Ummmm help.......we have a mamma opossum and babies!

**mom2matty** · 06-12-2008, 01:19 PM

I wasnt sure where to put this but........

We discovered a mama possum and her babies tucked in ds's baseball bag in our shed in our garden! I called Animal Control and they are overbooked and can't come out (actually won't come out!) They did put us on a waitlist for a trap but it will be 2 weeks. I also called an Opossum Rescue group but they are over 100 miles away and can't come up here! SPCA told us to put moth balls out......didn't do anything, then they said put a pan of amonia in there, she isn't leaving!

Did I mention they are in our shed that is in our garden, right next to the water spigot that I have to turn on to water my garden? I won't go back there......what if she comes after me, she has babies!

So.......any advice on how to get her to take her babies and leave my yard? We have had to keep our dog in his dog run, don't want him getting into battle with it!! He isn't a happy dog right now! TIA

**Momto2Boyz** · 06-12-2008, 02:25 PM

Ah, but possums are a mystical and beautiful creature... oh, whom I kidding! They are mean as h-e-double-hockey sticks!

If you are wanting to be humane about it, you can find the live traps at Farm & Fleet, Home improvement stores, etc. I have no idea how expensive they are, but you might ask around. Someone you know may have had a pest problem and might have one tucked away in a garage or shed somewhere.

Growing up on a farm, we learned really quickly to stay away from them, they WILL bite when they are threatened! So don't try to chase it out. Some food in a live trap will work (at least for the mama) depending on how big the babies are, you might be able to pick them up with long sleeves and heavy gloves and move them to where ever you release the mother.

Good luck, I hope you guys figure out a solution. Keep us posted!

**Dad_of_4** · 06-12-2008, 02:30 PM

Well, we just went through this with skunks and our final outcome was not pretty at all.

Here is what I suggest. Go buy a live animal trap and bait it with sardines to catch the mother. Once she is caught, gather up the babies and put them in a box. Then take them on a long drive (25+ miles) and release them. A live trap is only $30-$40.

**VanVivCam** · 06-12-2008, 02:34 PM

I would probably get my hubby to shoot them.

Or, the above suggestion would probably be the more PC answer.

**mom2matty** · 06-12-2008, 03:56 PM

Thanks everyone!! I appreciate your comments! We are going to look for a trap when dh gets home today!! I'd really like my yard back!!

**SewCrafty** · 06-12-2008, 04:12 PM

Live traps can sometimes be 'rented' from your local Agway or farm type store. Can't hurt to make a phone call.

**mom2matty** · 06-12-2008, 04:50 PM

I did make a few calls this morning and found 2 feed stores in our area that have traps!! Hopefully dh will be taking a drive this weekend and letting her and her babies out far far away!!

**fuzzybunny** · 06-12-2008, 06:24 PM

I actually took care of a couple of teenage-ish oppossums after their mama disappeared. I was fortunate that my postal carrier turned out to be a opposum rehabilitator

Just something to lessen the worry. Opposums don't carry the rabies virus. Their body tempature is too low and it can't survive in them... so while you don't want anyone to get bitten, if it happens it isn't potentially life threatening.

Also, the possum post lady told me when I got ready to release them to keep in mind that they were city possums and would starve to death in the country because the would not know how to forage for food. City possums need to be released in city parks rather than driven out to the woods since will have learned how to forage city style (dumpsters, pet dishes etc) rather than country style (birds nests, natural fruits,fish, lizards etc).

If you don't have a city park and they are city possums, you may want to drive them down to possum rescue so they can be worked with a little before release.

Christine

**mom2matty** · 06-12-2008, 06:35 PM

I was very leary of calling Animal Control to begin with because I didn't want them to be destroyed, just wanted them out of our yard! I'll talk with dh more this evening about doing the best possible thing for them!!

**frugalandsimple** · 06-12-2008, 08:28 PM

Awww, it must be so cute seeing them. Sorry, I don't have any advice on getting them out of your yard.

**earthymom** · 06-12-2008, 08:39 PM

I personally ignore them. They really aren't aggressive.

**mom2matty** · 06-12-2008, 09:45 PM

Ignoring it really isn't an option for us. We have a dog, an outside dog who will hunt it down and take care of it himself. I don't want to risk my dog being injured if there is a fight! For now our dog is confined to his dog run (a fairly large area) but he is use to having the run of the yard!