Caught that Durn possom...PICS

[twzlrwho]

He'd be kinda cute...IF MY CHICKEN WASN'T IN HIS BELLY! I am just glad he couldn't get another one.

WOOHOO

 

[kuntrygirl]

Yea, he is kinda cute.

 

[silentrunning]

Let him show you his teeth. You won't think he's so cute then.

 

[twzlrwho]

Yeah those teeth are scary. And the fact that he is a chicken killer takes from the cuteness as well. Not to mention the diseases these things carry. UCK I am such a germaphobe (sp).

 

[Chicken Fruit]

They are the ugliest of God's creatures. I am certain. I have never liked a possum, especially the ones I see up close.

 

[flopshot]

Quote:
totally agree. if intellegence was a requirement for the existance of life there would be none of these creatures on the planet.

 

[Tala]

I always think they have cute faces and ugly bodies. I think they have a creepy, slow way of moving that just skeeves me out.
I really don't think they're scary, they are usually playing dead when I see those teeth

At least they usually play dead in the trap, instead of trying to attack you through the wires. Raccoons are definitely scarier.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

I love them. They are so cute, but I'm sure when we move to ur new farm and have the chickens outside, I'll change my mind.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Did ya'll know that possums eat slugs, snales, roaches, mice, rats and snakes - even poisonous ones? They have a special resistance to snake venom and it doesn't affect them.

They move slowly because they have a lower body temp than we do, since they are marsupials. I think their temp is like 95 or 97.
99% of possums showing their teeth and hissing is bluff, I snatched a possum off the fence the other day thinking mine got out (with bare hands) and she just started gaping and drooling. Never even TRIED to bite. Some of them can be nasty, especially big males, but generally they are really harmless.

Possums don't carry very many contagious germs. They DO carry equine neurological syndrome (caught from eating peed on hay) and leptospirosis. Chickens can't catch either one and your pets should be vaccinated. They can't get rabies because of their low body temp, the virus can't survive in their bodies. I have handled MANY possums and I am immuno-compromised and have never caught squat from them.

Most critters think possums are pretty tasty, including humans. Up until the 1950s a very popular cookbook had recipes for possum, I think it was Better Homes and Gardens, but I could be wrong.

Possums are nomads and will only stick around if there is a food source. Unfortunately chickens are a food source. But if you can safeguard your chickens at night possums are really good to have around. We were haveing a mouse problem until a big possum came through and stayed for a while and now no more mice!

The poor things are really an under-appreciated species and have a lot more personality than most folks think. You just have to get to know one personally!

 

[CoonX]

Quote:
You might want to recheck that, there has been laboratory confirmed cases of rabies in opossums. Extremely rare, but they can get it.
Only mammals with no confirmed cases so far, is the whales and dolphins.

Will

Oklahoma, where more cows get Rabies then dogs.