HELP!!! opossum trouble

[mychickensareidiots]

Ok, so tonight i went out back to put my birds up and as i was closing the door, my dog started going crazy by the fence. She has been sniffin around alot lately neer where our garden meets our fence and i thought she was just smelling an old scent but as i shined that light up, i saw the wicked teeth of a huge possum.

i ran over to the fence and amazingly she did not run. i happened to have a shovel right by the fence so i dropped the light and as soon as i grabbed the shovel the possum started running down the top of the fence. i ran with it and whacked as hard as i could but i'm not sure if i hit the possum. i knocked it off the fence, but i jumped up and looked over and did not see it. i know they are very hard to kill, but i thought a blow to the head might stun it enough for me to make another good hit with the shovel.

So, i want to somehow finish it off, but i dont know the best way to get one in the city. I know it seems a little wrong to kill it but i hate them and it was just a little to close to my hens. i have got one live trap but it is too small so i was thinking about possibly buying some steel traps from Gander Mountain and setting those baited up with peanut butter or cat food, but i'm just worried that it will not find those traps. if you have any methods that you have been succesful with, please let me know. remember though, i am in the city, i really cant shoot it, except with maybe a pellet gun if its on the ground.

 

[GoodEgg]

Since you are in the city, I wonder if your local Animal Control has some larger traps they can lend you? There might be some agency for trapping nuisance wildlife too, although I don't know if 'possums would fit under that category.

I didn't have much luck calling animal control for a sick 'possum that was walking circles in my drive years ago when I called, but hopefully they could help you.

Good luck getting rid of it!

trish

 

[tiffanyh]

I would call animal control if you are that worried. Or there are people who will trap them. They would do any sort of killing more humanely. Being beaten with a shovel until you are dead is quite tortorous. I wouldnt wish that on anything.

 

[Poison Ivy]

I caught a possum a few months back without even trying! I had the trap set by my back door with nothing in it. I came out to feed the animals and I looked down and there it was. I guess it was just walking close to the wall of the house and went in. Most feed stores carry traps you might check there.

 

[arlee453]

Your possum buddy may just decide that risking another bonk on the head with a shovel isn't work the trouble.

Quite a few years ago, I had a possum getting into my outbuilding eating my cats' food. I used to leave the window open so the cats could come and go and put their food in there. I had noticed this odd funky odor for a long time and had wondered what it was.

At any rate, one day was going through to feed the dogs and lo and behold there was this gi-normous possum, just sitting there by the cat's bowl (with the cat sitting back away like - no, really, you go ahead and eat all you want...) I grabbed a broom and tried to poke him, thinking he'd be scared of me and just leave. No luck. He ends up hissing at me like something from hades (ie "Hey lady, I'm trying to EAT here...").

Then I tried to 'sweep' him towards the door -he instead goes the OTHER way - over to the dog's side of the building. Then I cornered him and he sprayed his stink and played dead (a memorable smell moment). I finally took the push broom and swept him (still playing dead) out the door. He lay there for a few min until he thought I was gone, then got up and ambled back into the woods.

Never saw that bugger again - he was probably most upset that 'some crazy lady' had interrupted his dinner.

-S

 

[justusnak]

arlee453 What a funny story! I can just see it now. Oh, and the smell! UGH!! I agree with others tho.....call animal controll....they should help ya there. If not...get a bigger trap.

 

[schmoo]

I just caught one in a metal live trap with dry catfood. Just to be more sure they smell it I'd use wet stinky food. The bugger had no problem finding the trap.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
That's how I catch possums... caught at least half a dozen this way. Then I baited it and the bait just rotted... You just have to place it around a corner so they walk right in.

 

[Poison Ivy]

If I bait them sometimes I catch my barn cat!

 

[mychickensareidiots]

Well i'm not to keen on calling animal control. I have called them before when i had a rabid coon out back and they just walked out there with a pellet gun and popped him. so i think i'm gonna go pick up a few traps and trap him. I do think he will be coming back though, i dont think my shovel actually hit him and i know how persistent they can be. I once had one try and get into my grandparents coop and he tried for about 2 hours on end one night and then came back each night for the next 5 days until my grandfather killed it.

I just had one more question: Will a possum come out during the daytime even if it is not rabid? I know they are typically rabid if you see it outside during the day.