In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Had an opossum in the compost bucket

Discussion in 'Everything Else (off topic)' started by hovlandhomestead, Mar 12, 2019.

Page 1 of 3
  1. hovlandhomestead

    hovlandhomestead

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2018
    Messages:
    2,308
    Likes Received:
    18,384
    Location:
    MN
    upload_2019-3-12_20-9-38.png

    Had this critter show up yesterday on the deck in my kitchen scrap bucket. He took a chicken leg bone from my hand and devoured it right after this picture was taken. They are relatively new here. I saw the first one ever two years ago in my garden compost pile, and caught one in rabbit snare last year.
     
    hovlandhomestead, Mar 12, 2019
    #1 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Jack Straw and 12 others like this.
  2. yooperdave

    yooperdave

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Messages:
    34,293
    Likes Received:
    212,385
    Location:
    Michigan's U.P.


    I just know Midwinter is behind this somehow! :whistle:
     
    yooperdave, Mar 12, 2019
    #2 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Canadian border VT and 12 others like this.
  3. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2013
    Messages:
    16,196
    Likes Received:
    97,190
    Location:
    Hollidaysburg Pa
    :eek:

    :rofl: :lol::rofl: :lol::rofl: :lol:

    :handshake:
     
    TurboDiesel, Mar 12, 2019
    #3 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, MikeInMa and 5 others like this.
  4. hovlandhomestead

    hovlandhomestead

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2018
    Messages:
    2,308
    Likes Received:
    18,384
    Location:
    MN
    Is Midwinter a possum whisperer? I have a good start as he/she is already eating from my hand. :)
     
    hovlandhomestead, Mar 12, 2019
    #4 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Canadian border VT and 8 others like this.
  5. MO. Wood

    MO. Wood

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2017
    Messages:
    366
    Likes Received:
    1,975
    Location:
    St. Louis Mo
    Their all over the place here in Missouri. My Jack Russell killed one a few years ago and got scratched up pretty good. They are not that friendly around here. They just hiss, show their teeth and run away.
     
    MO. Wood, Mar 12, 2019
    #5 Top
    Chaz, Blithering Idiot, bogieb and 7 others like this.
  6. stuckinthemuck

    stuckinthemuck

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    3,218
    Likes Received:
    15,075
    Location:
    Wandering around in the NH woods.
    stuckinthemuck, Mar 12, 2019
    #6 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, blacktail and 11 others like this.
  7. MO. Wood

    MO. Wood

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2017
    Messages:
    366
    Likes Received:
    1,975
    Location:
    St. Louis Mo
    Good article.
     
    MO. Wood, Mar 12, 2019
    #7 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Backwoods Savage and 6 others like this.
  8. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2013
    Messages:
    16,196
    Likes Received:
    97,190
    Location:
    Hollidaysburg Pa
    that is a good article. very interesting!
     
    TurboDiesel, Mar 12, 2019
    #8 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Backwoods Savage and 7 others like this.
  9. Midwinter

    Midwinter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Messages:
    19,846
    Likes Received:
    130,472
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Possums emerging, a sign of spring! Opossum+Saint+Paddy's+Photoshoot+copy.jpg
     
    Midwinter, Mar 13, 2019
    #9 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Mitch Newton and 10 others like this.
  10. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    27,009
    Likes Received:
    169,112
    Location:
    Country life, Ga
    Good clean up critters.
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Mar 13, 2019
    #10 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, hovlandhomestead and 6 others like this.
  11. ironpony

    ironpony

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    3,564
    Likes Received:
    18,714
    Location:
    Mid Ohio
    You do realize even if it only scratches you, you are at risk of rabies. No one has ever survived rabies, 100% death sentence.
     
    ironpony, Mar 13, 2019
    #11 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Backwoods Savage and 4 others like this.
  12. Midwinter

    Midwinter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Messages:
    19,846
    Likes Received:
    130,472
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Any mammal can get rabies. However, the chance of rabies in an opossum is EXTREMELY RARE. This may have something to do with the opossum's low body temperature (94-97ยบ F) making it difficult for the virus to survive in an opossum's body.
    Opossum FAQ | Opossum Society of the United States
     
    Midwinter, Mar 13, 2019
    #12 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, hovlandhomestead and 9 others like this.
  13. JWinIndiana

    JWinIndiana

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2017
    Messages:
    1,433
    Likes Received:
    8,707
    Location:
    NorthWest Indiana
    Their manure in a hay pile is dangerous to livestock. It harbors mean critters in it. As to the rabies, my cousin got bit by a possum and he could not find enough of its remains when the doctor wanted the head to check for rabies, so, he had to take the shots. They are overgrown rats and are treated as such on our farm. Our chickens can get the ticks.
     
    JWinIndiana, Mar 13, 2019
    #13 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Mitch Newton and 4 others like this.
  14. Greenstick

    Greenstick

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2014
    Messages:
    2,395
    Likes Received:
    12,226
    Location:
    Carrington North Dakota-aka-Dakotah Territory
    Not having them up here in Dakotah Territory, just kinda curious how they taste?
     
    Greenstick, Mar 13, 2019
    #14 Top
    farmer steve, metalcuttr, Chaz and 9 others like this.
  15. JWinIndiana

    JWinIndiana

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2017
    Messages:
    1,433
    Likes Received:
    8,707
    Location:
    NorthWest Indiana
    They Beverly hillbillies thought they were the best with possum gravy! They are such scavengers, haven't knowingly eaten one.
     
    JWinIndiana, Mar 13, 2019
    #15 Top
    farmer steve, Chaz, bogieb and 8 others like this.
  16. ReelFaster

    ReelFaster

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2016
    Messages:
    2,668
    Likes Received:
    18,299
    Location:
    S.Jersey
    X2, very interesting info! Glad to hear about the ticks, we saw our 1st possum this past summer scurrying past the patio doors out back........
     
    ReelFaster, Mar 13, 2019
    #16 Top
    farmer steve, Chaz, bogieb and 4 others like this.
  17. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    20,806
    Likes Received:
    109,281
    Location:
    KC Metro
    Wait till you meet it hard shell cousin.... the armadillo....:rofl: :lol:
     
    Chvymn99, Mar 13, 2019
    #17 Top
    farmer steve, Chaz, bogieb and 4 others like this.
  18. Greenstick

    Greenstick

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2014
    Messages:
    2,395
    Likes Received:
    12,226
    Location:
    Carrington North Dakota-aka-Dakotah Territory
    Leprosy on legs them critters are!
     
    Greenstick, Mar 13, 2019
    #18 Top
    farmer steve, Chaz, bogieb and 5 others like this.
  19. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,822
    Likes Received:
    63,171
    Location:
    IN
    Opossums get dirt naps around here. Lost too many chickens to them.
     
    lukem, Mar 13, 2019
    #19 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, Ohio and 7 others like this.
  20. Midwinter

    Midwinter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Messages:
    19,846
    Likes Received:
    130,472
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Armadillo having a quick bath
     
    Midwinter, Mar 13, 2019
    #20 Top
    Chaz, bogieb, T.Jeff Veal and 5 others like this.
Page 1 of 3