Do you consider opossums to be more cute or scary/disgusting, and why?

Question

People's opinions on opossums in general seem to be kind of split, but I'm in the camp that finds them more scary/disgusting.

I vividly remember that one day when I had woke up to catch the bus in high school, I was around age 16 or 17 or so, it was dark because I had to wake up like 5 or 6 in the morning to catch it, and then in the middle of the bushes passing by I saw this really weird animal that looked like it had its face painted bright white, and it had its mouth wide open showing its massive teeth, and on top of it all it was hissing.

I quite literally shit my pants at the sight of that thing, and had to go back home and miss the bus and change my pants/underwear and have my parents drive me to school.

This is certainly not a creature I'd like to see in the dark ever again.

For the record, I don't endorse anyone abusing opossums or anything. I just think they're butt ugly, oh my god. To me they're easily the ugliest mammal. Obviously in the animal kingdom as a whole there are uglier animals out there, I don't think an opossum is uglier than a slug or a cockroach, but to me they're the ugliest mammal.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

I wouldn't call them cute, but they can be.

I think they are really cool. They look primordial. They evolved in the Americas around 70 million years ago during the age of the dinosaurs.
They are related to kangaroos and koalas.

They are some of the most misunderstood animals in the United States. Not necessarily considered “cute and cuddly” by most, these animals are unbelievably important to our ecosystems.

They are resistant to rabies and are rarely rabid.

They eat LOTS of tics. They also eat cockroaches, crickets, beetles, mice, and rats. They also help to clean up the environment by eat fallen fruit and carrion.

They constantly self-groom with their tongues and paws and are very clean.

They are shy and docile animals that prefer to avoid confrontations. They will often run away when interrupted. When threatened, they will usually try to play dead, hiss, or bare their teeth.

They are nocturnal animals, however, they may occasionally be seen during daylight hours, especially when searching for food or if the weather is extreme.

So please be nice to possums. They are good guys.

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

I always think of how that possum probably came out of its faint like “AAHHH!!! Wha—…. what the—…. oh…. oh, thank god…I’m alive! I’m ali—…*sniff, sniff*…. awwwww, COME ON!!!”😤

Daniela1982 · Accepted Answer

They are better looking than an armadillo. They at least are not harmful. They eat fruits and nuts, cat food, or anything else they can scavenge. I sometimes see one on my fence. They are also the ones you see run over most of the time. I remember one time I was going home from work and saw a dead one in the roadway. As I drove by some movement caught my eye. So I went back to check and found 4 babies clinging to the mother's dead body. I gathered them up and took them to a rescue center.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Accepted Answer

The possum is america’s only native marsupial. Regardless of how you might feel about them, they’re an incredibly unique part of our ecosystem and I think they’re adorable, like a rat

hahahmm · Answer

Uh, I consider it one of those "you mind your business & I'll mind my business" type of critters. Never had an opinion one way or the other. I do know that all animals are cute once stuffed and mounted as a trophy tho, so they better not trigger my "your in my business now" detector.

Wallythewalrus2 · Answer

I feed them all winter. They're extremely non aggressive and very docile animals. That's why they have such a short life expectancy, they're easy pickings for predators. I feel sorry for the poor bastards.

RingOfFire · Answer

Cute. Used to have a lot of them here, but have not seen many in recent years. I saw one in my yard a few months ago for the first time in a very long time.

I love the way they walk, it's really cute.

I can understand the point about them being scary looking but I don't really see them that way.

Beckybooboo · Answer

They're definitely scary looking. I do feel bad for them though, I guess they really struggle in cold weather and often freeze to death. Which makes me wonder why they even live in cold climates.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Some guy brought a baby to my work. They're cute until they open their mouths

purplepoppy · Answer

No animal is disgusting. Some may be troublesome but that does make them disgusting.

PsychicBoobs · Answer

They are wild animals a part of the whole. Respect them and you are fine. One did kill my neighbors dog they wouldn't have if leashed poor baby. Wonder if motion triggered floodlights would have helped too.

AviatorTom · Answer

Opossums generally keep to themselves, and usually run away from humans. You rarely see them, except for dead ones on the road that have been struck by cars.

To me they are not scary. I wouldn't say they're cute either.

D_Bone_Steak · Answer

I pull their tails and they scream like a little bitch.

Dargil · Answer

One saw its reflection in a hub cap and then jumped in front of a bus.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

Cute

KrakenAttackin · Answer

Usually I see them with their guts squished out in the middle of the road.

exitseven · Answer

i usually see them in the middle of the road all squished.  pretty gross.

SuchSightsToShowYou · Answer

Opossums are basically a "werewolf" version of a rat. Gross.

BurbankRob · Answer

When I was little my brother's pet crows were menaced by an opossum. To me it looked all teeth and spikes. Since then I've seen them at nature centers and they seemed more benign then.

lorenzomichael · Answer

I think possums are just ugly looking. Why because they’re fucking ugly. That’s it.

Anonymous · Answer

Scary/disgusting. Still felt horrible when I accidentally ran one over the other night, though. I really, really did try to avoid hitting it ☹

Deserter2 · Answer

They're cute and timid, unlikely to attack, more likely to faint, even when provoked

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

Not so much scary but definitely disgusting

Flower7 · Answer

Possums are scary and so are raccoons.

LiamJHayden · Answer

Cute. And they eat all sorts of pests.

Fireguy17 · Answer

they are harmless, and eat a crap ton of ticks!

msc545 · Answer

Very cute if they aren't scared or upset.

Account · Answer

Cute. I want one.

Iron_Man · Answer

Disgusting my dogs would kill them

Wise4myage · Answer

Ugly.

Do you consider opossums to be more cute or scary/disgusting, and why?

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