'Possum!!! A danger to my chickens? We let him go....PICS ADDED!

[cjeanean]

LOL, we relocated him. He took off as fast as his little legs would carry him! I didn't kill him is because we don't have a way to do so, other than a hammer or gasoline. The last time I used a hammer on something it was the raccoon we picked up.

Hubby told me he wanted a coonskin hat when we passed a roadkill coon, and I told him I would make him a hat. We picked it up, and when we got home we realized that although it was mortally injured it wasn't dead, so I got a hammer and killed it. I had only known hubby for a week at that point, so you can just imagine what was going through his head. That was to put the animal out of its misery, not to be cruel.


Pics, as promised:

 

[Farmer Brown]

Did the little guy pee himself?

 

[chilling in muscadine]

Christina, Snakeman said 5 miles was plenty far enough.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
I think that is possum drool... gross.

Rooster-Red, I still have no idea how you bring yourself to pick those things up bare-handed. EW.

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
I think that is possum drool... gross.

Rooster-Red, I still have no idea how you bring yourself to pick those things up bare-handed. EW.

I don't let them drool on me, and I wash my hands afterward.

 

[cjeanean]

Quote:
I let him go about 10 miles out...LOL, yeah, that's possum drool, it was so funny he was all peeking at us and everything....

 

[theOEGBman]

Oh man, he's adorable! That's awesome that you let him go, I'm a softie for predators so that's what I'd be doing.

 

[bluey]

Just like Arnold...he'll be back!

 

[silkiechicken]

I would have shot it myself, but if you don't have the proper way to dispatch, it is best to release. Not a fan of relocation, as it can spread disease, give someone else your problem, put an animal in a situation where it doesn't know where it is, and can lead to starvation or injury due to trespassing on others territory, but everyone decides for themselves.

For a possum, that little guy is pretty cute. The old boys with their hair thinning and hissing at you from a live trap are UGLY.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Quote:
Thanks Silkiechicken. I do agree with you whole heartedly.
I relocated a ground hog here a while back and when I got home I thought of just what you stated.

We still have ONE groundhog left. It lives under the chicken barn office (poured concrete). I have made sure it can not get into the barn to eat the chickens food. I see him every so often, out with the chickens during the day. I told the wife to let em go for the winter.

I used to be a real hard posterior on predetors and varmits. Now, I am getting a little mushy. The only thing I really do not tolerate is Armadillos and Possums. Armadillos becuase they are extremly destructive with the wifes garden and Possums because the wife raises Miniature horses and she usually has about 6 mares in foal.

Possums carry a lethal virus that can easily be contracted by a horse.