Mom Confessions
Yes this is a S/O post. I noticed many misinformed statements on the post. In stead of going through and replying to so many replies, I decided to make a post.
I have worked as a volunteer for the TWRC in the past. During that time, I was surprised to find that many people had a gross misunderstanding about Opossums. I have found a website with a little bit of information, should you want to educate yourself a little. That way the next time anyone feels the need to shoot or stab one to death ( with a stick) you could do so with a better knowledge of what you are actually doing it for. I have highlighted ( in red) the parts that I think would give a better perspective to people who actually care to expand their knowledge.
OPOSSUMS
Opossums are solitary, reclusive animals that often are not understood or appreciated and the result can be traumatic and disastrous for them. Because they are basically defenseless, despite giving the appearance of being able to defend themselves, they have often been the target of unnecessary cruelty, especially in urban areas. A better knowledge and understanding of opossums and the benefits of having them as neighbors are essential to a peaceful coexistence. Listed below is some opossum information that may not be widely known.
Although it looks like a big rat, the opossum is North America’s only marsupial and is related to the Kangaroo and Koala. A female gives birth twice a year, 13 days after conception, to 5 to 8 babies that remain in her pouch until able to walk around on their own by about 4 months of age. Baby opossums are so tiny at birth that 10 can fit in a teaspoon! The opossum’s long pink tail is prehensile, meaning it can be used as a fifth hand.
Opossums are exceptionally non-aggressive and non-destructive. They will not harm people or pets. However, they are wild animals and should not be handled. A opossum will use its 50 pointy teeth to defend itself if necessary.
Opossums do not dig into the soil nor do they destroy property.
Opossums help maintain a clean and healthy environment. They eat all types of insects including cockroaches, crickets, beetles, etc. They catch and eat rats and mice. They consume dead animals of all types. They like overripe fruit, berries and grapes that have fallen to the ground and they think that snails and slugs are a delicacy. They are one of the few animals that regularly prey on shrews and moles. They are known as "Nature’s Little Sanitation Engineers!"
In general, opossums present a far lower health risk to humans than dogs and cats. They have a naturally high level of immunity to diseases. Opossums are more resistant to rabies than any other mammal. They can carry fleas and will bite if provoked.
Learning and discrimination tests rank opossums above dogs in intelligence and more on the level of pigs.
Opossums are transient staying only 2-3 days in an area before moving on. They do not have a territory but are always on the move, going to wherever the food is. Females stay in a smaller area while they care for their young. Their dens are located in a variety of areas including stumps, vine tangles, attics, garages, hollow trees, rock piles, under buildings and in the abandoned burrows of other animals.
If attacked and unable to fight or run from danger it puts up a terrific bluff and can give the appearance of being really good at defending itself. As a last resort, it will collapse and play dead. This involuntary response causes the opossum to become comatose for a period of from 40 minutes to 4 hours. Give a "dead" opossum the benefit of the doubt and do not dispose of the body until you are sure it is dead.
Few opossums survive to become adults and those that do have a life expectancy of from only one to two years due to its many predators, man being the worst.
If there is an opossum in your area, just leave it alone, it should move on in a couple of days. However, if you find an opossum continues to return to your area, try eliminating the things that are attracting it:
Do not leave pet food out at night.
Pick up fallen fruit.
Clear away bushes, woodpiles and other hiding places.
Do not leave garage doors open at night.
If an opossum gets into your house or garage, it can be safely trapped by leaning an empty, tall kitchen trash can at a 30-45 degree angle against something the opossum can climb onto. Place cat food or ripe fruit at the bottom of the trash can. The opossum will be able to climb into the trash can but will not be able to get out. Immediately take the can outside. Tip the can on its side and the opossum will leave when it feels it is safe. You can also try to leave a trail of cat food leading to an open door. Observe quietly at a distance. Once it leaves, shut the door. Do not try to push the opossum out with a broom. The frightened animal will freeze and not move.
If there is an opossum in your yard, leave it alone. If it is in your garden, it is helping you by eating the harmful pests that do damage.
