Comments on: How to Get Rid of Opossums http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/ Sat, 12 May 2012 15:10:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Stacy http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/comment-page-1/#comment-60776 Stacy Sun, 06 May 2012 06:55:50 +0000 http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/#comment-60776 I just wanted to say that I haven't had any bad experiences with opossums. They seem to get a bad rap. They come around houses only looking for food, as their territory is constantly being taken away. I used to leave cat food out for the strays but then saw the opossums eating it. I enjoyed watching them from my window and was amazed that they really cleaned the plate! I don't agree that they harass pets, as I have seen my cats outside laying down while an opossum came by to eat the cat food. The cat and opossum never bothered each other. They also don't carry fleas as some people think. They never make "messes" in my yard and I wish people would give them a break. I just wanted to say that I haven’t had any bad experiences with opossums. They seem to get a bad rap. They come around houses only looking for food, as their territory is constantly being taken away. I used to leave cat food out for the strays but then saw the opossums eating it. I enjoyed watching them from my window and was amazed that they really cleaned the plate! I don’t agree that they harass pets, as I have seen my cats outside laying down while an opossum
came by to eat the cat food. The cat and opossum never bothered each other. They also don’t carry fleas as some people think. They never make “messes” in my yard and I wish people would give them a break.

]]> By: Karen Maxwell http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/comment-page-1/#comment-54957 Karen Maxwell Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:53:33 +0000 http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/#comment-54957 Oppossums RARELY acquire rabies - the seem to be immune to most diseases which is why they can handle rotted food - antibodies. It is WONDERFUL actually that they eat worse pests such as mice, rats, insects and grubs; all the stuff we spend thousands on trying to control all summer long. BUT...this does not mean I want to bunk with one. WE MAY HAVE ONE LIVING UNDER OUT SHED! I saw a fairly large (fat) animal foreging aroung the neighbourhood last night. It was going in circles on my neighbour's lawn with 2 feet of snow on it, then waddled down my driveway to the back yard and directly (it knew) under my shed where I had noticed a big hole with small branches sitcking out of it back in fall. It did have a short rats tail, but in the dark appeared dark brown. It was big as a cat so not a rat! I have seen tracks in my snow around my shed with 4 feet and where it's body was rubbing in the snow along as well - the body trail is about 7 - 8" wide so this tells you how big. The feet tracks are about 4" apart sideways and about 6 - 8" long ways and in the snow each foot track is 1" in diameter. WHAT DO I DO NOW???? Both my neighbours and I, have seen holes all over our lawns and I thought they may be snake holes, but of course, there are too many for that. (I hope). Do Oppossums go in circles when foreging? I thought this a strange behavior and know other animals do not do this. It went in circles continuously until getting on the pavement where it began to waddle. Do they walk close to the ground? Can they be dark brown in winter? (or maybe it was just the lighting) I did not see its head, but maybe on the white dirty snow, it may have blended in so I could not see it. I was too focused on its body and rats tail I think, and running to the back window to see where it went. DOES ANY OHTER MAMMAL OTHER THAN OPPOSSUM AND RAT HAVE A RATS TAIL? Oppossums RARELY acquire rabies – the seem to be immune to most diseases which is why they can handle rotted food – antibodies. It is WONDERFUL actually that they eat worse pests such as mice, rats, insects and grubs; all the stuff we spend thousands on trying to control all summer long. BUT…this does not mean I want to bunk with one. WE MAY HAVE ONE LIVING UNDER OUT SHED! I saw a fairly large (fat) animal foreging aroung the neighbourhood last night. It was going in circles on my neighbour’s lawn with 2 feet of snow on it, then waddled down my driveway to the back yard and directly (it knew) under my shed where I had noticed a big hole with small branches sitcking out of it back in fall. It did have a short rats tail, but in the dark appeared dark brown. It was big as a cat so not a rat! I have seen tracks in my snow around my shed with 4 feet and where it’s body was rubbing in the snow along as well – the body trail is about 7 – 8″ wide so this tells you how big. The feet tracks are about 4″ apart sideways and about 6 – 8″ long ways and in the snow each foot track is 1″ in diameter. WHAT DO I DO NOW???? Both my neighbours and I, have seen holes all over our lawns and I thought they may be snake holes, but of course, there are too many for that. (I hope). Do Oppossums go in circles when foreging? I thought this a strange behavior and know other animals do not do this. It went in circles continuously until getting on the pavement where it began to waddle. Do they walk close to the ground? Can they be dark brown in winter? (or maybe it was just the lighting) I did not see its head, but maybe on the white dirty snow, it may have blended in so I could not see it. I was too focused on its body and rats tail I think, and running to the back window to see where it went. DOES ANY OHTER MAMMAL OTHER THAN OPPOSSUM AND RAT HAVE A RATS TAIL?

