Playing Possum

We love living in a house that backs up to a wooded area, but it seems there's always some critter exploring a little too close to home. Often the little pests end up in the trash cans. As a result, all of our cans have tight lids which we make sure are kept closed. However, the neighbor's lid-less garbage haulers offer prime opportunities for feasting to skunks, raccoons, shrews, mice, squirrels, and birds. If one makes its way into the can, it isn't long before kids warn us of the discovery with shrieks of delight or fear.

My favorite part of a critter close encounter is watching my neighbor release it back into the wooded area behind the house. Mustering all the machismo he can, he drags the can to the backyard and foot-tips the can away from the gang of gathered children. Sometimes it takes an additional kick or two on the bottom of the can to coax the creature out. The kids scream and scatter as the critter runs for wooded cover. The neighbor makes the rare "sissy scurry" away from the can as the beast escapes, but who can blame him? The wildlife around here have no fear of humans. Have you noticed the size of the common squirrel these days?! And skunk spray takes weeks to wear off, ya know.
This picture has a high 'ick factor' with Mom....

Here is the latest find:

opossum - alive and well!