Opossum problem

[Lynneand7fids]

My fids love to hang out on my screen porch (never unsupervised) but last night we were sitting outside and we had this enormous rat walk right in on us. I have no clue how it got in unless somewhere there is an opening in the storage closet side of the porch. I searched everywhere but cant figure out how it got in. We were able to rush the birds into the house but this possum was aggressive and sat up and hissed this evil sound and beared its teeth at me (and the fangs were HUGE!!). I live in a very suburban area so its not like I am out on the country somewhere. This was the most disgusting creature I have every seen & it scared the daylights out of the kids & I. Anyone know how to get rid of these things? I called wildlife animal control but they want a minimum of $150 to come search for it & trap it. Holiday time, budget is to tight for that!

[judygram]

Yes those opossums can be feisty if cornered and they are disgusting creatures. I will tell you what I did with one that I saw a while back. We have a container that holds dog food on the carport and the lid was not on good and there was a bag with some cat food still in it, well I got the bag out to feed the cat and when I put my hand in to get some I felt something else besides cat food. A young possum was curled up inside the bottom of the bag, I guess he had eaten his fill and was taking a nap. Well needless to say, I jerked my hand out quick and threw the bag out on the ground and took a shovel and beat the heck out of him. I would get a trap and bait it and catch him and then you can do with him what you want.

[ziggy]

Hello Lynne,

What a story. I had one about 4 years ago in a empty garbage can beside my house. He was just sleeping in the can. Talk about scaring you. You might want to get a deep garbage can and put some food in the bottom of it and leave it in a spot you think he might go and get it. If this works you have to make a decision on what to do with it. They are just mutant rats they are ugly and nasty. Please keep the kids and the birds away from it. It will attack if provoked.

Let me know how it goes.<br><br>Post edited by: ziggy, at: 2007/12/06 06:22

[lovemyGreys]

:angry: GRrrr hope you catch him Lynne.

[Kibibi]

Some "Animal Control" or "Humane Societies" (different names for the same thing) have 'live traps' that they either loan (with a deposit) or rent to you. You set the trap and put food in it and the opossum goes in and the trap door shuts. It doesn't harm the animal. Then you either take the trap back to "Animal Control" or the "Humane Society" or call them to come pick it up. They do harm the animal It works for raccoons and opossums.