Opossum in my backyard?

[TheRedFox]

I'm sure that many people are familiar with the typical North American opossum.

Well, today I became acquainted with one of these little guys up close and personal, and it had nothing to do with the National Geographic Channel. My dog was barking like mad and so I went out to investigate, with flashlight in hand. And behold, behind a tire was a rather large, and rather adorable, opossum. Caught and released the little fellow across the way in the riverbed - where I assume he came from.

Anyone else had encounters with opossums? Do they inhabit your backyard? Any interesting stories?

<3

 

[Dagna]

I've had a opossum before. He kept getting into the yard and we kept taking him to another area but he kept coming back. We finally caught him again one night, but broke the guys leg in the process so I kept him until he healed up and then released him about 30 miles away in some woods away from homes and roads.

Depending on how far away you released him, don't be surprised if he comes back. They wander pretty far and they do go back to places they've been before if they can find their way.

 

[TheRedFox]

I've had a opossum before. He kept getting into the yard and we kept taking him to another area but he kept coming back. We finally caught him again one night, but broke the guys leg in the process so I kept him until he healed up and then released him about 30 miles away in some woods away from homes and roads.

Depending on how far away you released him, don't be surprised if he comes back. They wander pretty far and they do go back to places they've been before if they can find their way.

Kept coming back, hm? I wonder if this little guy will do the same. If he does I guess that I will have to take him farther away.

I'd let him stay but I don't want there to be any trouble between him and the pets, you know.

<3

 

[Dagna]

That was our biggest worry. We had three scottish terriers at the time that very clearly wanted a piece of him. It was just easier for us to take the little guy far far away from us and from other people so he wouldn't get into more trouble.

 

[alwayz_remember_Calvery]

around my place, opossums are "exterminated with extreme prejudice." My horse gets into enough trouble by herself, we do not need to add to that by having possums around

 

[TheRedFox]

around my place, opossums are "exterminated with extreme prejudice." My horse gets into enough trouble by herself, we do not need to add to that by having possums around

Oh, wow. I see. . .

<3

 

[wildthing]

Had em. Don't know if this might work for ya. But I threw moth balls around have not seen him since.

 

[Jynarik Slushy]

Every so often they will come around here. I have never had any problems with them. Not that theres anything in my backyard to intrest them anyways.

 

[Manda_24]

around my place, opossums are "exterminated with extreme prejudice." My horse gets into enough trouble by herself, we do not need to add to that by having possums around

It's the same at my house, usually by the dog but not always. They are nasty little things from my experience.

My mom had an interesting experience when she and my dad were first married. She grew up in Canada and it the city then married my dad and moved to the states and into a house with 12 acres of woods. One night it was raining and she heard something outback and when she opened the door there was an animals there and she had no idea what it was and it scared her, she got my dad and then he took care of it.

Another story. There was another night it was raining and we had our garage doors open and an opossum got inside, we cornered it while trying to get it out and it got really nasty, they don't play 'possum' all the time.

I have had many other experiences with them and raccoons but can't think of them right now, it's too late.

 

[ceedaisy]

I don't think I ever want to tango with a possum. They look like they could bite a finger off.

Only experience I had was when I was a teen. I was sitting outside on the steps after night fell, and lo and behold was a possum strutin it's stuff straight to my cats food bowl. My outside cat. I couldn't believe it did that, with me sitting there. I didn't shoo it away or anything, it just went away on its own.

I live out in the country now. I don't have any bushes or trees on my property and farmland surrounds all four sides of us, but we do have neighbors. So I don't see possums in my yard, but I will see them in ditches wandering around when I drive home at night. Last night I saw my first live skunk! I drive real careful coming home from work, which is four miles away, because of all the deer and especially now with the cold weather moving in. So I was scanning both sides of the road and I saw eyes, I slowed down and it was a big healthy skunk! Hee hee, I was tickled to finally see one.