WHAT DO YOU GET A POSSUM FOR CHRISTMAS?

[@ohmygodbecky6829]

This animal really lights up her life, like she really loves that fur-baby

[@starrgirrl868]

Possums are absolutely gorgeous creatures, my partner and I have about 6 living in our yard and 3 or 4 have come up to us and one mamma has also showed us her baby. They bring us so much joy, they are so funny and cute and we adore them!

[@davidduffy9806]

Possums are under rated. We had a beautiful female, she’d introduce her babies. I’m blind, when feeding she’d reach out with her paw and guide my hand. She was with us for a decade, a very longtime for a wild possum.

[@tangerinedreamfan9973]

One of the cutest creatures I have ever seen.

[@lidiawilliams4837]

I just found a baby one who was on its mum who was hit by a car, I managed to care for him for a few days and now he’s at a foster care , I might be able to have him back once he’s grown more, I live in ten acres with a fully enclosed area outside that would suit! Watching this makes me think I could adopt him permanently!

[@johnharris7353]

Our north American Opossums, probably a very very distant relative, look completely different than this one and are much more sedate. My guy sleeps about 20 hours every day! Very easy to care for.

[@BroadwayRonMexico]

The South American ones (which are very close relatives to the North American species, but are very distant relatives of Aus/NZ ones) look similar to these though, and have varying levels of energy by species. Some are pretty similar to these

[@vanessac1965]

They are so intelligent. If their baby dies, they'll grieve for months, searching every night. They love their bubbas. And they're pollinators here in Oz ❤ so we need them. Australia has the largest number of tree hollow dependant species in the world because it was unlogged here for so long. Now they have been forced into the burbs to find rooves so they don't die and subsist off scraps. They won't pee or poo in the roof unless they're very sick. People really don't treat them well and it's very upsetting. It breaks my heart. They are absolutely beautiful animals.

[@matthewlaurence3121]

That is illegal where I live (Melbourne, Victoria), as they are classified as wild animals. But I'd still really love do have one. I used to feed and care for generations of them, in my garden at the old property. Sadly, none around where I now live, due to a lack of trees. Despite the reputation for survival, they could very easily become endangered in a few years, with all this rapid land development.

[@soko4710]

meanwhile, it _should_ be illegal here, because they're enough of a pest without some people deciding that they should be kept as pets and risking said 'pets' escaping into the wild and contributing to the wild population.

[@Bork_Cruk]

Do they do more damage to the environment than humans?

[@soko4710]

@@Bork_Cruk Yes, very much so. habitat destruction is a very minor problem for native species in New Zealand.

[@felicitym4842]

@@soko4710 Seriously? You're telling me that possums do more damage than the species that poisons the air, dumps tonnes of C02 into the atmosphere, clears land so as to farm non native animals, keeps cats as pets and litters the land and the ocean with plastics and other poisons?

[@soko4710]

@@felicitym4842 no, I'm not. but possums are still extremely destructive pests that need to be eradicated from NZ as soon as possible.

[@tangerinedreamfan9973]

1:45 that face🥰

[@_robustus_]

Are they completely food driven or is there any actual affection from possums?

[@simonplaistowe]

I live in NZ and over the years have raised several orphaned possums. This began in the '70s when I was a kid on a farm and my most recent rescue was around 2009. Interesting that it says above that their possum was kept legally - the local vet told me that since they're a pest here it's illegal to keep them and they can't provide treatment or assistance or they'd lose their veterinary licence. So one of the kids & I took possum down to the police station to find out more. The guy we spoke to didn't know what the law was re possums but said he's Australian and he reckons everyone should have one! 😀 I've heard since that perhaps you can apply to MAF for a licence to keep a possum but they're not keen on giving them out. Does anyone know for sure?

[@masonbaker2377]

thats one happy possum!

[@xBen_Bear_Johnsonx90]

I freaking love Possums

[@genb4016]

I am envious - he is adorable!

[@billytruth6444]

Possums are great!!

[@vitalic_drms]

she’ll be right m8

[@johnschick5827]

What a cute, fuzzy critter. Here in the states they're ugly as sin, but this little guy is a charmer.

[@tvnihiouji1748]

sad they killed his mother, but hard thing in this country as they're treated as pests. Im so in love with their cuteness I'd love to adopt one in the future.

[@4doorsmorewhores298]

well i mean they are treated as pests as they are.

[@mariagu2602]

Possum as a PET?? Thought they are wild but i love them

[@harry4960]

Maria Gu could probably tame them if you got it as a Joey

[@p.oookie]

So glad I'm Australian

[@TheElliotloveday]

Our beloved male possum Dewey {10-12 months?} chewed his way out of the aviary we were keeping him and disappeared one night for good. We'd love to have another male but don't know how to keep him from wandering too far. As yours looks a lot older, what's your advice? We're in Auckland BTW.

[@Dan.Chaytor]

Adam Loveday I find a hammer to the back of the head stops a possum from wandering

[@dyego6782]

Dan Chaytor 😂

[@lisavanbeek4092]

Dan, you are sick in the head, sorry.

[@treeoflife7945]

Another human that has no regard for a living creature, people like you obviously have twisted minds that could be capable of committing terrible things to even humans

[@nakedeagle3828]

Get a possum trap

[@laudesimperiales]

I want to give him lots and lots of kisses!

