Kylie Greenan Photography
Sam!
Posted by Kylie Greenan (Hunters Hill, Australia) on 14 September 2008 in Animal & Insect.
Image 1 of 2
This is Sam, he is a friendly and very CHEEKY possum who lives with his family in the big camphor laurel trees above my house. He LOVES bananas but moreso avacados, I give him treats most evenings. He has been known to sneak in through the cat flap to help himself to the fruit bowl and leave a HUGE mess on the kitchen table after he has a party, I know this because I caught him in the kitchen after he knocked over the chair and spun himself out. Sam is by far the cheekiest of the possums, he was very happy to have his portrait taken this evening and was very inquisitive and almost posing, I thought the flash would startle him but he didn't mind at all, unlike his partner Sienna who decided she was having a bad fur day!
More information about our bushtail Possum
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Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
He's much cuter than the ugly variety around here. They look like oversized rats. Nice portrait.
14 Sep 2008 6:20am
@Steve Rice: Thanks Steve :o)... seriously how can you have ugly possums LOL!
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Oh what a sweetie...look at his little pink nose....bless his big ears!!! Now, Possum controversy here in NZ, I hear it said that you can tell a foriegn driver cos they swerve to miss the Possums!!! Now I myself love the little things but i don't think many kiwis do??? Put me straight if I'm wrong my Kiwi friends:-))
Lovely shot Kyles, and he really does look totally relaxed about the photo. What a great capture of my fluffy friends:-)
14 Sep 2008 6:33am
@Linerberry: He is a sweetie, very cheeky, I wouldn't go to well over there Liners, the possums here are a bit like my extended family... I'm a bit of a nature lover as you can tell :o), thanks for your lovely comments my friend!
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
My husband says "bloody possum shoot it" I'm afraid the possum is not the most popular animal in NZ. Liners is quite right about the possums here they are a pest because 1 they carry TB and 2 they eat alot of the bush which affects the ecosystems of our native birds. Sorry about the lecture. It is a fantastic photo and I can't believe that you got this close
14 Sep 2008 7:21am
@jamesy: Oh dear, I wouldn't do very well over there then would I, these possums are almost like my pets, they take the food out of my hand... a little noisy on the tin roof sometimes :o) but it kinda warms my heart when the litte rascals start tapdancing!! I don't know of our possies carrying any disease, they sure are super friendly the ones in my place. Thanks for dropping by Deb.
Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand
i like opossums despite the bad press. However they do a lot of damage to trees , i can remember planting trees all day and the next finding half of them ringbarked by opossums and rabbits! I had a friend who raised one from very little but it shredded her curtains once it got bigger. Neat shot Kylie.
14 Sep 2008 7:37am
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Your possum is so awesum....couldn't resist, wow what a great close up, fantastic macro Kylie ;)
14 Sep 2008 7:51am
Brian from Seattle, United States
What a cute critter, he looks like fun to play with. Sorry i havent visited in awhile, school has been keeping me soo busy!
14 Sep 2008 8:44am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
I wish i had Possum up a tree for a pet!!!!! I'd have a myriad of animals if i could:-) I think your Possums could be different from ours...I know they came from Australia but there must be different breeds! Its inspired me to research....will get back to you
14 Sep 2008 9:07am
@Linerberry: Hahha, two comments in one day, how priveliged am I! I know a lot of people that hate them, I can understuand why, I am lucky that I have HUGE trees above the house and they live in them, they don't damage them cause he trees are so old and they don't live in my roof (good possies!!)... I guess is the way you think about it, but to have possies in my tree makes me feel very lucky, it means I am in a place that supports nature and I have trees and wildlife in my own yard, it reminds me I would feel lost living in a unit, just me :o)... I look forward to your research on your Kiwi Possies :o) Thanks again my dear friend!!! I wish you had possies too!!!
Florence from Paris, France
Looks funny and amazed... it seems to be so cute ans sweet... very unusual animal... and greedy ! :-)
14 Sep 2008 9:28am
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
A funny possum portrait. He's very cute. Nice work Kylie
Today we're posting photos around the theme: animals!
