So this city boy comes home one night and sees this gi-normous rat eating from the dog's bowl, in the near-dark. What to do? Grab a tobacco stick and commence to wailin' on said rat-varmint. Turns out, after a minute of whacking, that the varmint weren't no rat but a pretty butt ugly, large possum. He was pretty upset too that the tobacco stick did not render him immediately unconscious. I seem to recall a flurry of action when he charged me, as I had him / it cornered and he had no place to evacuate. Turns out, tobacco stick won and I was able to reclaim the dog food with my honor intact. Felt pretty foolish when dad told me I had whooped up on a possum. I was about 20 then...
[USER=50]@Holy Cow[/USER] " versus this here."
Thanks All for the update, yes ours are far more handsome.
Actually we had a very strong possum skin trade here 100 years ago. Their pelts graced the necks of many famous women around the world.
I don't think your form would fit that bill.
Our possums are a real menace around the home.
Twice I had one in our firebox when the blighter slid down the 6" flue.
I had to put a huge sheep wool bag around the firebox and open the door, tie the bag off and wait for it to decide the bag might be more friendly place to be.
Years ago my mean ass cat chased an opossum through a vent into our basement. The poor thing was greeted by my two large dogs. By the time I got down there the intruder would try to make it out vent only to be pushed back by old Rufus (named after the first surveyor general of the US). The inside was not an option given the two large mouths hoping to use him as a tug. It took a bit but I was finally able to push the cat out of the way and let the guy hit the road in one piece.
John Putnam, post: 436919, member: 1188 wrote: Years ago my mean ass cat chased an opossum through a vent into our basement. The poor thing was greeted by my two large dogs. By the time I got down there the intruder would try to make it out vent only to be pushed back by old Rufus (named after the first surveyor general of the US). The inside was not an option given the two large mouths hoping to use him as a tug. It took a bit but I was finally able to push the cat out of the way and let the guy hit the road in one piece.
Dang, the cat and dogs finally learned to work together against a prey, and you ruined it.....
ComerPEPLS, post: 436896, member: 3790 wrote: So this city boy comes home one night and sees this gi-normous rat eating from the dog's bowl, in the near-dark. What to do? Grab a tobacco stick and commence to wailin' on said rat-varmint. Turns out, after a minute of whacking, that the varmint weren't no rat but a pretty butt ugly, large possum. He was pretty upset too that the tobacco stick did not render him immediately unconscious. I seem to recall a flurry of action when he charged me, as I had him / it cornered and he had no place to evacuate. Turns out, tobacco stick won and I was able to reclaim the dog food with my honor intact. Felt pretty foolish when dad told me I had whooped up on a possum. I was about 20 then...
Must not be too much of a city boy if you know what a baccer stick is.
eddycreek, post: 436926, member: 501 wrote: Must not be too much of a city boy if you know what a baccer stick is.
I've tied a few hands, but we got them from papaw to use to tie up tomato plants.
When I was young we would spotlight them and put in a toe sack in the back of the truck and drive to the dam.
We would then grab them by the tail and they would play possum till you dropped them
I saw a guy selling a possum at Trade Day in Collinsville, AL one day. He had a rope tied it around its neck like a dog leash, I guess people use them to train coon dogs. I asked the man with no shirt long hair, and missing a few teeth "What are you selling the for? " His friend had to translate because I could not understand a word he said. And I have been told I have a pretty thick accent but this was some backwoods Sand Mountain snake handling dialect I have never come across before.
In my youth, I have on a few occasions captured an opossum and placed in a burlap sack or other similar sack that the critter could not escape and place under the vehicle seat or in the trunk compartment of some jerk that had caused me some misfortune.
Well either that or fill the backseat level to the door window with melons.
Many many years ago some pillock introduced the Aussie possum to New Zealand.
With no natural predators they have become a huge pest, damaging forests and eating birds. So much so that they are regarded as a noxious pest.
One of the best uses for possum is to pluck the fur and mix it with merino wool - I'm sitting here in a lovely soft jumper that is just oh so cosy and warm
Quite right and they must rank in the top 5 most disgusting creatures on earth. Fortunately every dog ever born, regardless of species or size or gender, innately shares that hatred.
Discovered I am a pillock. That's an all new term to me.
Pillock is British slang I believe. There was another pillock who introduced gorse to NZ.
Richard Imrie, post: 437207, member: 11256 wrote: Pillock is British slang I believe. There was another pillock who introduced gorse to NZ.
and deer
and rabbits
Learned another new word.....to me.......THANK HEAVENS.
Found this story about it in Oregon. http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/05/what_is_gorse_the_prickly_inva.html
As a hunter and fisherman, I'm ok with deer and rabbits (and the others indroducees: salmon, trout, mallard ducks, pheasants, quail, Canada geese, goats, Aussi black swan ...), just can't stand possums and gorse.
Holy Cow, post: 437211, member: 50 wrote: Found this story about it in Oregon. http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/05/what_is_gorse_the_prickly_inva.html
"The seed can lie dormant on the ground for up to 50 years, germinating quickly after the adults have been removed. Unfortunately, most methods of removing adult gorse plants, such as burning or bulldozing them, create the ideal conditions for the gorse seeds to germinate."
Gorse. Starlings, Sparrows, Blackbirds.
Hawthorn, blackberries
I could live without those, thanks to those pillocks!
Agree with comments on possum/merino (that's a sheep) combination in clothing.
I've gloves and fingerless mittens that are thin but extremely warm.
Last winter a parcel arrived out of the blue, with a possum/merino beanie. It was from a client I'd done some work for.
Had a lovely note with it. I was rather touched.
I'm sorry and no disrespect but if I got a gift with something made out of possum, no matter what the note said, I reckon I'd struggle to wear it on my head.
A classic:
