Anyone ever seen a dog and an opossum interact nicely?

[jilln]

Last night I surprised my dog napping with an opossum. They were about 4 feet away from each other and both facing the same way, with my dog's back to the possum. This is the kind of dog who would stick his face in a beehive, so I'm sure he knew the possum was there. After I put the dog inside I went to see if the possum was hurt and he didn't seem to be, then I checked a little later and he was gone. No blood in the grass or scuffle marks this morning.

Do you think the possum was playing dead and my dog bought it?

PS - For those of you who are going to answer that I should kill the possums (because on this site you can never post anything about any animal without someone declaring the animal should be killed), I'm not going to kill anybody. I've already talked to the local wildlife specialists and they've given me tips on how to keep both the dog and the possums safe.

[the_spectator]

1. You may have a deviant dog there --

I knew someone with a cat and a dog, and the dog would try to make it with the cat. The owner had to shoo the dog away often. I saw it happen!

[Wapsie B]

2. I've never seen that.

But I would be concerned that the opossum might be rabid.

[jilln]

5. That's why dogs get rabies shots!!!

[Djinn]

3. why should you kill it?

they're not vermin are they?

we have possums here rather than opossums and I've never seen a dog not want to kill them. although here the possums (if it's a male brushie anyway) can match many dogs in a fight, unless you're a rottie or bluey you might wanna leave them be

[ClusterFreak]

4. Maybe they called a truce?

....said "Heck, no one is around.....let's just chill for a while"!!

[spacelady]

6. I think they got tired during a standoff--

I'm surprised that when you went out and discovered this harmonius scenario that your dog didn't suddenly jump up and show that opossum who was the "boss". The thing with these wild critters is that they are too slow, so will never turn their backs on a dog & when the dog sizes it & shakes it, it will play dead. But it is funny that the dog pretended to forget about it--the dog must have been Very tired!

[mike_c]

7. my cats interact with skunks all the time...

...as in daily-- a female skunk has denned under my house for at least the last four years and raised kittens each year. This year she has three. My cats just sit and watch them when they're out and about, occassionally following them around the yard. The cats also spend significant time under the house, so I can only presume they are quite familiar with one another.

[havocmom]

8. Had a very sweet dog who befriended a lonely porcupine.

The darned thing would walk in the park with us late at night. My dog, normally loved to run and never lost a race, would mosey at the porcupine's ambling pace. They just seemed to enjoy each other's company.

:shrug:

[HeeBGBz]

9. Nope, my dog and possum were arch enemies

You have a unique situation. Nurture the possumbilities...