Used to be there were lots of rat and skull art in the alleys.
They have gone out of style. Recently skulls are popping up here and there.
I found my first rat in Graffiti Gallery in Winnipeg, when my niece Sherrie was driving me around muralling.
It was near Hallowe’en. The rat was on a pumpkin. I vowed to dedicate all rat posts to her.
Thrilled, I sent her a pic of this rat, immediately! Her hubs said Possum.
I dedicate this post to Sherrie, just in case it’s a rat!
Pics taken by Resa – May 18, 2021
Toronto, Canada
The Rat? Artist:
With help from:
BSM = Body Soul & Mind. (I’ve met him a few times)
IBC – I don’t know.
The writing Artist- InSight (I can read it! He’s been around awhile)
Graffiti Lux Art & More 
It is an opossum as it has canines and not rat buckteeth. It’s a really good depiction of an opossum, too.
Thanks Tim!
The rat’s buckteeth makes sense, that this is not a rat.
Nick Sweetman is a fabulous wildlife artist. You name the animal, fish, insect, flower… he’s done them all with a perfection only love of nature & talent can deliver. He is one of my fave street artists. He did the Monarch Butterfly on the building I live in.
He’s very good.
I went on Wikipedia to find out more about opossums. I did not know that opossums were marsupials and that their biology, flexible diet, and reproductive habits make them successful colonizers and survivors in diverse locations and conditions. I continue to learn!
They are strange. They have not adapted to this New Mexico as it it probably too far west and north. They probably don’t like our hot, dry climate either, but ai do know a little about those I new world marsupials.
Trent left a link that’s very informative. It’s from The Nature of Things. https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/features/opossums-misunderstood-marsupials
He also noted that the image on the page could have been the model for this painting.
{{hugs}}
I vote ‘possum…The photo at the top of this page could almost be the model: https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/features/opossums-misunderstood-marsupials
Thanks Trent! I read the article, and I quite like ‘possums, now! Yes, perhaps the artist used that image. I’ve seen Nick painting, and he does use photographs.
The Nature of Things is am amazing program. I found a David Suzuki mural about 4 years ago. https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2017/06/18/david-suzuki/
I’m sure it is a great show. I had seen similar images, so when I searched for one and this came up, I thought it would be perfect, but I didn’t realize how perfect 🙂
Agree! 😀
I’m on team possum!
Cool! Lol! Seems Rat is on the losing side….. so far!
The hamstah dudes are but upset rat–oops– that, they are not adorning these walls xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hamster walls are important. We must get out the message! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Abso. We must spread the word xxx
Rat or possum…still frighteningly adorable ❤ ❤ ❤
Yeah..a real cutie..!!
I rally thought I’d found a rat for you. xo
Looks like a possum to me too, but could be a rat! Quite a dramatic mural either way! Love it..
Sigh! It’s possumming out!
…yeah…. I love it, too!
OMG! I never expected to see an opossum mural! Resa, you find the coolest things. Hugs on the wing!
I believe that Resa is a “mural whisperer” – she always finds treasure.
LOL, I agree, Rebecca. You should see the amazing ones she found for my “Glowing Pigs” collection. I wouldn’t have thought there’d be pig murals either but Resa “whispered” them! Still… that ‘possum is fabulous.
https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2020/05/07/thank-you-teagan/
Hugs on the wing!
Teagan, it was so much fun using my street art piggies for “Glowing Pigs”!
I have found many animal murals.
I wonder what I’ll find this summer?
I look forward to whatever you find. But this ‘possum belongs in a hall of fame. I guess their personalities leave a lot to be desired, but they have such beautiful fur, and the way they carry their babies around is spectacular.
I’d like to see them carry their babies!
Rebecca! I found a beautiful garage door, 2 days ago. I also fond this demented, yet beautiful face, done by a tattoo artist.
{{hugs}}
I never know what I’m going to find when I head out! I’m thinking street art season will really pick up mid June. That’s when restrictions are easing up here, and the “Stay at Home” order, will become a general lockdown with eased restrictions.
Rats carry rabies (sometimes) possum never do so the difference is big. I like that they are presented in a way to be hard to tell. It is like those snakes that are very similar but only one is poisonous. .
Interesting, Pat! Yes, rats are known to carry rabies, as are raccoons and bats. I’ve been learning a lot about the opossum in these last couple of days. They are valuable animals.
Come to think of it, I used to find a lot of street art snakes. They seem to have lost popularity. Only 1 is poisonous… I’ll just avoid them all. Live on the safe side!
Possums aren’t that fuzzy. I love this post. The artwork is absolutely wonderful. What great street art.
Maybe it’s a fuzzy variety of ‘possum? I’ve never actually seen one?
Agree! This style of street art is classic. It’s the first style I ever photographed in Toronto.
Although it all began with The Murals of Winnipeg.
Toronto got into murals later on.
Maybe the rat is playing possum. Sorry, I just had to . . .