14 Sep 2008 10:01am
roentarre from Melbourne, Australia
Stunning photograph here. It would be so hard to get a sharp image at night!
14 Sep 2008 12:20pm
Jeff from Pembroke Dock, United Kingdom
Our cats wouldn't like him coming through the catflap,Fantastic capture .
14 Sep 2008 3:18pm
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
Lovely shot but he looks slightly sad. I guess we really shouldn't anthropomorphize the little fellow.
14 Sep 2008 3:54pm
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
From the comments above it looks like he's examining your camera very carefully to make sure it's not a gun! Lovely expression.
14 Sep 2008 4:13pm
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Too cute. Love the story. Gave me a good giggle but one reason I would never have a cat flap. You never know who would be coming to visit. A great shot of Sam Kylie.
14 Sep 2008 6:21pm
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
What an amazing capture, to us northern folks, these are animals from another world. I guess the closest we get are squirrels which have a similar cheekiness, but I must say, Possums look well cute.
14 Sep 2008 7:38pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Cheeky maybe, but look at that little face :) Can you handle him, or would it bite. We've had a squirrel that come right into the living room begging for nuts..!
14 Sep 2008 10:28pm
@Observing: Nahh, can't handle them, check out the image today and have a look at those claws, they'd rip you in half! They are quite gentle though when they take the food out of my hand with their mouth. Squirrels in your living room begging for nuts!!!??? Now that is so surreal to me here, I have never seen a squirrel, can you handle them Mike? Animals from a different world, such a great mystery hey! Thanks for your great comments! If you get a shot of one posing in your living room, make sure you post it for me :o) Have a great day!
willow from Chelsea, United States
Wonderful capture! He's adorable. I'd be tempted to feed him treats as well.
15 Sep 2008 12:29am
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Wow! What a face!
I would be afraid of rabies. Around here we get the occasional rabid raccoon and opossum.
15 Sep 2008 12:53am
@Laurie: Ahh, thanks Laure, we don't have rabies over here so not too worried as I think these are local guys ;o), thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Tracey from White Hall, United States
Oh my lord, how cute is he! You are very brave to invite wild animals in! He may bring friends and family next time!
15 Sep 2008 1:05am
@Tracey: Hahha, thanks for your great comments Tracey :o), his family and friends live in the tree also, they have a wow of a time up there, they don't get too roudy which is great! Thanks for stopping by!
One from Açores, Portugal
Beautiful and friendly animal, I have never had the pleasure to meet one. Very good shot.
15 Sep 2008 2:56am
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
so gorgeous! and what an awesome visitor friend! i love how he might come into the house -- he must like you! and then to pose for you too? unbelievable! beautiful close up and a wonderful idea -- the communing of humans and wild animals! bravo!
15 Sep 2008 6:59am
kylie from Shanghai, China
Oh this is classic Kyles! What a sweet wee face, and I love the cheeky story about him sneaking in through the cat flap! I cant believe how tame he is. Gorgeous capture!
15 Sep 2008 9:08am
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
I know we have these creatures here, but I've never seen one up close before, thanks for this Kylie!
15 Sep 2008 12:49pm
Rabbit from Richmond, United States
WOW - looks like my Jasper :D she is a sugar glider & they are from the same family of marsupials.
17 Sep 2008 2:41am
Elaine- from Vancouver, Canada
I'm smitten with your 'kitten'... ok well possum didn't rhyme :)
18 Sep 2008 7:28am
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
what a cute face! :) love the story behind the photos of Sam!
19 Sep 2008 8:15am
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Aussie possum are cuter than the ones in my backyard :( Nice macro shot.
25 Sep 2008 3:36am
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
What a look you've caught here! Not many of us will have the chance to get up that close and be able to charm a possum into a portrait session as you have, Kylie. Excellent shot.
9 Oct 2008 12:48pm
Canon EOS 40D
1/60 second
F/5.6
ISO 400
80 mm