So This Happened...

On the weekend we had morning visits from an Opossum. If you read my last blog, you already knew that. He showed up 8:30 the one morning, and then 11:30 the next. A great sighting for us fans of these animals. Being avid participants with Project Feeder Watch Canada, we are attentive to the backyard for birds, and anything else that might come through.

I looked out for him Monday and Tuesday without any sightings.

Then Wednesday morning, not entirely thinking about it in my waking moment, just got the coffee going, when I look out the kitchen window and there he was roaming around way down back. I quickly bundle up and out I go as stealth-like as I possibly can. Once again I use our holly bush as my viewing blind. I watch. I take a few photos.

Wandering in front of the shed.

Where is he going? If you can see what is in the background, you know I'm getting a little excited.

At this moment I am like "Holy S**t!" in my brain.

I'm just shooting away to this moment, not looking at how the shots are turning out. Thank goodness they are decent enough to help tell this tale.

Woo hoo!

And in he goes.

Now from where I've been hiding, the distance to the dog house is roughly 40 ft. I stayed motionless throughout this encounter and did not make a sound neither. Unfortunately a few minutes later out he comes again, going back under the shed, out the hole in the lattice under the doors, and he's heading towards the house. I'm still at the holly bush, still hunkered down.

It was right after this photo below that I wish someone else was there with me. Someone who could have taken a picture of what happened next.

The Opossum was heading straight towards me. He did not know I was there. He got maybe 3 or 4 ft from me, when he stopped. He realized I was there, unintentionally blocking his path. I did not move. I did not speak. I just looked at him. He looked at me. I'm sure I could not hold back the growing smile on my face though. It was probably only a few seconds but felt longer. He then walked around me, quite close I might add. It was not a full on run for his life neither, just the pace he had going previously. And then just like the mornings on the weekend, he went up the side of the house, to the front, crossing the street and off behind a neighbour's house to sleep the day away.

I'm hoping he, or another, might make good steady use of our dog house at some point this winter. The house is packed full of straw to help keep an animal warm. Plus I really hate seeing them cross roads, even our small street.

I also hope for one day that a Screech Owl uses this Owl box as well. I've seen a Screech Owl a few times in the backyards. I've heard one a couple other times. I've found pellets on the roof of our shed. We had one in our other box. It can happen. Imagine that! A Screech Owl in the box with an Opossum in the house just behind. No I am not greedy at all!

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