Having never held one, I'd probably make the assumption that they are considerably heavier than they are. Around here, they get to be a little larger than cats when full-grown. Comparing them by size and girth alone, I'd see how someone could come to the conclusion that a big 'possum could be 30 pounds. I did a little research, and came across an article about a behemoth in North Carolina... which turns out to be only 9 pounds:flintknapper wrote:HighVelocity wrote:30lb possum + 44 mag = big cloud of greasy pink and gray stuff.
A 30 lb. possum would also= New world record by a comfortable margin.
Hard to imagine a 30 pounder scaling anything, let alone a gate.
http://www.mountainx.com/guides/pets/012308possum
Judging from the photo, I'd have easily taken it for 30 pounds before my research.
And, to keep this on topic, I appreciate Excaliber's comments about forethought regarding investigating strange noises in the middle of the night.
As an apartment-dweller, I have considerably less area to cover and any strange noises will either be investigated through a window (if outside) or (if inside) with pistol or shotgun in hand, held at the side, and of course finger off the trigger. I do have small very noisy alarms at every window (which are, of course, locked), which would signal an intrusion attempt there. The front (and only) door is steel (hollow, though a decent gauge) and has a lock that is only operated from the inside in addition to the regular bolt, and is always locked when I am home. Any attempt at entry there would make a whole lot of noise.
Backstop is a considerable concern where I live, and I have made myself aware which walls are backed with brick and which are not. Fortunately, the floors on the lower (where I am) and upper levels are concrete, which would make something a backstop were an upwards shot required in a defensive situation. This is one of the reasons I incorporate firing from kneeling and crouching positions into my range sessions. Though it is unlikely that I would have a choice in the direction I am shooting were I to find myself in a home invasion situation, I believe it is good to have options already considered and available beforehand.
Hats off to everyone who has contributed to this discussion.
