Maine

[islandgirl82]

Opossums give me the creeps...SO MUCH (massive understatement). When I was 14 or 15 I was chased down a flight of stairs by one that was hanging out on the second story porch of my stepmum's old apartment. I was the only person not harassing it in attempts to scare it off (with the exception of one of my stepsister's who insisted it was adorable and she'd be keeping it as a pet - I should note we're the same age). Being the last one out the door and the least threatening to it, it came after me. I swear I missed the last several steps and the ground between the bottom of the stairs and the car which I leapt into and immediately locked the door, shrieking all the while. I abhor them. Just thinking about that night still makes me shudder.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Me too, although it's a bit unnerving to find out what's really out there.

It is unnerving! Apparently, our backyard becomes a super highway for all sorts of creatures at night. Of course, you would never realize it until it snows and the tracks are visible.

islandgirl - that experience does sound frightening! I have yet to have trouble with opossums (knock on wood) and in theory like to give them a break, because supposedly they are very effective at killing ticks and hence helping to control Lyme... I would likely change my tune quickly if they caused a problem.

 

[lazy gardener]

I've never seen one in my area of the state, even as road kill, though the hunters that I talk to tell me that they are here. They look like evil creatures.

 

[longgrove]

'possums were common when I grew up in Florida. Often seen as road kill, the poor little ones would cling to the mama's body after she was killed by a car. As marsupials, they were very dependent on her. They were known to be vectors for many diseases. I've never seen "hide nor hair" of them around here (Bangor area).

 

[islandgirl82]

My stepmother lived in Biddeford at that time - 17 or 18 years ago. I'm on the coast about 2 hours north from there and I'm thankful to have never seen any here either.

 

[Widget]

'possums were common when I grew up in Florida. Often seen as road kill, the poor little ones would cling to the mama's body after she was killed by a car. As marsupials, they were very dependent on her. They were known to be vectors for many diseases. I've never seen "hide nor hair" of them around here (Bangor area).

Surprisingly possums do not easily contract rabies. They also have a lower than average body temperature (for mammals) and an impressive immune system so many viruses and other disease causing organisms just do not thrive in their bodies. They do, however, have more teeth than any other N. American land mammal.

I do have a soft spot for them after working with one at a zoo I used to work at. I used her for on of the daily animal education shows we did. She was great. And also a hit with the public. She would sit on my shoulder while I gave my talk. She did slip once and grabbed my shoulder with her teeth. She did not bit down hard though. Just enough to steady herself until I could get her repositioned.

 

[longgrove]

Thanks for the info, Widget. I was always fascinated with the critters, prehensile tails and a pouch, cool. I'm glad to hear 'possums aren't as much of a disease risk as I was led to believe. I do have a cat that likes to sit on shoulders. When he slips, he doesn't bite, tho, just digs in the claws (lol)!

Most of my older hens (who have laid reliably through the Winter in the past) are on strike (ever since a 4 day power outage in early November). Thankfully, my 7 month old pullets are lying well. Now just a soon as the BAs size up their eggs, that will be great. Any hope the older hens will go back to laying before Spring?

 

[buckabucka]

Thanks for the info, Widget.  I was always fascinated with the critters, prehensile tails and a pouch, cool.  I'm glad to hear 'possums  aren't as much of a disease risk as I was led to believe.  I do have a cat that likes to sit on shoulders.  When he slips, he doesn't bite, tho, just digs in the claws (lol)!

Most of my older hens (who have laid reliably through the Winter in the past) are on strike (ever since a 4 day power outage in early November).  Thankfully, my 7 month old pullets are lying well.  Now just a soon as the BAs size up their eggs, that will be great.  Any hope the older hens will go back to laying before Spring?

I've never seen an opossum, although DH has seen one in Waterville.
Longgrove, egg production usually begins to pick up for me in mid-January, and then begins to explode in February. I have a 50 hens ranging from pullets to almost 5 years. Last year's lowest weekly total was 25 eggs in early-mid January. By the time the third week in February arrived, I was getting 94 eggs a week, and 183 at the end of March!

Right now, I only have a few two-year-old hens laying, plus 6 pullets. We haven't had a zero egg day yet, although some days we only get one.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

This is my first opossum experience. We bought these battery operated LED motion lights for the coops and around the fence perimeters (http://www.mrbeams.com/) and since then you can tell when something is outside because the lights start turning on. The lights also turn off very quickly after motion is gone, so it helps you figure out where it is. I highly recommend them. I wasn't sold on them when BF first bought them, but the first morning after installation when I went out to do the chores and lights started turning on so I could see what I was doing... and now I'm in love. We also put one on the back door so that the light turns on so you can find your key easily and get in without fumbling.

Ok, enough of the sales pitch.

Anyway, I moved my sewing room downstairs and my machine sits right in front of a window facing the coop. I sew a lot and kept seeing lights turn on and off, so I turned off all the lights in the house and saw this giant thing with a giant tail trying to get into the coop, night after night. Unnerving.

 

[lazy gardener]

SCG What was your giant critter???