live trap - opossum

[cindy99]

I posted this over a month ago. I was saddened that we had to kill the opposum but I understood that it needed to be done. I put the trap away. Last night I smelled a skunk so out of curiosity (and worry for my chickens who by the way are locked up tight at night) I had my son set it again - back by the coop. This morning we have another big opposum! Should we set it every night?

* This is hard for me. I feel like we don't really have a right to kill them but I know that the kids and I would be heartbroken if one of them attacked one of the chickens or one of the cats... My first priority is to protect our pets. Still hard.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
Your doing the right thing. Yes , set it every night.

 

[aprophet]

you are lucky you are not seeing coon and mink with all the water that is close to you the reservoir and the 2 creek/rivers on each side of tioga the game lands south of you probably has a critter or 2 as well

 

[Liamm_1]

Quote:
Seems like you have 2 choices: Predators or your chickens?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Should we set it every night?

Only as long as you have chickens​

 

[cgmccary]

When I catch opposums live in a trap, I always simply relocate. There are plenty of forests around me that are not close to anyone with poultry and the opposums would have to go over a couple of mountains/hills of forest to return so that is where I take them and release (no possibility of return). Opposums are useful in the environment at taking care of mice and carrion. They also serve as an item in the food chain for Great Horned Owls (that are much maligned here for taking poultry). Why kill if you can relocate?

The only time I shoot a opposum is when it is in the act of attacking my birds. They've got a right to live too. JMHO.

 

[lleighmay]

If you're sure your birds are locked up tight why worry about it at all? I lock mine up and also keep the run as secure as humanly possible so I don't worry about the possums, coons, foxes, bobcats, etc. (and I know they're there because I've seen them) which frequent my yard/neighborhood- they're part of the reason I live in the country in the first place.

 

[cindy99]

The chickens are locked up tight at night. During the day they just roam around my yard (someone is usually home). I have a fenced in pen for them for when I will be home late etc... I worry about the times when they are out in the yard and we may be 5 minutes late locking them up. The chicken coop and traps are maybe 300' from my house.

This morning before work I went back out and put a towel over him so he wouldn't be as scared.

When my husband got home he went to "take care of him" -- he put the gun down -- opened the trap and - the little stinker ran straight down a woodchuck hole! Can you tell that we are new to this?

Trap is set again tonight.

* might be a stupid question but can you just shoot them while they are in the live trap?

 

[theFox]

Quote:
You can dispatch them while they are in the trap provided you use a low power weapon and are certain of what is in back of where you are shooting at.

Otherwise you will also damage the trap, have ricochets, etc ...

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

my neighbor did to a ground hog for me this summer! he was worried he would hit the trap but he did a good job not to!

now i'm having an opossum visitor to my yard. my chickens got moved into their winter home at the back of my garage and it is much more secure than the coop. well, last weekend we were woken by a noise at our recycle bin on the deck. i am bad about putting the empty, but not cleaned dog food cans in there. that was the noise i heard. next morning i saw the can on the ground and didn't think anything got into the bin and that it was the wind that knocked it out. got home last night and as i pulled into the driveway i saw that tail end of an opossum running from the recycling bin on my deck. decided to take the dog out for his 'business', took a flashlight with me and found the thing on the opposite side of the house just staring at me watching! ran under the deck to the woodpile and just stared at us!

guess i'll have to set that trap again and see what i catch!