Caught an Possum. Killed a chook and eating eggs/chicken food. What to do?

[jak2002003]

The suggestion of drowning the animal is very cruel method. Also injecting it in the chest cavity? How are you going to keep hold of the thing and where are you going to get the needle and stuff to inject it - there is too much chance something will go wrong here and the animal will bite you.

I would suggest re location.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: You do it while they are still in the trap.
It's not hard to figure out, and it works very well

Tractor Supply has needles and syringes, as do many good feed stores, and you can buy rubbing alcohol at any drug store

Relocation is illegal, can spread diseases, and just makes it someone else's problem.
If you aren't going to kill it, you shouldn't be trapping it

 

[bigoledude]

Drowning is absolutely humane. They struggle for maybe two seconds and just relax into a sleep-like mode. It's how show-dog folks have been culling inferior puppies for many years!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I do not wish to offend anyone. This is my honest opinion.. and i do have the experience to state my observations and personal feelings. I have worked with DNR for several years as a rehabilitator for orphaned wildlife. that said. Please, be responsible to destroy this animal. Have a heart and do not relocate. I am a former director of Animal control, and was active in field daily for several years... I would be out there taking this animal for you if i was in your district. I would then destroy the animal, relocation is extremely cruel. Try to understand... If i take you and dump you in the woods, away from where you lived and all you have known, would you survive? And flourish? Or would you seek easy prey to feed yourself...and shelter in where you are probably not wanted? Gallant to say release.. cruel to do to any wild animal. No different than dumping that unwanted cat or dog on the corner to starve, suffer and become ill. Wild animals that are relocated, and overpopulated, suffer horrible consequences in most cases. Be humane in your decision, and considerate of other people.Call your local law enforcement or veterinarian for advice.. Good luck

 

[jak2002003]

Drowning is absolutely humane. They struggle for maybe two seconds and just relax into a sleep-like mode. It's how show-dog folks have been culling inferior puppies for many years!

Drowning puppies that are 'inferior' does not seem cruel to anyone?

This kind of thing is what is wrong with animal breeders. They are thousands of dogs needing good homes, yet people are still breeding them for money, and destroying perfectly healthy animals just because they don't meet the show standards. What a sad world we are living in today.

If people don't have compassion for other life and each other I thinks that's very sad.

 

[Trefoil]

Go over your coop and run, securely patch every hole over 1/2" with hardware cloth 1/2" x 1/2" . I would relocate the possum at least a couple of hundred feet away. Once your coop and run are secure, predators aren't a problem. Look up when checking out your coop and run, they could be climbing until they find a spot to get in. Having a secure coop and run are a permanent fix, trying to kill off the predators is ineffective and temporary.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Drowning puppies that are 'inferior' does not seem cruel to anyone?

This kind of thing is what is wrong with animal breeders. They are thousands of dogs needing good homes, yet people are still breeding them for money, and destroying perfectly healthy animals just because they don't meet the show standards. What a sad world we are living in today.

If people don't have compassion for other life and each other I thinks that's very sad.

Its very sad. Its reality in the breeder world to some extent and no, i don't agree with it at all..
Has no bearing on relocating or euthanizing an opossum so i feel its way off topic here...

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Go over your coop and run, securely patch every hole over 1/2" with hardware cloth 1/2" x 1/2" . I would relocate the possum at least a couple of hundred feet away. Once your coop and run are secure, predators aren't a problem. Look up when checking out your coop and run, they could be climbing until they find a spot to get in. Having a secure coop and run are a permanent fix, trying to kill off the predators is ineffective and temporary.

YES well said! But take them away... 60 miles or more!!! you would be amazed how far they will travel to return to their "home".

 

[zazouse]

I do not wish to offend anyone. This is my honest opinion.. and i do have the experience to state my observations and personal feelings. I have worked with DNR for several years as a rehabilitator for orphaned wildlife. that said. Please, be responsible to destroy this animal. Have a heart and do not relocate. I am a former director of Animal control, and was active in field daily for several years... I would be out there taking this animal for you if i was in your district. I would then destroy the animal, relocation is extremely cruel. Try to understand... If i take you and dump you in the woods, away from where you lived and all you have known, would you survive? And flourish? Or would you seek easy prey to feed yourself...and shelter in where you are probably not wanted? Gallant to say release.. cruel to do to any wild animal. No different than dumping that unwanted cat or dog on the corner to starve, suffer and become ill. Wild animals that are relocated, and overpopulated, suffer horrible consequences in most cases. Be humane in your decision, and considerate of other people.Call your local law enforcement or veterinarian for advice.. Good luck

I agree with destroying the critter, but what did you do with the rehab critters?

 

[BeulahBreezes]

I am not necessarily in favor of 're-locating' pests and predators. I live in the country and many, many times people have dropped off animals at our house or very near our house.....yes, just because I live in the country!!! We absolutely know that this is why the coyote problem has doubled and tripled in the past few years! ~Beulah
ps...I have a young possem that will come right up on our front porch and eat whatever he can find......so now we always make sure the cat food, chicken feeders and water are empty at night........hens are locked up safely, (in Fort Knox my hubby says! lol)