Opossum-clause
After doing the last of my Christmas shopping this evening . . . . I approach some red reflective eyes from my headlamps. I quickly jumped out of my vehicle and anticipated capturing a few pictures of the Opossum . . . . but it ended up disappeared into the dogwoods. Could this white bearded . . . . sausage toed . . . . jolly guy be Saint Nicholas helper checking to see who has been naughty and who has been nice?
Opossum from the Winter of 2006 .
 Subscribe to Mon@rch |
All Rights Reserved ©2006-2007 |
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Very nice blog. Great pictures.
12 December 2007 at 9:03 pm
More likely it’s checking to see if there are any scraps around! *L* (Nice holiday pic of the gang on the side there, btw!)
12 December 2007 at 9:44 pm
When I saw this post’s title in Google Reader, I thought it was going to be about the fine print in some contract.
It’s hard to imagine these critters as Santa’s spies, but it could be true. For the past several years Santa has been “playing opossum” instead of visiting our house.
12 December 2007 at 10:30 pm
Nice helper. I hope Santa employs more than the opossums, since we don’t have those up here. Good job on being done!
12 December 2007 at 11:18 pm
@ Tom thanks welcome to the blog! I greatly appreciate your kind words!
@ Lana – This was out in the forest, not many scraps out there! Thanks and we are still laughing about it!
@ Marvin – LOL, fooled ya! LOL and you bright up a good point of him playing possum!
@ Trixie – They are great little helpers! Always lurking around at night!
12 December 2007 at 11:26 pm
I gotta tell you, Tom, I don’t think he’s Jolly Old Saint Nick’s helper. I’d have remembered reading about Santa’s 7 tiny ‘possum pulling the sleigh! 🙂
13 December 2007 at 1:24 am
He may be Santa’s spy rather than helper as he looks pretty sly. But I imagine he’s reporting back that you’ve been very good this year. You’ll probably get lots of rare bird sightings this year as your reward. 🙂
13 December 2007 at 2:11 am
What a good picture. This possum posed for you. I am sure you are right about him watching to see if people were being naughty or nice.
13 December 2007 at 6:25 am
LOL Tom… hmmm… the Christmas ‘possum. Where’s his red nose?
13 December 2007 at 6:56 am
@ Liz – he does have his reindeer to pull his sleigh . . . who would want Opossum pulling them?? lol
@ Erie – Spy is what I was thinking also! I sure hope that my reward are many great birds next season!
@ lisa – thanks and was a picture I had from last season! I am not 100% sure but I think it is possible!
@ Jayne – only Rudolph has the red nose! These guys just have red reflective yes!
13 December 2007 at 7:07 am
Oh great, I can see the revisionist story now: “Santa and his 8 Magical Rodents” at the head of his sleigh: ‘On Possum and Squirrel, on Rabbit and Hare! Faster, Beaver and Capybara, Chipmunk and Chuck*!!’
* short for WOODchuck.
13 December 2007 at 9:33 am
So, have you been naughty or nice? LOL!! You know I would say you’ve been nice!
That’s soo cool you got to see an opossum, too bad you couldn’t get a pic of it!
13 December 2007 at 3:04 pm
“Last of your Christmas shopping”??? Why it’s only Dec 13th!!! Most people of the male persuasion haven’t even started!!
13 December 2007 at 10:07 pm
Cool picture. Opossums are kinda scary though, I have one living behind my garage! Eeew.
13 December 2007 at 10:22 pm
@ Marty – I think that’s what I heard flying over my house last year!
@ Pam – that’s only for the Opossum to report! LOL!
@ Zen – well it was my last payday before Christmas so I needed to get it done before I was out of money! But do have one more thing to get and a few cards! But more or less done!
@ Chicago – Thanks and should be nice for he might tell santa!
13 December 2007 at 10:48 pm
Nice photo! I hate to think what he might leave in your stocking though.
13 December 2007 at 10:57 pm
I never thought I’d be saying that a picture of a ‘possum was great, but it is.
13 December 2007 at 11:33 pm
very cute possum.
funny though, i never thought of possums being santa’s helpers. really weird. is that why they are always lurking about ? making lists of who is good and who is bad. lol ~nita~
14 December 2007 at 8:59 am
Oh Tom you’re just like me-I got my last payday before Christmas yesterday so I have to finish fast before I run out too-LOL!
possum spies huh?
14 December 2007 at 9:39 am
Yeah, ditto the Zen Birdfeeder! You finished already? How do you find the time?
Cute oppossum…too bad you didn’t get a photo this time.
14 December 2007 at 3:08 pm
What a sweet opossum picture, Tom. 🙂
I’m glad to hear the one you saw got out of the road okay!
Enjoy your weekend, Tom! xxoo
14 December 2007 at 4:19 pm
I’m not the biggest fan of ‘possums’ as we call them here in Virginia….but I have to tell you….I think this one is the cutest one I’ve ever seen. I might even begin liking the critters 🙂
14 December 2007 at 7:41 pm
My daughter fell in love with your opossum (I can’t even being to discuss with her how mismatched they are at this point in life) I’ve seen their tracks but never one in person. Nice shot!
15 December 2007 at 1:25 am
hahahah… Opossums as Santa’s helpers… I love it. I’m sure they will find that you are not the least bit naughty, Tom!
15 December 2007 at 5:45 am
Sweet thought–I like possums, and am always very saddened when I see them by road side (no longer among the living).
Great of you to brake for them–even if you were trying to see if the o’possum would lead you to Santa!
16 December 2007 at 8:17 pm
AWESOME pic! We had a baby ‘possum on our fence once and enjoyed observing it sooo much! We loved how he headed down the wooden slat head-first, gripping it with it’s feet like hands~and watching how the tail helped in balance. VERY neat~can’t wait to show my boys! HEY~maybe your blog should be required reading with our nature studies, eh? (((((HUGS))))) sandi
17 December 2007 at 11:40 pm