If you find an injured or orphaned opossum, contact the State Department of Environmental Conservation for assistance. Ask for referral to a wildlife rehabber who will humanely capture and relocate your visitor. Be aware that they may refer you to an exterminator which in many cases will result in the death of the opossum. Municipal Animal Control Agencies often euthanize wild animals also.
If you find a baby opossum, keep in mind that where there is one orphan, there may be more. Be very quiet and listen for the "sneezing" sounds the young make to call the mother. Don’t try to care for the animals yourself. Unless you are a trained wildlife rehabilitator, you could do more harm than good if you don’t know what you are doing. If the baby is at least 7 inches from nose to rump, it can survive on its own and should be left alone.
http://www.pleasebekind.com/opossum.html
Replies
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I actually like opossoms and they never bothered me. I wouldn't have the heart to kill one. I can't even kill a mouse.
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I don't care those things are vicious. -
Well, clearly I've missed something.
Had one as a "pet" would never kill one :( -
I don't know where you're from but the ones that would show in my backyard to get into trash bins would hiss and spit at us, shred the garbage everywhere, make a million babies and yes they carried diseases. I'm not going to keep garbage bags in my house just so a wild animal will leave me alone. They also run out in the road and cause accidents because people swerve from them and do more harm than if they went straight and tried to get them between the tires to not hit them. I would never kill anything unless it was a direct danger from me, but it doesn't make m uneducated to take what I have observed and dislike the animal because of it.
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I think it is cruel. Also, they offer so much. Not only do they help clean up, and eat bugs, but in recent years they have been found to help control the snake population- including venomous snakes. They are actually better than the king snake. Some centers have started a relocation initiative, where they get a call from a concerned home owner about a snake problem, and they will bring a 'possum to that location and let it go. Its a really neat turn around for them.
I myself was shocked to find out that in the whole state of Texas, there has never been one single case of a 'possum being infected or even carrying rabies. I also learned that people mistook them for having rabies, because some people reported 'possums acting weird and foaming at the mouth. But that is just another example of their acting skills. They have been known to use that as another defense against predators/people.
Quoting Anonymous:
I actually like opossoms and they never bothered me. I wouldn't have the heart to kill one. I can't even kill a mouse. -
Lots of info I never knew, I always thought they were as vicious as raccoons -
After growing up in Ohio out in the country the only thing that scares me is a coon. My dad had to shoot a few cus they where in our yard and you could tell they where sick. Under our shed every year a sunck would have her babies. We learned to live with the you have to when you are on their land and hunting ground.
Quoting Anonymous:
I think it is cruel. Also, they offer so much. Not only do they help clean up, and eat bugs, but in recent years they have been found to help control the snake population- including venomous snakes. They are actually better than the king snake. Some centers have started a relocation initiative, where they get a call from a concerned home owner about a snake problem, and they will bring a 'possum to that location and let it go. Its a really neat turn around for them.
I myself was shocked to find out that in the whole state of Texas, there has never been one single case of a 'possum being infected or even carrying rabies. I also learned that people mistook them for having rabies, because some people reported 'possums acting weird and foaming at the mouth. But that is just another example of their acting skills. They have been known to use that as another defense against predators/people.
Quoting Anonymous:
I actually like opossoms and they never bothered me. I wouldn't have the heart to kill one. I can't even kill a mouse.
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Well it's your own choice to remain ignorant. They are only "vicious" when defending them self, and that is only after all other tactics have been exhausted. I have seen and worked with many 'possums in the wild, and not once came close to being attacked. Yes they looked vicious and showed me their teeth and growled at me. But soon after they would roll over and play dead. I was even able to pick one up after that and it laid stiff in my hand. The only other time I have ever heard of one actually becoming "vicious" was when one was defending their young. If that is so bad, than count me in on the vicious list because I would become vicious too if I feel my kids could be harmed by someone.
Quoting tifferie:
I don't care those things are vicious. -
Interesting! I've always thought that they're actually kind of cute, and they've never bothered me.