OT Maybe..... Raccoons

H

Heather R.

New member
ImStillMags wrote:

In my hood coons get shot :)
There is an increase in rabies among raccoons, possums and other little
critters in my area. Sometimes seen during the day, staggering aimlessly.
The good news their population here is on the decline. The hawks get the
cats here.

--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)
 
In article , Nad R wrote:


Are you certain about that for possums? Their body temperature is so low that
rabies is almost - but not totally - unknown.

Art (former member of the Opossum Society of the U.S.)
 
Arthur Shapiro wrote:

You are correct, I should not have thrown in Opossums. But they have been
acting odd in the last few years. I have seen two, different occasions,
opossums during the day and walking in circles as if disoriented. So i take
no chances and end that poor creatures life. Opossums often during summer,
come around at night and I never let my dog out after dark. I live in
country.

Last year the local Master Gardener Association stated that Rabies and
raccoons were on the rise. I may have drawn a poor connection of the dots
for opossums.

As a member of the Opossum society, do they come out during the day?
Raccoons are just hated because they are smart enough to destroy any garden
no mater what electric fence or other defenses one uses.

--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)
 
On 2/24/2011 5:41 PM, Nad R wrote:



A few years ago we had a raccoon in the yard that huddled in a corner
for ~24 hours. I called Animal Control, they came out, took it away,
and said it had distemper. I don't know if possums are susceptible, too.

gloria p
 
"gloria.p" wrote:

Ok, I learned something new today so it is a good day after all.
This web site site states opossums sometimes are found during the day
wobble and stagger around, a natural defense. In my book not a good a one,
humans will end it, just to be safe. Next time I will let it go, maybe, I
do have chickens a cow and a dog to look after.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_symptoms_of_rabies_in_opossums

--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)
 
gloria.p wrote:


Once I saw a rabbit walking in circles, I didn't call anyone but I
mentioned it to the vet the next time I was there. He said that
it probably had an ear infection, that rabbits are way down on the
list of possible rabies infected animals.

Years later I had some animal (I didn't know what it was until
later; it was a skunk, I had no idea they came in brown)
staggering around my property like a drunk. I believe that it
was rabid and that's what the animal control person said.

nancy
 
On Feb 24, 6:41?pm, Nad R wrote:

Opossums stink, but are very beneficial. Raccons are mean, and can
even be aggressive. Coons are vermin, and should be killed. Possums
should be tolerated.

--Bryan
 
The raccoons out at my grandpa's farm would chew a stalk of corn so it
fell across the electric fence, and then lead the whole family across
for midnight raiding. They are very smart.

N.
 
We observed and reported a groundhog huddled up for a whole day
against the elementary school building across the street from us -
likely either sick or rabid.

N.
 
On Feb 25, 6:38?am, Bryan wrote:

'Possums are also very aggressive if cornered - we had one in the
garage that was really nasty. It was a fighter - covered with healed
scars and missing part of an ear.

N.
 
In article , Nad R wrote:


From personal experience, it's unusual enough to be a surprise. Here in
Southern California I'll see one around my yard in the daytime less than once
per year.

The same ones come nightly for an extended period of time - they're supposed
to be nomadic - for the cat food I leave for them. I look forward to their
visits. A few years ago I had one that taught himself to open the sliding
screen door and come in each night to help himself to the cat's leftover food.
Unfortunately, he'd never close it when he left. I have one photograph of
him eating in my kitchen. He was VERY well fed and showed it - I named him
Goodyear.

Art
 
Re: [email protected]

Nancy2 wrote:


No kidding. Anyone who thinks opossums are relatively harmless should check
them out in a zoo or shelter. They have some serious claws and teeth and
they aren't going to play dead if they think they can get away.
 
On 25/02/2011 12:27 PM, Nancy Young wrote:

My SiL had trouble with feral cats and the Humane Society came out with
traps. They were catching one almost every day and would call the Humane
Society to come and get it. One day there was a skunk in the trap.They
did not want to come and get it, but SiL pointed out they were obligated
because it was their trap and they had set it. They came and go it.
 
On 25/02/2011 12:44 PM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:


My wife's friend told me about the time there was a dead opossum on
their deck and she wanted her husband to go and dispose of it when he
got home from work. When he got home the opossum was gone and she
thought a dog must have taken it away. I suggested that maybe it wasn't
really dead..... just playing opossum.
 
On Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:03:01 -0500, Dave Smith wrote:


Here's a trick that may or may not work, depending on how the live trap is
constructed.

Frequently, skunks act like they are the top of the food chain and are not
easily spooked or goaded into spraying. So, get a long stick or pole (this
is one of those times it's good to have a ten foot pole). Approach the
trap quietly and stesdily. As long as the skunk is facing you and isn't
agitated, you're good. Use the pole to gently roll the trap onto one side.
Give the skunk a little time to settle down and repeat once more. Now the
trap is upside down. Depending on the trap design, the door may fall open
or it is now easy to use the pole to open the door. Once the door is open,
everybody walks away, happy and scent-free.

As for house cats that find their way into a live trap. A stripe of spray
paint applied to the back before release does two things - aggravates the
owner into keeping better track of their pet - allows you to know, without
question, when an animal has been trapped multiple times (making them a
candidate for a trip to the animal shelter).

--
Posting from groups.google.com or www.foodbanter.com or other web-forums
dramatically reduces the chance of your post being read.
Use the real usenet!
Eternal-september is free, .
 
On 2011-02-25, Omelet wrote:


I chased a late night coon off our deck, last Fall. As it slowly
ambled away, I shined my bright spotlight on it to get a better view.
It gave me a surely glance back over it's shoulder like, "What the
Hell you lookin' at, biped boy!" Made me wonder just how it would
react to a pop in the ass with a rock from a sling-shot. Probably not
well. I think in the future I'll keep my shotgun handy for coons.
This one didn't strike me as being even remotely intimidated, just
really inconvenienced and pissed-off.

nb
 
Back
Top