How to get rid of a possum?

[SVRabbitry]

I never really wanted him relocated, either he dies or he leaves my hens alone. Problem is I can't shoot him. Residential neighborhood. Barbwire was mentioned by a friend of mine. Put it across the fence line I think he'd walk around it.

 

[DonOfPensacola]

I've already killed two possiums that were eating the eggs that weren't collected because I work 3/12am. I had a broody hen go crazy when she had a midnight visitor. I knew that I didn't have chickens breaking eggs. The eggs the possiums were getting they were licked clean. So one trap caught two this week. Disbatched due to over population in the area. The plus side is that late night visit broke my broody hen of her 2 month sitting. I had to use a fertile egg to break her last time.

 

[4 the Birds]

No need to kill any animal looking for a meal. Poor coop design is inviting them into your killing zone. All that is needed is a secure coop and run.

 

[ky chicken mom]

I had a Possum about a week ago get into my coop and kill one of my Cochin hens. I am terrified of Possums. I cry when I see them, I'd prefer not trapping for this reason. You'd think after the night he had stuck in my coop he wouldn't come back. We'll he's been back multiple times trying to dig his way back in. I need something to get rid of him that's not shooting because I live in a neighborhood. He's been stalking my house for a while (chickens and rabbits) I was thinking a water balloon filled with vineger so when he digs it pops right into his face

I am sorry you are afraid of opossum...It is 1 of the assumed aggressive animals ...i have always just picked them up by the tail with a slight shaking if they try to flip up to climb on my arm and put them in a wooded area ...i have had a opossum live in my home for almost 4 yrs who was better house trained than many dogs (went to front door to be let out to potty)...im only sharing this info as they are not usually aggressive at all ...they are almost blind and really do...play dead...if you have any animal rehab close to you you might be able to relocate it if you use a live trap...when i took my opossum to the animal rehab/release person i was called 3 days later to come and get her...normal practice would have been to put my opossum down if it could not be returned to wild... mine was so 100% human social and really sweet the person just could not do it...I wish I could help you...if you put a small radio or motion light by your chickens and rabbits that alone should keep opossums away...good luck

 

[shmccarthy]

Possums don't frequent around my house often anymore but they're under our "shoot on sight" list. They're not very smart and they're not very fast or agile either. I ran up to one and kicked it over with my boot and it started well playing possum. That gave me enough time to get my gun and be rid of it. Darn thing was walking around the garden in the middle of the day.. You can get an air rifle and use that to dispatch it in a residential area, they're really quiet and only shoot a little pellet. They're perfect for stealthily killing small game at close range. That would probably be your best bet.

 

[ky chicken mom]

If anyone is interested...this is 1 of many link's to ...the facts about Opossum's... http://www.opossum.org/ research has it's good points too...Google it.

 

[Folly's place]

I also have horses, and have a mare who has had two episobes of EPM: this is a nasty neurological parasite that is transmitted by opossums and fatal or debilitating for horses. I shoot possums on site at my place! Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I also have horses, and have a mare who has had two episobes of EPM: this is a nasty neurological parasite that is transmitted by opossums and fatal or debilitating for horses. I shoot possums on site at my place! Mary

 

[DonOfPensacola]

No need to kill any animal looking for a meal.   Poor coop design is inviting them into your killing zone.  All that is needed is a secure coop and run.  

It's not a poor design at all. It's that it was a great digger. Yea I could have dug a 5ft trench and hardware mess along with concrete. But my poor wallet along with my poor design went with 1ft deep mess and 4x4's. don't worry, the possiums didn't go to waste. They are buried in the ground next to my compost so my worms can find a meal too.

 

[quigley257]

No need to kill any animal looking for a meal.   Poor coop design is inviting them into your killing zone.  All that is needed is a secure coop and run.  

You know what they say about opinions. Please feel free to read the forum rules.

Trapping and killing coons and possums is an effective way of dealing with the problem.