Playing (Trying Not to Run Over the) Possum

It's not uncommon for me to see possum. There are a lot around my in-laws and our house. But, it's unsual for me to see them (at least alive) while I am driving around. This morning, not one, but TWO crossed the road while I was driving. There were not together. They were on two different roads. I also went by at least a half dozen turtles. I guess it was possum and turtle rush hour? I wonder if it's bad luck if one crosses in front of you? Personally, I enjoy the stunned look on the possum's face as I JUST miss it going 55 miles an hour on the back roads.



I took the liberty of looking up some informaiton on the possum. You should learn something new every day, right?


The opossum was a favorite game animal in the United States, and in particular the southern regions which have a large body of recipes and folklore relating to the opossum. Opossum was once widely consumed in the United States where available as evidenced by recipes in older editions of The Joy of Cooking. Ok, I really need to track down a version of The Joy of Cooking with possum recipes.

In Dominica and Trinidad opossum or "manicou" is popular and can only be hunted during certain times of the year due to over-hunting; the meat is traditionally prepared by smoking then stewing. The meat is light and fine grained, but the musk glands must be removed as part of preparation. The meat can be used in place of rabbit and chicken in recipes. The cousin of the opossum, the possum, found in Australia (and introduced to New Zealand) is consumed in a similar manner. (Davidson, 1999)

Historically, hunters in the Caribbean would place a barrel with fresh or rotten fruit to attract opossums who would feed on the fruit or insects. Cubans growing up in the mid-twentieth century tell of brushing the maggots out of the mouths of "manicou" caught in this manner to prepare them for consumption. It is said also that the gaminess of the meat causes gas. Do I need to even comment on this one? If you are eating possum, I don't think a little extra gas is the worst thing going on in your life.

In Mexico, opossums are known as "tlacuache" or "tlaquatzin". Their tails are eaten as a folk remedy to improve fertility. I refuse to comment on this one. It's too hard to laugh and type at the same time.

Opossum oil (Possum grease) is high in essential fatty acids and has been used as a chest rub and a carrier for arthritis remedies given as topical salves. I'll skip that massage, thanks.