Caught a baby possum....could Mom still be around????

[peachesdeese]

For the first time last night I heard my chickens sounding off. Calls I won't forget. They had never made any noise at night before. When I went to check there was a little possum in a doghouse (transformed to a chicken house) with a dead teenage chicken and a live chicken! I had to catch it....I couldn't shoot it because of where it was at. (That was fun doing ALONE!) But...its dead now...the turd! It was my fault it got in. I was late shutting the kennel doors to there area.

Anyways, I don't know much about possums. We have killed a few adult ones over the past few years eating the outside cat's food. I haven't ever seen a small one around here. Do you think I need to worry about others coming around now? How long do babies stay near their mommas??

Its body was about the size of a softball....not counting its head. Just for reference!!!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

As long as there is food outside, there will be more possums
A couple of weeks ago I had a fox on the porch eating cat food.
Unfortunately (for the fox) she showed up again when I was outside.
She's now sleeping in my freezer until I get a chance to skin her

 

[rocmoc]

Rarely is there only one. Watch for it's brothers, sisters & parents. We had two teenagers a couple of months ago. Killed one because I couldn't get to it and caught the other. Relocated it across the river. Be careful, they have razor shape teeth and will use them.

rocmoc n AZ

 

[peachesdeese]

Yeah... I saw those teeth! Still gives me the creeps! I made sure to close all the doors tonight!

 

[juliawitt]

Oh yes....where there is one, there is more...Mom, Dad, Uncle, Aunt and many, many brothers and sisters. You will have to be vigilant. We live trapped every single night for almost a month. We caught too many racoons and opossums to count. Then one night, we caught nothing, and haven't caught anything for quite a while. We have thinned them out for now. Emphasis on the now. We are going to start setting the trap again next week. Keep up the good fight.

 

[peachesdeese]

Ughhh. I hope I don't have anymore problems! But, the traps aren't a bad idea. Last night went fine but.....better safe than sorry I guess!

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Went to let out my chickens this morning and my dog killed a baby possum overnight! I think I'll keep the chickens in the run this weekend instead of letting them free range!

 

[Bizzybirdy]

There are more around. I shot a young baby in my chicken house a few weeks ago that apparently has walked in during the day and since then have shot 3 more! Am sure they are part of one family...am hoping only ONE family.

Actually I was waiting for this "crazy" wild skunk and everytime I opened the door another possum was there.