Is not a rat, is hamster.

[Wayne Henderson]

A local turned up last night to check out the noise I was making in the shed.
Is not a rat, is Bandicoot.
Navite marsupial that is one of several in my back yard.
Eats bugs, spiders, frogs, lizards and pizza.
Harmless unless you feed them, then they become worse than kids on sugar.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I'll trade you a few raccoons, skunks and ground hogs. The first ones are urban bandits. The second ones are hard of hearing, short sighted and have a pungent smell. The last ones eat vegetation but dig burrows that undermine woodpiles and sheds. None are worth eating.

PS How about a porcupine? Eats tree bark and has quills. Not worth taming, make noisy cat-like mewing sounds and get cranky when confronted. Labrador Retrievers don't have the right genes to avoid these guys.

[Lynn Eades]

As this is becoming a contest of sorts, and because New Zealand doesn't have any native mammals, (other than a bat) I am forced to resort to this:
We have the Kiwi, that eats, roots, shoots, and leaves.
(actually they eat worms)

On a more serious note, thanks Wayne for posting. I've never seen one, and someones personal photo is that little step closer than books and tele.
You have also kept with the theme with the M.V. in the background.
I imagine the Bandicoot is closer related to a Roo than the Rat?. I will go see Mr Google.

[Mike Cecil]

Yesterday morning .... our backyard.

Female Moose (for you Aussies, Kiwis and Poms....)

Mike C

[motto]

If size is the deciding factor you are the winner Mike. Those things are around the size of a horse.
As the Scotsman said,"If that's a moose, what are yer cats like?"

Dave

[Mike K]

Before I moved here, I'd never seen a Goanna or Lace monitor . During the Summer months they patrol along the fences searching for rabbits . Some of them are over 4 feet long . I witnessed one go down a rabbit warren and emerge with a rabbit in its mouth , the rabbit dissappeared down its throat . They usually climb a tree when a human approaches but sometimes they just look at you They have a venom in their mouth , only recently discovered . Mike

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

I'll trade you a few raccoons, skunks and ground hogs.
PS How about a porcupine?

I'll see your porcupine and raise you an echidna Terry. Lots more spikes and named after the fierce Greek goddess Echidna - half woman half snake, known as The Mother of all Monsters!! Actually that's a little unfair, they're not exactly ferocious. Basically a large spiky ball that burrows down when cornered, impossible to budge.

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[Richard Coutts-Smith]

We were getting regular visits from the Greater Australian Humming Bird (bovem de stercore) a couple of years ago, they really make an entrance...starting at about 4.00am
Rich.

[Wayne Henderson]

"it says here to decrease the breaker gap to 0.18"... hold down the thumb... what? What's a thumb?"

[Lynn Eades]

Wayne,I see you feed him/her. Are they fairly tame, or do they run when get close?