What's the best way to get rid of opossums?

Want Them All · 01-20-2010, 03:23 PM

I've seen one scurrying in my backyard several times at night. I don't have any guns more "lethal" than a .22 BB gun.

Is trapping a good solution? Or poison?

Thanks,

lorax · 01-20-2010, 03:27 PM

Trapping is a reasonably good way to get rid of them without killing them. Look for Havahart type traps, then toss them in your trunk and let them out in your nearest national park.

I wouldn't poison possums, though - they form an important part of the diet of your area's larger carnivores (domestic dogs and cats included) and I hate to think of somebody's pet, or even a wild coyote, dying because it ate a toxic possum.

Want Them All · 01-20-2010, 03:42 PM

Are they dangerous to humans? Can I get close to it, slowly, then grab it (with gloves of course), bag it, and let it loose somewhere else?

Patty in Wisc · 01-20-2010, 03:48 PM

NO!! They have rabies! Don't touch them -- they will bite! Shoot it w/ pellet gun or trap it & take it at least 20 miles away. Problem is, if you have one, you have more.
I saw one in my yard & used a 'have-a-heart' trap & ended up trapping total of 13 possum.

Want Them All · 01-20-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patty in Wisc

NO!! They have rabies! Don't touch them -- they will bite! Shoot it w/ pellet gun or trap it & take it at least 20 miles away. Problem is, if you have one, you have more.
I saw one in my yard & used a 'have-a-heart' trap & ended up trapping total of 13 possum.

Thanks for the advice. Gotta go find some traps asap, they leave their droppings all over my yard.

Richard · 01-20-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want Them All

I've seen one scurrying in my backyard several times at night. I don't have any guns more "lethal" than a .22 BB gun.

Is trapping a good solution? Or poison?

Thanks,

No need to get rid of them. They are territorial with respect to rats and kill them. This time of year they are probably hunting rats and grubs in your yard. Just make sure they (and the raccoons) can't get in your trash -- or your house via a pet door.

fishoifc · 01-20-2010, 06:31 PM

Watch out!!!!! I saw somebody try to scare one off there porch with a bucket of water,and it scared the poo out of him,it was very bad.

mbfirey · 01-20-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patty in Wisc

NO!! They have rabies! Don't touch them -- they will bite! Shoot it w/ pellet gun or trap it & take it at least 20 miles away. Problem is, if you have one, you have more.
I saw one in my yard & used a 'have-a-heart' trap & ended up trapping total of 13 possum.

Possums generally don't carry rabies- something about the genetics of a marsupial and the low body temp.

Though I still wouldn't want to be bitten- those teeth looks sharp and nasty!

LilRaverBoi · 01-20-2010, 08:15 PM

Yeah, definitely do NOT attempt grabbing it! They have very sharp teeth. Honestly, they really aren't going to do you any harm if you leave them alone...I don't understand why you are trying to get rid of them. I could understand if it was killing your animals or destroying your plants, but beyond that....if it's not harming anything, what's the sense of trapping/removing/killing it? Seems like a lot of hassle for nothing.

Just my two copper Lincolns.

Abnshrek · 01-20-2010, 10:06 PM

Trapping it and shipping it to someone else's trashcan... Make sure you keep a lid on yours.. They eat pet food if you have that out too just like raccons.. Like someone else said.. "they have sharp teeth.. " I don't care how thick gloves are... they aren't thick enough...! lol

Want Them All · 01-20-2010, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilRaverBoi

Yeah, definitely do NOT attempt grabbing it! They have very sharp teeth. Honestly, they really aren't going to do you any harm if you leave them alone...I don't understand why you are trying to get rid of them. I could understand if it was killing your animals or destroying your plants, but beyond that....if it's not harming anything, what's the sense of trapping/removing/killing it? Seems like a lot of hassle for nothing.

Just my two copper Lincolns.

Don't they eat all the fruits on your trees? That's my main reason. Last year, I had a bunch of grapes along with longan fruits, birds, ground squirrels, and who know what else took most of 'em. I had to build an enslosure to protect what was left. This year I'm expecting more longans, figs, Fuji apples, grapes, and nectarines. My bananas are still too green, that's why they're still hanging, if they had ripened, I'm sure those would be gone too before I could get to them.

