[jsalcedo]

A few years ago I moved into a new subdivision where all the streets are named possum-blank, Possum way, possum circle etc...

Its a fairly developed area with green belts here and there.

I thought they were just running out of street names...

The other night about 2:00am my dogs start going nuts barking and yelping at a frenzied high pitch.

I grabbed my Taurus .357 and ran out in the back yard just to find it
full of possums. There were 2 underneath my deck cornered by my dogs
and a couple more in the yard and one on the fence.

I got the dogs inside no problem (they were freaked out)

Now every night my yard is possum central. There is no food back there
but it seems to be their new hangout.

Is this a job for a .22 rifle with cb caps or shorts. I don't think exterminators work at 2am. The dogs pretty much eliminate the use of poison or traps. Close neighbors preclude the use of mossberg with
000 buck.

I guess my question is: do I use a quiet firearm or go after them with
some other means I have failed to think of.

Mainly I'm concerned about rabies and any damage they may cause.

[Mark Tyson]

Get some of that .22 subsonic ammo to keep from wakin' the neighbors.

[Frohickey]

How about a Marlin 1895 with a 450gr slug going 800fps? That ought to be subsonic, if you load it with small charges of pistol power.

Read up on Silent Loads (http://www.recguns.com/Sources/VIIE7.html)

[Mark Tyson]

That is truly amazing. I love learning new stuff like that here. Thanks for posting the link.

[cookhj]

the article was good, but i'd like to find loads that i can use in a .308.

what bullet weight and powder weight would be the best?

[gun-fucious]

trap em
http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/critters/opossum.htm

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

They taste pretty good smoked/grilled with a little Lawry's seasoned salt and garlic powder. It should be fairly tender because there's no such thing as an old possum.

It's honestly not as bad as it sounds.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[feedthehogs]

Save the ammo and the fuss.
I'll send you my dog.
She grabs them and shakes till the neck breaks or if that don't work she tears them up with her teeth till they expire.
Then will bring them to the door as a present.

Funny thing with 4 legged animals and her. She will never bark. Just pounces when in range.
However the 2 legged animals will get a growl, then barking until I investigate.

[Hardtarget]

Just run out there and grab 'em and put 'em in a box and take 'em off somewhere...spread the fun around! :D Use gloves...they will bite!
Mark.

Why did the chicken cross the road?
To prove to the 'possum it actually could be done! ;) (couldn't pass the chance up...had to tell it....sorry.)

[jsalcedo]

The silent loads sound awesome but I'm not sure about cleaning up the mess.

I didn't know they were so docile, I think I'll put them in a big box and take them to someone elses neighborhood.

They don't seem to be bothered by light, people or dogs so catching them shouldn't be very hard.

[M. Jager]

rule number one: don't shoot posums, waste of ammo.
Pic posums up by tail (very easy to do) put in a containor like a 5 gallon bucket with lid and transport.
If you intend to kill said posum. Hold tail so head in resting straight up and down on the chin. Place a bar like object (ax handles work well) behind head and step on both ends. Pull up on tail to break the neck. Quick, Quiet, and Clean. And now you know the proper way to kill a posum.

[blades67]

Stop feeding your dogs for a few days and the problem should take care of itself.:neener: :evil:

[Norton]

Would an air rifle be a quiet and effective alternative? At least it may convince them to prowl around someone else's property.

Spot77 unleashed a heap of paint balls on the last opossum that found its way into the kitchen cabinet by way of the basement. Glad I didn't have to clean up that mess:D

[Zundfolge]

Looks like you have an excuse to buy one of these http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=11963705

maybe add a night vision scope (assuming they make pistol sized ones) and you're set.

:evil:

[C.R.Sam]

Just remember, regardless of ammo used, if discharging a firearm in your area is not legal you could be in a heap o trouble.

You new to the area. You have no idea how a mouthy neighbor will react when they accidently learn you shootin Pogo.

And; just any old glove will not protect you. The teeth are long and sharp. Usually docile or fleeing, they will stand and fight at times.

Have fun.

Sam

[jimpeel]

I talked to a vet who also does pest animal removals and he said that what he does when he has an opposum is to distract the business end with one hand and with the other he grabs the tail. So I tried it.

This opposum was in the parking lot of our company and when I drove around the building he scurried in front of my car and started climbing this chain-link fence. So I threw the car in park and jumped out and grabbed him by the tail and dragged him off the fence.

Now the one thing the vet didn't tell me is that these guys will use their own belly fur to climb up to get you but I simply shook my down and he assumed the position -- sort of a spread eagle in mid-air.

