Possum update

[Rocinante]

ok I posted last night that I'd messed up and left an opening unblocked that allowed possums to get under the house. For you kind folks that thought I would kill them I'm not. I caught the first one in a trap and turned him loose out in the woods about two hours ago. Two, maybe three remain under there, and I will release them at the same point in the woods as I did the first one. I just hope they are as easy to catch.

[Dookus]

1. possums

are real easy to trap. They're dumb as a sack of doorknobs.

I tried to trap some raccoons, and for every raccoon I got, I trapped three 'possums.

I used peanut butter and marshmallows. Cat food will work, too.

[Rocinante]

2. I used sardines

I was raised on a farm in the middle of nowhere and I know them possums go for the stinky stuff. I stated last night that I hate possums, but that's not true, I just hate what I've seen them do.

[Dookus]

3. yeah, I saw that...

you said they hurt chickens.

I live in town, and I've had 'em under my house. I like 'em. They don't hurt anything around here, and they're sorta cute in a gangly, creepy way.

[Rocinante]

4. You may have

me confused with someone else about the chicken thing, but I've seen possums do some gross stuff, but I won't elaborate, you like possums and I ain't real crazy about them. But I must say that a possum has never harmed me or anyone I know.

[Dookus]

5. lol..

sorry. I saw somebody complain about how they'd kill their chickens.

But I'm actually curious about what you've seen. It's ok... I'm not squeamish. I'm just interested in all wildlife.

[Rocinante]

8. Damn

I just realized you are a Mod now. My speed reading has failed me again. Congratulations, I don't know how you folks can put up with all ths stuff! Ok, possums on the farm. The farm next to us, when a cow died he didn't bother to call the tankage truck(glue factory)but would leave the carcass to rot above ground. That's where the possums would have a party. Us kids would throw a rock and hit the cows carcass and the possums would just come helter skelter out of there. I mean they would be deep inside there. Don't know about you, but that ruined me on possums forever.

[Dookus]

9. heheh...

well, I try to hide my mod epaulets outside my usual beat: LBN. Being a mod is actually sorta fun. A bit of work, but worthwhile. I'd recommend it for anybody who has some extra time and feels strongly about the value of this site.

Ahh... so possums are scavengers. I knew that. Yeah, it's probably gross to see one crawling out of a dead cow, but hey, they're doin' their job. Since dead cows are few and far between here, I only see them scuttling along my fence or lurking in my driveway. A few months ago, I almost pet one: it was dark, and I thought it was my neighbors old cat. I just about touched it when I realized it wasn't her. The 'possum never flinched, ran, or showed any concern. I probably COULD have pet him.

[Rocinante]

10. Please don't do that

a lady I know went to feed her cats in the garage. She didn't turn the light on and while petting her cats was bitten by a possum. Her Doc made her take rabies shots.

[Dookus]

11. hehehe...

no, I had no intention of petting one. Believe me, I pulled back when I realized it wasn't the cat. I'm fond of the possums, but I know they got teeth!

[Rocinante]

12. Ha!

dumbass me, just read your stuff about skunks. I got one hell of a story about that, will you be on duty Sat. nite? Sure hope so.

[Dookus]

13. yeah, I'll check in tomorrow (tonight)

but you can tell the story now if you want.

[Rocinante]

14. I will have to wait

till tonight, I have to drive my daughter to a school event this AM. But I have some good ones about the animal kingdom. I will check in late tonight.

[Vitruvius]

6. Just be sure you don't have any wiring in the crawl space --

or anything else you wouldn't want them to gnaw on. (The same applies to rodents as well, but even more so...)

[Dookus]

7. no, nothing real important down there....

the only problem I had was when a skunk got under there and got into a fight with something. P.U.!

A few months ago, I had a mama skunk living under there with no problems at all. She and the babies are gone now.

[dbt]

15. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, try humiliation

And this is a very potentially dangerous move, so use it only as a LAST RESORT!

Grasp the offending possum by the tail and hoist it into the air. Then, proceed to heap scorn on the possum, telling it what a contemptible sack of shit it is and how it belongs about five notches lower down on the food chain. Make sure to completely express your opinion of its utter worthlessness, then place it back on the ground and watch it slink away in defeat!

I have used this tactic several times and have not seen it fail.

:freak:
dbt