Originally published at: Watch a possum bodyslam a skunk | Boing Boing
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My brain immediately played “Holiday in Cambodia” when the vid started, what’s wrong with me…
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Wait, what! I’ve been lead to believe that possums play dead and skunks spray stinky stuff.
Did that possum forget how to possum and that skunk forget how to skunk?
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- I want to know whose doorbell is 1" off the ground(!!!)
- Can’t we all just get along??!!
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I did not start the day anticipating I’d see an extended video of skunk-anus.
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The real question is did it improve or worsen your day?
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…kind of maintained the status quo? It’s a skunk-butt kind of day! 
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In a fair fight, there isn’t much that a possum is afraid of. They can be very vicious fighters. That skunk is sort of small, it might still be a juvenile. But to use the spray, it has to turn its back to its victim. Most animals that have encountered a skunk before recognize this behavior and will hesitate to attack. Possums, not so much, and I think that explains Mr. Skunks hesitation to show his butt to Mr. Possum.
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One should also consider an opossum’s stress-induced defense mechanism of playing dead (actually more akin to fainting) where they excrete large amounts of green mucus from their anal glands that suggests “decay” to predators, so it’s kind of a toss-up as to who smells the worst.
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My wife caught our barn possum going to town on some turkey eggs. We were fine with the fellow hanging out and eating feed. He didn’t bother the flock and he was downright chill about hanging out with the barn cats. But when she saw him eating eggs, her recognition of lost income over hatchlings overruled her good judgment and she snatched the little bugger up by his scruff and tossed him into a cage.
She discovered this defense mechanism in that moment. I like to think that expression he’s wearing is saying “I’m sorry about the smell but you scared me! Can I still have grain?”
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Yeesh. I encountered a possum mom once in my treehouse and that was more than enough for me to never want to get near one again. Your wife must be made of iron.
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Worst thing I’ve ever smelt. Fouler than skunk but fortunately not as penetrating.
I generally try to avoid crossing her. She acknowledged after the fact that it was poorly thought out. The little guy fortunately didn’t have time to do more than squeak and foul his immediate vicinity, as the transport cages are stored right by the nest boxes. She allowed me to handle his relocation the following day, with appropriately thick gloves.
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Now I’m reminded of the time my brothers had the misfortune of standing behind the hippo at the Denver Zoo…
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Oh no…I’ve seen that gif!
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No. But you know how professional wrestling goes.
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Right?! It really should serve as a nightcap.
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Somewhere between this and that and the time my Intermediate School class went to the Honolulu Zoo and the gorilla got pissed off and started flinging poo. The kids were picking out flecks from then until the bus going home.
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