Now a possum

[LittleMissCountry]

I wouldn't exactly call it good terms if their dog is coming into your yard and the neighbors are not keeping it home. But, they are your neighbors, not mine. You have to do what works for you.

I know it sounds weird, but this neighbor was the first one in this development. The previous neighbor encouraged the dog to visit by petting it and giving it treats, so I can't really blame the dog.
Our neighbors actually approached us about the dog issue first, telling us that they were trying to train their dog to stay in their yard, and encouraged us to chase the dog out and let them know when it was in our yard. The dog is super friendly but we don't engage with it at all. Its visits have gotten less since we have lived here. I honestly believe that if we did get a dog, the neighbors would find a way to keep their dog out if it showed aggression toward ours. It is more fear on my part, due to the previous situation.
These neighbors have chickens as well and have offered to feed and look after ours if we are gone, and are genuinely good people.

 

[Howard E]

Sounds like you have done as much as you can with what you have. If you have the traps and want to trap and kill these varmints as they come, at least until you can do better, you won't get any argument from me.

On the electric fence, I only use fencers powered by 12 volt deep cycle batteries. Not AC and not solar. A single charge lasts about 2 months. This is the latest one, At 7,000 volts +, it will light em up!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Sounds like you have done as much as you can with what you have. If you have the traps and want to trap and kill these varmints as they come, at least until you can do better, you won't get any argument from me.

On the electric fence, I only use fencers powered by 12 volt deep cycle batteries. Not AC and not solar. A single charge lasts about 2 months. This is the latest one, At 7,000 volts +, it will light em up!

View attachment 1427961

I will have to look into this! I don't know much about electric fences. If we set it up with our current coop, would we be able to move it to the new coop next year (planning on building next summer)?
Also, what does it usually cost for the setup?
I know that possum will be back, along with many others.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

In my experience it’s super easy trapping opossums and raccoons with live traps. Have you tried that? Some yummy cat food for opossums and marshmallows for coons.

I bought a trap yesterday. I am going to have to bring the cats in at night until we catch it, since I don't want them getting in the trap.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Last night, no possum. I went out at 1 a.m. and checked and everything was quiet, and no scent of possum then or this morning. Nothing in the trap.
I am wondering if the neighbor dog took care of it yesterday. The possum took off toward the neighbors house, so I called them to warn them, since they have animals. They said their dog would get it if it set foot in their yard.

 

[happyfrenchman]

Put a collar on the neighbors dog, and your underground fence will keep him out same as it keeps yours in. If they would go for that.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Put a collar on the neighbors dog, and your underground fence will keep him out same as it keeps yours in. If they would go for that.

I hadn't even thought of that! Great idea. I bet the neighbors would totally go for that, and probably even buy the collar.

 

[aart]

Scared a scream out of me.

You screamed but still took a pic before getting the shovel to bash it?
I'm impressed.....also with your logic about dogs and neighbors...kudos!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

You screamed but still took a pic before getting the shovel to bash it?
I'm impressed.....also with your logic about dogs and neighbors...kudos!

Ha! I screamed and backed up, then called my husband, who told me to take a picture of it. I am not afraid of possum...it just startled me. It stayed on the roof in the same spot while I screamed, and through my phone conversation, before I got the rake. I would say there was about five minutes of it just staring at me. I left that part out of the original post...after re-reading it I realize it sounds like I hit it with the rake right after seeing it. It just stared at me like it was wondering what the big deal was.

 

[aart]

Yeah, they are pretty mellow and slow....tho I've seen one backed into a corner, mouth full or terrible teeth wide open and hissing.