Let’s be honest—‘possums probably aren’t topping any lists for cutest critter in the animal kingdom. But what they lack in charm, they more than make up for in pure, scrappy determination. Think of them like your eccentric uncle who’s somehow been using the same styrofoam cup to get free refills at the corner store since 1998—unbothered, unstoppable, and living by his own set of rules.

These nocturnal little renegades will eat just about anything, dodge danger like pros, and when all else fails, collapse into a dramatic, Oscar-worthy performance of playing dead—just to make it through another day. Honestly, it’s impressive. Their motto? Something along the lines of: “If things get too real, just hiss, pass out, and try again tomorrow.”

Survival might not always be pretty, but ‘possums get the job done—with a side of weird, a dash of resourcefulness, and a whole lot of “mind your business” energy. Kinda admirable, really.