Hehehe! Good one! LOLOLOL
I had to, you understand 😉
Yes, I do! 😀
I am going with opossum, based on Tim’s comment on the teeth. I did my studies and this is what I found on Wikipedia: “Most members of this order have long snouts, a narrow braincase, and a prominent sagittal crest. The dental formula is:
5.1.3.4
4.1.3.4
× 2 = 50 teeth. By mammalian standards, this is an unusually full jaw. The incisors are very small, the canines large, and the molars are tricuspid.
Who knew that there was a dental formulae for opossums!?!!
Loved this post, Resa! Almost felt like the possum was coming through the screen.
Rebecca,
I adore the way you “get into” everything!
Some cool & biting ‘possum facts here.
The art is vivid. Nick is a talented artist. I’ve covered much of his work on this blog. He has his own category. It’s on the side bar, first up under Artists… just under Boogapony Holly.
Rat-tled on first look but settling for opossum.
Lol! Seems like opossum wins claws down!
It looks like an opossum to me also. He looks a little sinister from the nose down. However, if you focus on the eyes, it looks like the sweetest thing. Interesting mural for sure. 🙂
It is an interesting piece. I was quite thrilled to find it!
I was over looking at your puppets! Very cool!!!!!!!
Thanks so much, Resa. 🙂
Hi Resa, I believe it is probably an OPOSSUM which is native to the North American continent. Opossums have shorter/broader faces than Rats or Possums. And I think I have found the Opossum that posed for this portrait…
It’s very similar.
But this question, Rat or Possum reminds of a similar question I was asked about the UK’s wildlife. What is the difference between a Stoat and a Weasle? I replied, “One is Weasily recognisable whilst the other is Stoatly different!” Great post and pictures as always.
I just read that opossums have impressive memories; they almost never get rabies and they use their tails as an extra arm. It is clear that they out score me on all fronts. Regards, TOF
TOF!
So you have a tail, but it’s not prehensile?
I take it you’ve had rabies, then?
You’ll never get int the esteemed “Club Opossum”!
Good point. I may well have had rabies. My brain and nerves rarely function, young Resa. I am, though a member of ‘Club Dodo’ sadly our membership is scant. There you have It. Regards, TOF
Fab find and photo’s, never seen an opossum before!
I’ve never seen one either, except in street art!
🤣🤣
It definitely looks like an opossum and a gorgeous one too!!!! What a find, Resa! I love it!
❤😍⭐🥰🤗🌻🧡❤💐🧡🌟🌺🥰
😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
It is gorgeous. Nick is a fabulous artist. He paints all kinds of wildlife.
I love this, too! ❦🦡🦝❦🦡🦝❦🦡🦝❦🦡🦝❦🦡🦝❦🦡🦝❦🦡🦝
Sigh, as there is no “possum emoji, I have presented a bunch of badgers and racoons!
😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
It’s a hamster, obviously. And I just bought a new pet hamster by zee way. I shall send you a few pictures of his cuteness.
Ahh.. Shey would love it to be a hamster. There is a definite lack of hamster art.
OMG… you have a new baby! What’s his name?
Shame on Toronto! Such a great city, ruined by the lack of hamsters.
And aye. New baby! Think I’ll go with Murray. Pictures are on my Instagram feed if you fancy an advance viewing. I’ll be charging in future.
We liked having an opposum/possum near our yard in Illinois because they eat lots and lots of mosquitos!! Hurrah! Wonderful art and artist even though that possum doesn’t look too friendly.
janet
Janet,
I heard they ate a lot of garbage/stuff that humans don’t want around. Let me gladly add mosquitoes to the list! The ‘possum might not look friendly, but the artist is a sweetie! x
That’s all that really counts. 🙂
I am going with Possum on this one. When I lived in the deep South along the Gulf Coast I would see one from time to time. Susan and I actually had one hiss at us on a night walk along the beach board walk. Anyway its a cool piece of artwork. 🙂
Possum has won, 100%!
Agree, it’s a wonderful piece of ‘possum art! 😀
Despite the very red nose, it is certainly not Santa’s reindeer Rudolf . 😀
Crazy about Rebecca’s fantastic documentation, so convincing.
Excellently captured, Resa. 🙂
Dearest LDN,
Thank you for your comment on my capture!
It is definitely NOT Rudolph….LOL!
Rebecca is a fab person. She’s curious and will explore history, nture, science, all the arts and anything you can think of.
You are a sweetie! xoxoxoxoxo
Either way, a totally amazing work of art nicely captured.
Agree! Wonderful art!
Definitely a possum! And a fabulous depiction of one, at that!
Thunder!
Possum has scored 100%!
I have never seen a possum in real life. I’ve seen all kinds of rats, even 2 legged ones!
It is a fab painting.
Sorceress!
That’s cool. Definitely a possum 😉
They are cute little critters 😉
And yes. Fab all the way.
😀