We have a fairly high 'possum population in the neighborhood. I'm sure most of my neighbors don't know they're there, but I keep odd hours and see them fairly frequently.

I don't object to them as long as they "behave" normally, but have removed two or three when they became aggressive with the pets. It's sometimes difficult to tell "who started it," but a 'possum that is prepared to fight instead of run is a potential hazard, and loses the toss on which of the two - 'possum or pet - is most expendable.

I'll take note of Stilly's suggestion that they can be safely picked up by the tail when they "play dead." Wildlife authorities in my area recommend strongly that you not attempt this, although the popular advice that it's safe is widespread.

A 'possum may fake the "dead" state as a first response to a threat, and if one does, it can "come to life" unexpectedly and dangerously. While a true "comatose" condition is reported, I have NEVER seen it occur in any 'possum I've encountered here, and I've seen a couple of big dogs pretty badly slashed up by 'possums. Given that they stand and fight against determined dog attackers, I doubt that "puny humans" are likely to induce the true "comatose" 'possum state by saying "boo."

Maybe our 'possums just get enough blood pressure meds from peoples' trash to control that symptom ... . Here at least, I don't recommend touching one no matter how dead it looks. A shovel often is the most convenient tool if you must move one of them before "dead" has been observed for at least a couple of hours, and even with a shovel I wear heavy horsehide gloves. (And rinse the gloves with Chlorox after.)

John