). Do watch out for your Moochie! Down here, we also have to watch out for alligators near water, but fortunately I'm on a hill top.

Glad all I got was a possum! My vet confirmed though that they don't get rabies.