O'possums

[amazondoc]

Quote:
If you have a secure coop, there is no reason to shoot the possum. If you don't have a secure coop, you have a lot worse things than possums to worry about. Answer: make sure your coop is secure, then sleep easy at night.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
better call your local DNR and ask about that one. I bet you will find what they do carry will not only effect horses, but your dogs, cats and people.

As I mentioned earlier -- possums do serve as a vector for a nasty horse disease. HOWEVER, the majority of horses have already been exposed to that disease, so it is pointless to worry about that possum in your pasture.

There is a type of round worm that comes to mind that is not curable in humans, 70% of all coons carry it.

That's coons, not possums.

Here's a good page of info on raccoon roundworm:

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/health/HealthOfficer/CDUnit/DiseaseInfo/RaccoonRoundworms.htm

Notice that most people who get visceral larval migrans get it from DOGS and CATS, not wildlife. As that page specifically states, "Infections with the raccoon roundworm are very rare", and "the risk of such a serious infection is remote". I think about 12 cases from raccoons have EVER been diagnosed.

Again, as I've asked before: PLEASE, if you're going to try to justify lethal means of animal control, PLEASE use facts. PLEASE don't demonize these animals or grossly inflate the dangers they actually pose to you or your livestock.

Ring worm ( a fungus) is also very common in possums and spreads easily to cats, and children, as well as all amimals and is not easy to get rid of.

Again, you are MUCH more likely to get ringworm from your own pets than from a possum.​

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Yeah, I get wimpy sometimes. My paintball gun is modified. Have you
seen my chipmunk post? If I hit the possum it would stun or do internal
damage. A well placed head shot would kill it. If not, the shovel is
always standing by.


To make things worse I just ran over a squirrel today in my van. I
tried to stop but nope, dead squirrel. I turned around and stopped
to make sure it was dead. I hate when I see injured animals suffering
on the side of the road. Someday I may tell the story here how I
euthanized a mangled cat. But then again, maybe not. People may tell
me I should have tried to save the cat with it's insides hanging out.
A heavy mallet will euthanize a cat, but I digress...

 

[TexasVet]

Sorry, but I hate possums and kill them every chance I get. I had a family of 'em move in last year and kill about a dozen chickens. And this year I've lost 14 chicks.

You want to feel sorry for something? Feel sorry for the poor chicken that's swiped from the roost, chased around the coop, and then eaten. And feel sorry for the chicken owner who finds feathers, a head, feet, and maybe a wing the next morning. It's not a pretty sight.

Check out the teeth on one of the nasty critters I killed last year: http://www.countrychickens.com/country_chickens_4_006.htm

Kathy in Texas

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
My kid got ringworm from a Puerto Rican kid he's friends with. What's up with that?
Dang Latinos.








Disclaimer: It's a joke, true, but a joke none the less. Smile and move on.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
And you still haven't built a secure coop, after losing 26 birds? That possum eradication program of yours doesn't sound very effective, since you're still losing birds.....

 

[PurpleChicken]

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OK, you convinced me. The possums are dead!!!

 

[amazondoc]

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My kid got ringworm from a Puerto Rican kid he's friends with. What's up with that?

Yeah, better shoot em all. And keep all your children indoors so they can't catch anything from anyone. Hey, forget ringworm -- head lice, anyone??

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
And you still haven't built a secure coop, after losing 26 birds? That possum eradication program of yours doesn't sound very effective, since you're still losing birds.....

Yeah, well, it's hard to argue with Amazon when she's right.

 

[bluey]

bluey wrote:
Animal lovers do not make the best rescue individuals because of objectivity issues.

Ummm....objectivity?? So far, the "wildlife management" advocate in this thread is the only one who has been caught making false claims (that claim about lepto).

Anybody caring to google opossum and leptospirosis will not only find countless articles and research pertaining to US domestic dogs pointing to opossum as an important reservoir of the disease, they will also find that your claims of "disease free" animals to be a lot of hot air and also will validate my points.

Please don't lecture Epidemiology to someone who holds a Master's degree in the field.

As far as relocating the animals, you can do the legwork. I know it to be true but if you wish to disprove me, have at it.

Of course it makes sense that a person would get ringworm from their pets. But where do you think your pet gets it?

Honestly, we are never going to agree on this topic or probably any topic it seems, but I'm not going to stand by silent and let you make all kinds of questionable claims that tend to mislead folks either.​