OK, now I have to share my possum/rat story.
Was coming home one night and I have a bird bath not too far from the back door. In the moonlight, I saw some movement there and hit my keychain mounted flashlight. My first thought was, "oh, a baby possum" but then I realized that was no possum, that was one gynormous freakin' rat!!!
Holy mother of all rodents! It just sat there on the edge of the birdbath looking at me, daring me to come near. Well, the image of the "vicious bunny" from the Holy Grail movie came to mind, as did the cat attack I lived through, and I chickened out (no pun intended). Set numerous traps (both old-fashioned and electronic rat traps and live traps too) but never caught rat one.
I still wonder if it's lurking out there in the darkness....