Virginia Opossum

I have read some interesting things about that thing that was under my shed. I feel kinda bad that it has to be euthanized, but it could be rabid and I'm sure it will be quick and relatively painless.

It's funny--although these are found in most of the country, it's name is the Virginia Opossum. They are the only marsupial found North of Mexico. They are only pregnant for about 2 weeks, and their babies are smaller than dime size! They get into the mother's pouch and attach to one of her 13 nipples, where they stay for about 2 months. They also will attach to her back when she goes anywhere.

Even more odd, their typical lifespan is 2-4 years. "Senescence is rapid"--yeah, that means they age very quickly.
this one's involuntarily playing dead..
When they are threatened they growl and hiss, and sometimes 'play possum,'; they involuntarily drawback their lips, leak saliva, become stiff and emit 'deathly' odors from their butts. They regain consciousness in a few minutes or an hour and escape. They have over 50 jagged big and small teeth. Pretty gross that people eat those things...like in the Appalachians. I still can't believe that huge thing was in there with Tyrone!
It's funny because back in 2007 when we first bought the house and were alone in it, John swore he saw a ferret-looking white rat tailed thing under there at night when we let the dogs out. So we looked and looked and never saw anything but the occasional rabbit. It's been 3 years and we finally confirmed there was an Opposum in our yard.