[@theholymelon3092]

Are possums illegal to have as pet in nz?

[@theholymelon3092]

@ sweat so I can get one :p

[@theholymelon3092]

@ Worth the challenge :)

@@theholymelon3092 God be with you my child

[@soko4710]

the legality of owning possums as pets depends on the region that you live in. and you cannot assume that it is legal simply because possums are not protected in New Zealand.

[@NathanChisholm041]

There are wild possums across NZ!

[@kaleychristie6387]

I have a pet possum and he loves to steal my mint biscuits from me

[@kristyarnol6812]

Possums make amazing pets. I have 3 as pets but they aren't inside all the time unfortunately

[@ceciliarademeyer4949]

Hey Kristy... I recently found myself with with a very cute baby possum that I just can’t keep. Any chance you are interest in adopting her (I think she’s a her).

[@kristyarnol6812]

@@ceciliarademeyer4949 i would take her in a heartbeat!!

[@ceciliarademeyer4949]

Thats great news. Where are you based and how can I message you privately to see if we can arrange it?

[@kristyarnol6812]

@@ceciliarademeyer4949 email me [e-mail]

[@ceciliarademeyer4949]

For sure! I am at work but will do it as soon as I can! I really hope we can make it work she’s super cute

[@VoLk0n0v28]

❤😍

[@Neeva01]

Is he still alive I wonder.

[@orangerightgold7512]

they live about 6 years, and seeing how big that one is already. probably not.

[@smokey6455]

Orange Rightgold Nope, they actually can live about 13 years in the wild

[@Lunoxbunnny]

Orange Rightgold 6 years?? Girl Australian possums could live up from 10 to 13 years ffs

[@geoffburridge5409]

give them for xmass they like that

[@chris72.]

Why does it look like a chinchilla?

[@maxoverridemax]

What the hell kind of cat is that?😕

[@MetalRuless]

Doritos 😂

[@scottbroomhall6958]

It's a possum 😁

[@janhenrik4170]

Have one as your pet and don't kill them if you can't comprehend that they damage the NZ ecosystem if you wish so but don't you ever release that back into the wild.

[@RK-uw1xr]

Jan Henrik the were there long before white people arrived its there land humans are taking

[@scadasystem3790]

sell them as pets to other countries.. each can fetch $1000 easily

[@LauraTeAhoWhite]

Make sure to get it spayed or neutered. I would love to have one as a pet.

[@soko4710]

@@RK-uw1xr well, that's a whole new level of ignorance! at least _pretend_ that you know what you're talking about, please?

[@camau79]

Jan Henrik lol release the jaguarundi into New Zealand and see what damage they can do

[@WolfSSSGaming]

The possum that live where I am in Louisiana are extremely ugly, weird to see one like this.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Don't you like your Opossums? lol

[@WolfSSSGaming]

@@NathanChisholm041 lol I dont hate them, definitely wouldn't kill them or anything. But good lord are they ugly xD

[@NathanChisholm041]

@@WolfSSSGaming LOL

[@4doorsmorewhores298]

oh here in nz we have the bush tail possums. from what i have heard they are related to kangaroos unlike normal possums

[@fabiomarcheseragona9898]

A wild animal belongs in the wild!

[@sonnyjim8022]

Except in New Zealand wild possums are considered a pest and are killed as a result. Having it as a pet is sadly of the possum's best interest here in NZ.

[@4doorsmorewhores298]

here in nz they are pests. its either shoot it or take it in

[@mjsticart5705]

Well it's too fat to climb trees now

[@00DP]

Pest

[@soko4710]

what do you get a possum for christmas? how about a brand new 1080 pellet

[@soko4710]

@Joe I think that you have some reading to do.

[@soko4710]

@Joe 1080 works on New Zealand's possums and works well. It is only western Australian marsupials that are resistant to 1080 poison. All of New Zealand's brushtail possums are from eastern Australia. Additionally, I think I've read that 1080 has been used to kill wallabies in Tasmania before.

[@soko4710]

@Joe 'Just like we did'? You should know that 1080 is still used in Australia to kill dingoes and foxes. I am not incorrect; it only takes one or two 1080 pellets to kill a single possum in New Zealand. That is not a 'very very high' dose. There is a lot of opposition to 1080 use in New Zealand, but most of it comes from wilfully ignorant parties who selfishly think that the poison shouldn't be used because it kills roaming dogs and game mammals.

[@soko4710]

@Joe Ah, so there was a reply. It is a fact that 1080 pellets do not have a high amount of poison in them. your implication that any dose is a high dose is nonsensical. I never mentioned emus. It is well-knowm that 1080 poison is used because there aren't any alternatives for killing large numbers of pests that are equally or more cost-effective than it. Trapping pests will never be a viable alternative for several reasons. The same goes for bounties. In any case, you clearly don't know much about 1080 poison's use and effectiveness in New Zealand, nor do you seem willing to learn about it. typing this was probably a waste of time.

[@soko4710]

@Joe "Your not listening". How ironic, in at least two ways. Anyway, because you asked, modern 1080 pellets contain a poison concentration of 0.15%. I've already addressed the rest of what you said. If you choose not to believe what I have told you, then there's no helping you.