Then he, either as a defense or because he was so scared, pooped. Of course that didn't deter me so he kinda resigned himself to be eaten; which, of course, I had no intention.

I went around the building and showed him to a couple of the guys I worked with and then put him down. He scurried off and that was that.

So grabbing them by the tail works. Just don't forget that that tail is prehensile and can grab back.

Opposums rarely contract rabies but they can inflict a vicious bite -- like a dog with really, really sharp teeth.

[PawDaddy]

Before killing them, you might want to check local game laws and seasons.

[OneShot]

Three words for you....FROZEN PAINT BALLS

Won't kill Em (probably) But they won't want to come back soon. My cop brother in law uses this technique on racoons and it seems to work. Knocks Em right off the fence.

Note*** Oneshot does not advocate the maiming of possums with frozen paintballs. (in public).:evil: :neener:

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Possums are not a game species in Texas; hence there is no season on them. That means they can be taken year-round as a 'pest species'.

They do have a certain tenacity when cornered, but there is a lot of validity in the old 'playing possum' adage.


I'll bring the mesquite wood and a fork.


Regards,
Rabbit.

(edited for spelling. It was late.)

[dinosaur]

Possums are not black with a white stripe.:what: :evil:

[bogie]

My apartment building has had a problem in the past with an infestation of possums in the basement.

Can't shoot 'em. Pisses off the neighbors no end (altho a couple of the nice "liberal" folks asked me to after the critters brought in an infestation of fleas a coupla years ago....) when I pop a cap in the basement...

Had one fellow who I thought was gonna faint when I got ready to stick one that had crawled into some pipes... I guess he thought I was going to pet it or something...

So... The nocturnal method of possum disposal is either a bayonet (if I can get close) or for the really big critters, I've got a Cold Steel assegai spear. Makes a bit of a mess, but hey, the dumpster is only 30 or so yards away.

[Rebel Gunman HK]

Bow & Arrow?

[Ledbetter]

The possums eat my pond fish. Pellet gun won't do the job. I use CCI CB longs in a Marlin 39A. Neck shots work the best. They poop when you shoot them, too.

[jimpeel]

Pooping must be a defense machanism.

One can make a very effective blowgun from a three foot piece of 1/2" EMT conduit. You then take a piece of paper and roll it up so it forms a narrow cone and tape it with scotch tape. You then stick the cone into the bore of the EMT til it homes and cut off the excess with a razor flush with the end of the EMT.

You then take a 10p box nail and stick it down the center of the cone and push it out the front. Pull it tight and tape it in place. You have now created an effective opposum weapon that will cause them a lot of pain or will kill them as you see fit depending on where you hit them.

If you merely want to get their attention, stick the nail in so the head of the nail is at the front. This will merely bounce off of them but will hurt like Hell.

To shoot the blowgun, keep both eyes open. The target should be centered between the two pipes you see.

[Chairman Meow]

2 words: Garden tools

Try a variety. An axe would be fun, but a shovel would work just as well. Oo Ooo I've got it! Try throwing a pitch fork like a javelin! Or better yet, you ever seen that thing they call a garden weasel? I betcha that thing would work like a charm! Maybe thats why they call it that...

[submin]

I have this problem every year. At first I trapped them in live traps and hauled them a couple miles away. They found their way back so I had to find a more permanent fix.

If you watch them, you’ll find that they make their ‘rounds’ the same time every night. Like clock work. Bait them with a sample of dry dog food (they’re vegetarians) and hide in your pick-up bed or utility building. It may take a night or two for them to find your bait but when they do its easy picking. I take one per night and usually six-eight per year. I use a machete. It’s quiet, safe around houses and merciful. The cleanup isn’t bad if your aim is good. After you get rid of them, you won’t have a problem until next year.

I would not pick one of these critters up while alive. Did you get a good look at the teeth they have. Cats learn to leave them alone. Not to mention the diseases they carry.

This is great pre-hunting season sport.
Doug

[Double Naught Spy]

Actually, there are not many zoonotic diseases that will transfer between opossums and humans. As noted previously, rabies is almost non-existent in opossums. So opossums are one of the better wildlife animals to have around in terms of disease risk. Raccoons that are often seen as more friendly little animals are huge carriers of rabies. In humans, rabies is 100% fatal according to the local animal control folks. Basically, there are just a few people on record that have been known to have survived rabies in the last numerous decades here in the US. Ebola Zaire is less dangerous to humans.

What most folks don't realize is that the opossum is one of the oldest living mammal species in the New World, especially North America. They have small brains for mammals that size. Even so, they are very good at making a living the way they make a living as opossums.

