I feel horrible!!! Was it right? Was it wrong? IS there a right answer?

[20736]

Posums and Coons don't feel bad about eatin' eggs 'n chickens!
Y'all did what had to be done.
That's the way it is.

 

[leadwolf1]

I worked in research with possums for years. They were being used to help create a rabies vaccine for wild animals. Why? because, possums do not carry rabies. Please let me know where there have been rabid possums.

Don't believe that possums are immune to rabies, they are somewhat resistant only. There have been rabid possums! You did right! Also see about refreshing your dog's vaccines now. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

leadwolf1, in respose to your question about possums and rabies; The CDC website documents three rabies positive possums in 2010 in the US. I'm sure others have been found, but that's as far as I got tonight on the internet. I've seen other reports, noted because it is unusual. Mary

 

[leadwolf1]

Wow, that's pretty scary. Thanks for the info. We tried everything, including injecting them with live virus, and they never became infected. Just goes to show you how things are mutating and changing. Again, thanks for the info...I'm gonna check it out when I get a little time for some research. Sorry, I used you to do my work for me

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree you need to do what you need to do. You don't have to enjoy doing it, you just have to do it.

One reason I'm jumping in this thread is to mention that not all normally nocturnal animals you see out in the daytime are sick or injured. There are a lot of different reasons possoms, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, skunks, whatever, may be out during daylight hours. There is also no reason a sick or injured animal won't be out at night. I always assume that any wild animal I see, day or night, could be infected and treat them with caution.

Also, when you get your refresher course on firearms, I suggest you discuss what shells you should use in your shotgun for which animals. I don't know the gauge of your shotgun, but there is a tremendous difference in the size of the shot and the type of load (Field Load versus Turkey Load, for example). You want ammunition powerful enough to do the job but not so powerful you are afraid to shoot it.

I'm also relunctant to use a .22 if there is another choice. Sometimes a .22 is the right choice of weapon, but it has a much greater range than a shotgun. Ricochets and strays can travel a long way. I saw an article in the paper today where someone died because someone about a mile away fired a rifle up in the air.

 

[Folly's place]

leadwolf1, as I recall from a lecture (a thousand years ago) the rabies positive labratory induced possums were injected right in their little brains. Ugh!!! It was a long time ago... Mary