JiK's possums are different critters from ours; I've never seen an Australian possum play dead. But the diurnal fights between them and the feral cats over the garbage outside University House at melbourne Uni put paid to any notions that marsupials couldn't compete with eutherians and be successful. I only ever pick one up if I'm trying to either rescue an injured one (road injuries) or extricate one from a neighbour's house, and then I wear leather welding gauntlets and carry a decent gunny sack.

Although many complain occasionally about piss stains in the plaster, the main problems with our possums seem to be the lead boots they wear when wandering over the roof or in the ceiling. They even wear them when making love! And they seem to be able to do it all night!

Cheers, Rowan