This seems to be the week for wildlife encounters.
Last night, around 22:00, Mr. Zog let the dogs out for a pee. I was in bed, reading. Suddenly I heard a might scuffle by the bedroom window, by the Schefflera tree that grows in the corner. Interspersed by Mr. Zog shouting "No! No! Down! Inside!" I threw on my robe and was on my way to see what the f*** was going on when Sammy cannonballed into me in the hallway, super hyper and excited. I headed outside (wisely leaving the dogs indoors - Mr. Zog had maneuvered them inside) and met Mr. Zog by the door, who said, "come quick, look at this!"
The dogs had cornered an opossum in the Schefflera tree (it's a shrub, actually, the size of a tree, but never mind, I digress). He shone the flashlight on it. The poor thing was scared to death and clinging on for dear life. I snapped a picture and then we left it alone.
Mr. Zog had already encountered it earlier this week down by the fence. He tried to chase it away so the dogs could come out for their last wee, but it refused to move. Its just froze. Eventually Mr. Zog bonked it on the nose very gently with the flashlight and then it scampered off.
Opossums are marsupials - related to kangaroos - and solitary and nocturnal. I'm sure this was the same one from a few days ago. They're harmless, shy, and carry few diseases. Rabies transmission by opossums is apparently extremely rare. But oh, they are so cute.
I don't know why my pictures are always sideways. Please, if someone knows how to fix it, please tell me. It's so frustrating.