]]> By: Egbert_O_Foo http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/comment-page-1/#comment-48790 Egbert_O_Foo Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:39:45 +0000 http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/#comment-48790 Hmm. No, opossums aren't likely to give you rabies, diabetes, the black plague, etc. They do make a mess. They do die and stink if they can't get out of whatever place they've gotten into. They will scare the heck out of you if you happen to walk into a room of your house and find one there eating from the cat food bowl. It may be inhumane, but in cases of home invasion (or attempted home invasion) I've killed them with firearms, or even by bludgeoning one to death (please don't try this if you've a weak stomach ... or if you have a wife, kids, or other relatives who will witness it). It would be far better to trap them and remove them to another location. I've done this also. In addition to the trapping method above, since opossums love to get in your trash cans (especially when no other food is available), you can just "bait" an empty can and leave it in a place where the opossums can get in. They *can't* get out ... they don't climb that well. Some authorities suggest leaning the can up against a wall, the front porch/stairs, etc. In the morning, you'll likely have an opossum staring up at you. Load the trash can in the pickup and drive a mile or two (more if you're in the 'big city' LOL) --- then dump your furry, err, friend to make the best of it by himself. Also, try and identify why you're being invaded by opossums in the first place. They aren't there to sleep in a comfy bed or watch your DVD collection. Cover your trash cans with tight-fitting covers. Eliminate mice, rats, and other pests (including bugs) that the opossums like to eat. Seal all openings in the foundation of the home. This is a *great* idea. There are things much worse than opossums that can get under there. Prior to getting all the concrete work done on a new addition to my place, I had snakes and skunks also. An opossum ain't nothing compared to that ;-) Hmm. No, opossums aren’t likely to give you rabies, diabetes, the black plague, etc.

They do make a mess. They do die and stink if they can’t get out of whatever place they’ve gotten into. They will scare the heck out of you if you happen to walk into a room of your house and find one there eating from the cat food bowl.

It may be inhumane, but in cases of home invasion (or attempted home invasion) I’ve killed them with firearms, or even by bludgeoning one to death (please don’t try this if you’ve a weak stomach … or if you have a wife, kids, or other relatives who will witness it).

It would be far better to trap them and remove them to another location. I’ve done this also. In addition to the trapping method above, since opossums love to get in your trash cans (especially when no other food is available), you can just “bait” an empty can and leave it in a place where the opossums can get in. They *can’t* get out … they don’t climb that well. Some authorities suggest leaning the can up against a wall, the front porch/stairs, etc.

In the morning, you’ll likely have an opossum staring up at you. Load the trash can in the pickup and drive a mile or two (more if you’re in the ‘big city’ LOL) — then dump your furry, err, friend to make the best of it by himself.

Also, try and identify why you’re being invaded by opossums in the first place. They aren’t there to sleep in a comfy bed or watch your DVD collection. Cover your trash cans with tight-fitting covers. Eliminate mice, rats, and other pests (including bugs) that the opossums like to eat. Seal all openings in the foundation of the home. This is a *great* idea. There are things much worse than opossums that can get under there. Prior to getting all the concrete work done on a new addition to my place, I had snakes and skunks also. An opossum ain’t nothing compared to that ;-)

]]> By: Arnie http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/comment-page-1/#comment-47342 Arnie Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:00:17 +0000 http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-opossums/#comment-47342 Wow. Is there a hysterical girl in the house? Possums are ugly, and I don't blame you for wanting to get rid of them. And they are animals, so it's certainly not a sanitary situation having them in the house, but they are hardly the plague infested vermin the author seems to think they are. And they are not parasites. I mean where the hell did that come from? Do you even know what a parasite is? Opossum can carry rabies, but there low body temperatures make them very resistant to it. It's VERY unlikely that a possum will carry any kind of disease. They are personally fastidious creatures, very much like cats. They are ugly as hell, that's for sure. And scary when they start hissing and showing off their teeth. But they are very inoffensive creatures. If you call their bluff they generally curl up in a ball and play dead. Wow. Is there a hysterical girl in the house?

Possums are ugly, and I don’t blame you for wanting to get rid of them. And they are animals, so it’s certainly not a sanitary situation having them in the house, but they are hardly the plague infested vermin the author seems to think they are. And they are not parasites. I mean where the hell did that come from? Do you even know what a parasite is?

Opossum can carry rabies, but there low body temperatures make them very resistant to it. It’s VERY unlikely that a possum will carry any kind of disease. They are personally fastidious creatures, very much like cats.

They are ugly as hell, that’s for sure. And scary when they start hissing and showing off their teeth. But they are very inoffensive creatures. If you call their bluff they generally curl up in a ball and play dead.

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