Abnshrek · 01-20-2010, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want Them All

Don't they eat all the fruits on your trees? That's my main reason. Last year, I had a bunch of grapes along with longan fruits, birds, ground squirrels, and who know what else took most of 'em. I had to build an enslosure to protect what was left. This year I'm expecting more longans, figs, Fuji apples, grapes, and nectarines. My bananas are still too green, that's why they're still hanging, if they had ripened, I'm sure those would be gone too before I could get to them.

Anything that's eating our food is worth a bullet :^) Just my 2 cents

sunfish · 01-20-2010, 10:35 PM

Legal Status: The California Fish and Game Code classify opossums as nongame mammals. If you find opossums threatening growing crops or other property of which you are the owner or tenant, you may control them using any legal means. Department of Fish and Game (DFG) regulations prohibit the relocation of wildlife without written permission from the DFG. Always check to make sure that there are no local restrictions pertaining to the removal of opossums prior to taking any action.

Patty in Wisc · 01-20-2010, 10:40 PM

I always heard possum & coons carry rabies & that possom carry lots of diseases (I think Tog said that). 2 summers ago I found a bunch of possum poop near my raspberries & grapes. I didn't get one grape or raspberry that year. Those Have-a-heart traps work very well. Peanut butter on a cracker or small piece of bread always works for bait.

sunfish · 01-20-2010, 10:51 PM

Answer: A zoonotic disease is a diseased passed between animals and humans. There are diseases you can get from any animal, including pets. As long as you exercise common sense then the chance of getting a disease from an opossum is slim. Do not attempt to pet or get too close to the opossum. As mentioned in the question and answer above, rabies is extremely rare in the opossum.

sunfish · 01-20-2010, 10:53 PM

National Opossum Society
Opossums are more resistant to rabies than any other mammal; cattle, goats, dogs, cats, sheep, and the ice cream man are far more susceptible to rabies! ...
National Opossum Society - Cached - Simila

Richard · 01-20-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want Them All

Don't they eat all the fruits on your trees? That's my main reason. Last year, I had a bunch of grapes along with longan fruits, birds, ground squirrels, and who know what else took most of 'em. I had to build an enslosure to protect what was left. This year I'm expecting more longans, figs, Fuji apples, grapes, and nectarines. My bananas are still too green, that's why they're still hanging, if they had ripened, I'm sure those would be gone too before I could get to them.

Rats, gophers, and ravens are on my hit list.
Hawks, Owls, Mockingbirds, Coyotes, and Opossums are not.

Consider this: there is no fruit on your trees right now, so what are they hunting?
I can tell you my experience with my uncle's Citrus ranch (100's of acres). We did not trap or kill the Opossums and when one of those ugly creatures walked past the house we were thankful. They like mature citrus trees because it is just the place to hide (upside down!) during the day. They might eat an orange or two but the impact on the crop was insignificant. The impact on the rats and mice however was serious.

momoese · 01-20-2010, 11:19 PM

I feed them scraps.

Abnshrek · 01-21-2010, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Hawks, Owls, Mockingbirds, Coyotes, and Opossums are not.

Richard I have to ask why are Mockingbirds not on the list? (I have to ask) :^)

Richard · 01-21-2010, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnshrek

Richard I have to ask why are Mockingbirds not on the list? (I have to ask) :^)

Mockingbirds eat more insects in total weight per day than any other bird in the western hemisphere. That's not percentage of their weight, that's total weight!

01-20-2010, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Want Them All Want Them All's Photo Gallery Location: Central California, USA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 553 BananaBucks : 593,637 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 333 Times in 140 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	What's the best way to get rid of opossums? I've seen one scurrying in my backyard several times at night. I don't have any guns more "lethal" than a .22 BB gun. Is trapping a good solution? Or poison? Thanks, __________________

01-20-2010, 03:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 405,376 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? Trapping is a reasonably good way to get rid of them without killing them. Look for Havahart type traps, then toss them in your trunk and let them out in your nearest national park. I wouldn't poison possums, though - they form an important part of the diet of your area's larger carnivores (domestic dogs and cats included) and I hate to think of somebody's pet, or even a wild coyote, dying because it ate a toxic possum.