FYI people always mention the teeth. All of the 'possum teeth are angular or pointed. They have a very primitive style of dentition and actually have more teeth than most other animals with extra incisors and extra molars. Plus, their canines are sharp.

These critters love cat and dog food, but generally are of little consequence to humans directly except when they try to lodge in attics, garages, etc.

[Glockster35]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but if you happen to live within the city limits, you may want to first find out if it is legal to fire a firearm within the city limits.

While growing up in Oregon, we had a possum eat clear through the foundation on my parents house. Strange, but this particular possum must have liked the taste of cement, because he also hit three of our neighbors houses within a month.

We also once had a possum climb or fall down our chimney. Had to hire someone to get it out, because the scrapping and whining sounds were unbearable for my mother.

My brother once got trapped inside his house by one, because it was outside his front door hissing at him, and he couldn't get his back door to open.

We lived in the city limits, and these incidents happened over a 18 year period, so setting traps probably wouldn't have worked. Firing a firearm would have got you jail time...

[submin]

Glockster there may be something to this. The opossum’s life span is very short (less than four years) but the older ones always seem to have badly worn teeth. I am by no means a biologist but they may chew rocks and masonry as a dietary supplement. But then they may be seeking shelter. Who knows for sure?

The best way to control them is to keep pet food where they can’t get to it (feed your pets in the morning), not grow cucumbers, melons or gourds in your garden and clean up around your fruit trees. No food, no opossum.

[Glockster35]

SubMin,

I guess in this instance, those rules don't apply. We had no fruit trees, no pets (along with our neighbors). No one had gardens that I know of.

Weird but I think it was a combination of teeth sharpening and a place to stay.

[C.R.Sam]

(they’re vegetarians) I thought they were omniverous. They seem to like crickets, grasshoppers, meaty dog food..........plus avacados n fruit.

Sam

[semf]

I've been in pest control for 20 years now so I can give you a couple tips. First forget about rodent poisons they won't work on opossums.
If you want to discourage them try blood meal. Spread in your yard the camphor will irritate their nose and makeyour yard unattractive to them.
The best trap is a large metal garbage can. Place dog or cat food in the bottom of the can with a plank of some sort leading up to the top of the can. When he climbs down into the can toget the food he won't be able to climb back up the smooth metal sides of the can. It's possible to get multiple opossums in the trap this way. Havaharts are a one Opossum trap.
If you want to catch them by hand grab the tail towards the bottom (by the butt) and control their head with a small stick. Kinda how snake handelers do. It's not hard they're really pretty docile. I had one named Pogo for about 5 years believe it or not they can be potty trained.
If you catch or trap them with the intent of letting them go make sure it is at least 5 miles away.
Probably the best method would be something like a 9 iron or maybe wood would be less messy.
The best firearm method would be an old Nylon 77 preferrably bolt action with the little Mexican rounds. The full length plastic stock on the rifle acts as a muffler and with the sub sonic rounds no one would hear anything.
Sorry if my first post is lenghthy but I feel passionately about Opossum control.

[semf]

Oh yeah opossums are omnivorous

[jimpeel]

They are omnivores like skunks, racoons, etc. They are also the only marsupials in North America.

This from: http://www.opossum.org/

National Opossum Society
Post Office Box 21197
Catonsville, MD 21228

What Do They Eat in the Wild??
The diet that the National Opossum Society recommends is based on several studies wherein the stomach contents of wild opossums were analyzed. All studies show variation in diet according to season and habitat.

The following table is drawn from one of those studies, published in The Murrelet, Spring 1980, authored by David D. Hopkins and Richard B. Forbes. The study was performed on road-killed opossums in and near Portland, Oregon.

mammals 27%
leaf litter 11%
fruits, seed, bulbs, etc. 10%
gastropods 10%
garbage 9%
earthworms 9%
pet food 9%
grass, green leaves 8%
insects 3%
birds 3%
misc. animal tissue 1%

Another study conducted in New York State in 1951 analyzed the stomach contents of 187 opossums. The study was conducted by W.J. Hamilton, Jr. and published the The Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 15, No. 3

Fruit 18.0%
Amphibia 17.2%
Mammals 14.2%
Insects 13.4%
Grasses 6.6%
Worms 5.4%
Reptiles 5.3%
Birds 5.0%
Carrion 4.8%
misc. or Undetermined 6.7%

Copyright National Opossum Society

They also have some really cute images. My favorite is at: http://www.opossum.org/diet.htm entitled "Jess". I love those Ben Franklin cheaters.