Possums

[Garf]

Possum #3. Given a one way trip to the park.

I relocated another squirrel this morning. I took him to his island vacation spot. He seemed happy to leave the trap and run into the trees.

I promise you it is much more humane to transport them to the other side of the lake than leave them alone and let my wife get mad at them for tearing our window screens up. I once called home at night while on a business trip. My wife told me she shot a ten foot alligator for getting too close to our dogs.

Another time I called home and was told she tried to shoot a really large snake. She went into the house and got one of my guns which I kept loaded at all times. She fired all the rounds in the gun without touching the snake because it kept moving. She kept returning to the house for a different gun and eventually emptied all the guns without harming the snake. She said it was moving pretty fast when it got to the forest and out of sight.

My advice to our wild animal neighbors is "don't mess with mama".

Ted

[Garf]

I wonder if animal control would come get the possum?

We are so rural I'm not sure we have law enforcement much less animal control.

Ted

Originally Posted by Garf

I have had trouble with Possums digging up my containers when trying to use leftover cat food for fertilizer. I just had one container dug up using only Tomato Tone. I got out the trap and immediately caught a small possum. After disposing of it, I reset the trap and 2 days later, I caught a large possum.

Possums LOVE cat food, especially if you make it easy for them. It's basically like putting fish below your plants where there is a lot of racoons. They will tear your plants up every time!

[easttx_hippie]

I wonder if animal control would come get the possum?

I called the animal control folks out here about a possum. The guy said he already had six or seven in his freezer and really didn't need any more right now.

[Tracydr]

After losing one horse and having one horse nearly die from a possum carried equine disease, I have no love for possums.
While I don't currently live where I would need to deal with possums, we are moving next year. I've lived in possum country before. Trapping and releasing ditsantly just doesn't work, not to mention its illegal.
This is one of few animals that gets the gun.
Most animals that I will shoot, get used for animal feed. I won't use a carnivore or omnivore, so unfortunately, possum won't get eaten.

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by WillysWoodPile

Possums LOVE cat food, especially if you make it easy for them. It's basically like putting fish below your plants where there is a lot of racoons. They will tear your plants up every time!

Yeah, it's really hard to have barn cats where possums live. They are totally attracted to the cat food. Was wondering if somebody would mention this.

[kurt]

Maybe I am confused or just do not know,what animals are you feeding meat?My guess dogs or pigs.

I've known lots of folks who eat possum, raccoon, and armadillo. Armadillo ain't nothing but possum on the half shell.

Ted

[b54red]

If a possom gets in our yard it is dispatched immediately by our dogs. I almost feel sorry for them because they barely get inside the fence before the dogs are on them. It usually gets a bit noisy when one tries sneaking in late at night and I don't always find the carcass before I smell it. I just wish they could catch the squirrels as easily.

[Garf]

The trap was tripped twice without catching anything. The first time, the bait was eaten. I've never known this trap to fail before.

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by kurt

Maybe I am confused or just do not know,what animals are you feeding meat?My guess dogs or pigs.

Cats and dogs. I feed them meat rather than processed pet food. They've been on this diet for quite awhile and it has really made a difference. Keeps their weight moderated and coats are amazing. Teeth are very clean and healthy, even my tiny little papillon.

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by b54red

If a possom gets in our yard it is dispatched immediately by our dogs. I almost feel sorry for them because they barely get inside the fence before the dogs are on them. It usually gets a bit noisy when one tries sneaking in late at night and I don't always find the carcass before I smell it. I just wish they could catch the squirrels as easily.

Yikes!
My cats have gotten quite good at keeping the dove population checked. The doves here are pests, sort of like pigeons. I could do without the "exploding birds" in the house, though. Course, they always blame the dogs.

[Garf]

Today the bait was gone without tripping the trap. Something out there is smarter than I am.