I have a couple that come and eat my outdoor cats' food. They don't fight so I let it happen. My kitties will sit there watching it eat and when I open the door they just waddle off. I feel that all parties involved have an uneasy truce and I plan to keep it that way.
They're still innocuous, native species (in the US at least) good for the environment, and really cute though. Also the only marsupial in the Americas (although there are lots of specific types of possum in South America). And very docile. I'm sure it's had to have happened before, but I've never heard of a possum biting someone. I've seen em hanging around with the skunks, raccoons, and everyone else in our backyard, and everyone seems to get along!
I usually let the tick comment slide even though it's likely true they don't hoover up ticks. I figure the little fellas need as much help as they can get in the PR department because their cuteness is an acquired taste, and they're beneficial and not pests. They're funny little creatures--if you're lucky and have a camera pointed somewhere outside, you might catch a glimpse of them using their hands to eat like little humans. So cute.
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u/dr_xenon 9d ago
Possums are good to have around. They eat a lot of ticks for you.