Yum!!
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (351846)
Rockingham, Australia
April 3, 2025 7:15pm CST
We’ve had some really hot weather while we’ve been house-sitting and we’ve enjoyed some really delicious watermelon. Vince usually cuts us up a bowlful each.
He took his outside today and accidentally dropped two pieces. We left it there and sure enough it wasn’t long and the quenda came along and decided he’d do us a favour and clean up the watermelon before the ants moved in.
I was tempted to not crop the photo and leave in a plant pot so you’d get a better idea of the size of the quenda but couldn’t resist giving you a really good look at it. It’s about the size of a smallish cat.
Please don’t say he makes you squirm. He’s a marsupial, not a rodent.
22 people like this
21 responses
@moffittjc (123976)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Apr
He's a giant rat whose tail got cut off!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (123976)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Apr
@JudyEv Are they supposed to have a tail normally?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr
@moffittjc Here is one with an intact tail.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38462)
• Philippines
9 Apr
It sounds like you've had quite an eventful day! Enjoying watermelon in hot weather is always refreshing, and it's great that Vince takes the time to prepare it for you. The quenda cleaning up the dropped pieces is a charming touch—nature's little helpers at work before the ants could take over!
Admittedly, the first time seeing it made me squirm since it does look like a rodent. But no worries, it's fascinating to see such unique wildlife up close, especially when they're as helpful as this little marsupial. Thanks for sharing the story and the photo—it's always nice to get a glimpse of the local fauna!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Apr
This one is becoming quite used to us. I was out on the verandah and looked behind and he was following me. I went back and got a piece of apple for him. I couldn't see him so threw the apple on the cement and turned around to go back inside and I nearly trod on him! I'm sure he knows we bring food.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Apr
@rsa101 I would never do more than give him a little bit of food from time to time. Perhaps if he took food from my hand, that would be nice but I'd never try to 'keep' him as a pet or capture him in any way. The owners of the house feel the same way.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (144725)
• India
5 Apr
I c an never get to like what I see in the photo
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (146686)
• United States
4 Apr
I'd be interested in seeing you growing pot plants, too. 
(Yes, I know what you mean but it's still funny to me. 
)
Your friend still LOOKS like a rodent even if he isn't one... I'd probably still have the "normal" for me reaction to him, which is to jump and move away from him. He looks too much like a rat. (Any time a rat tried to move into the barn when I was growing up, dad would send one of the older boys out to sit quietly and shoot it. He hated rats more than anything else.)1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (146686)
• United States
4 Apr
@JudyEv Rats will run away, too, if you surprise them. I've never seen bold rats like they show on television in the big cities here.
We only saw one once every few years on the farm.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
@wolfgirl569 He won't know what's hit hiim (figuratively speaking) when the owners return!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (187306)
• United States
4 Apr
I find the Australian animals fascinating. They've evolved on an island and were not influenced by other critters.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (187306)
• United States
5 Apr
@JudyEv I'm a firm believer in evolution; but I believe God had a hand in all of it. Otherwise it's just too amazing to believe.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
@LindaOHio I can go along with that. 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43163)
•
9 Apr
He is having a great snack, I am sure he is happy that Vince accidently dropped it there for him!
My son mentioned watermelon not long ago...,but the little bitty round ones are $8.99!! We will wait for summertime!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Apr
@MarieCoyle Our northern regions are much hotter than here and I think a lot of the more tropical fruits come from up north.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43163)
•
11 Apr
@JudyEv
We can buy it anytime of year as well, but unless it's summer, the price is nuts. And to be honest, it truly isn't as good now as it is in the summer. I'll wait and enjoy one then.
1 person likes this
@terri0824 (5134)
• United States
4 Apr
With that long snout...looks as if it could be an ant eater!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
They are omnivorous and often dig in the garden to eat roots, caterpillars, whatever they can find. I wonder how they manage with such a long snout and their teeth not meeting.
@snowy22315 (188519)
• United States
4 Apr
I guess not all of us have the fondness for them that you do..
. I am glad all enjoyed the watermelon!
. I am glad all enjoyed the watermelon!1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
Although I don't really understand it, I've given up trying to convert you all.
@RebeccasFarm (94392)
• Arvada, Colorado
4 Apr
But he does..I wouldn't want him.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (84530)
• United States
4 Apr
I bet he was very happy that Vince dropped that watermelon. He is kind of cute
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
I guess we're a bit more used to funny little creatures. I have to admit he's a bit like a rat.
@Deepizzaguy (109109)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4 Apr
The image of the marsupial does not scare me,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351846)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr
That's good. He is only little and totally harmless so there is no need for people to be scared of him.