01-20-2010, 03:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Want Them All Want Them All's Photo Gallery Location: Central California, USA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 553 BananaBucks : 593,637 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 333 Times in 140 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? Are they dangerous to humans? Can I get close to it, slowly, then grab it (with gloves of course), bag it, and let it loose somewhere else? __________________

01-20-2010, 03:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc tropical nut Patty in Wisc's Photo Gallery Zone: 5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,115 BananaBucks : 432,052 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,946 Times Was Thanked 2,510 Times in 1,203 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 69 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? NO!! They have rabies! Don't touch them -- they will bite! Shoot it w/ pellet gun or trap it & take it at least 20 miles away. Problem is, if you have one, you have more. I saw one in my yard & used a 'have-a-heart' trap & ended up trapping total of 13 possum. __________________ Got a lite? Patty ____ Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty. Last edited by Patty in Wisc : 01-20-2010 at 03:52 PM. Reason: added sentence

01-20-2010, 06:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
fishoifc Marlin time fishoifc's Photo Gallery Location: Nags head N.C. Zone: 8 Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 339 BananaBucks : 161,632 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 27 Times Was Thanked 331 Times in 131 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? Watch out!!!!! I saw somebody try to scare one off there porch with a bucket of water,and it scared the poo out of him,it was very bad.

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01-20-2010, 08:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,225 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? Yeah, definitely do NOT attempt grabbing it! They have very sharp teeth. Honestly, they really aren't going to do you any harm if you leave them alone...I don't understand why you are trying to get rid of them. I could understand if it was killing your animals or destroying your plants, but beyond that....if it's not harming anything, what's the sense of trapping/removing/killing it? Seems like a lot of hassle for nothing. Just my two copper Lincolns. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

01-20-2010, 10:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 349,039 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? Trapping it and shipping it to someone else's trashcan... Make sure you keep a lid on yours.. They eat pet food if you have that out too just like raccons.. Like someone else said.. "they have sharp teeth.. " I don't care how thick gloves are... they aren't thick enough...! lol __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

01-20-2010, 10:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,626,286 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? Legal Status: The California Fish and Game Code classify opossums as nongame mammals. If you find opossums threatening growing crops or other property of which you are the owner or tenant, you may control them using any legal means. Department of Fish and Game (DFG) regulations prohibit the relocation of wildlife without written permission from the DFG. Always check to make sure that there are no local restrictions pertaining to the removal of opossums prior to taking any action.

01-20-2010, 10:40 PM	#14 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc tropical nut Patty in Wisc's Photo Gallery Zone: 5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,115 BananaBucks : 432,052 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,946 Times Was Thanked 2,510 Times in 1,203 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 69 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? I always heard possum & coons carry rabies & that possom carry lots of diseases (I think Tog said that). 2 summers ago I found a bunch of possum poop near my raspberries & grapes. I didn't get one grape or raspberry that year. Those Have-a-heart traps work very well. Peanut butter on a cracker or small piece of bread always works for bait. __________________ Got a lite? Patty ____ Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

01-20-2010, 10:51 PM	#15 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,626,286 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? Answer: A zoonotic disease is a diseased passed between animals and humans. There are diseases you can get from any animal, including pets. As long as you exercise common sense then the chance of getting a disease from an opossum is slim. Do not attempt to pet or get too close to the opossum. As mentioned in the question and answer above, rabies is extremely rare in the opossum.

01-20-2010, 10:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,626,286 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? National Opossum Society Opossums are more resistant to rabies than any other mammal; cattle, goats, dogs, cats, sheep, and the ice cream man are far more susceptible to rabies! ... National Opossum Society - Cached - Simila

01-20-2010, 11:19 PM	#18 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,593 BananaBucks : 8,554 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,763 Times Was Thanked 10,896 Times in 3,314 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 730 Times	Re: What's the best way to get rid of opossums? I feed them scraps.

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