There's a possum that lives in my back yard... we cross paths occasionally, since we're both active at night. Freaks me out every time- it reared up and hissed at me once, and I was the one who nearly played dead. I know I should feel more fondly toward North America's only marsupial, but they're just so....mismatched.
They get a bad rap on the rabies thing too. Though they *can* carry rabies, it's not very likely- their body temp is too low.