opossums and coyotes
- Thread starter wvyotehunter68
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wildlifeLove
New member
Opposums are one of the most beneficial critters to the ecosystem that we have and they cause NO harm to anyone.. please don't run them over their lives are already short as it is and they're much needed!
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
EPM disease is from a parasite commonly found in opossum feces. Epm is a fatal neurological disease for horses. Many properties I hunt on have horses or raise horse hay(feed), all of these properties owners tell me to kill every opossum I see.
Slagiatt
Active member
Okay animal rights activist, you dug up a 12 year old thread to say possums are one of the most beneficial creatures to the ecosystem. Are we supposed to just take your word on that or do you have any sort of explanation whatsoever?
Ummm, I disagree that they cause no harm to anyone, they manage to eat or spoil half my avocado crop every year. I've never "run one over" and promise never to do so, but have/will give every one I can a free ride.
One wouldn't think that this little critter could put away two large avocados overnight but there's the seeds to prove it.
They also hit the peach trees in season as well.
wildflights
Active member
I've shot a lot more possums than I've run over. Shot another one about twenty minutes ago. If they're in the road I'm pretty good at putting rubber on them.
Local coyotes won't eat them but I've shot other possums while canabalizing their own.
Local coyotes won't eat them but I've shot other possums while canabalizing their own.
cropdamage
Active member
Give me your address, I'll drop off a couple dozen for you to look after.
" rollover and play dead trick they are known for." Funny, I learned that the hard way. Dog cornered one in the drive, I thought was dead - kicked it a couple times. Picked up and tossed over fence. Told wife - she asked if it was playing dead. What? Looked in the alley, GONE.
Ran across a first, just last week; an aggressive possum!
While closing the front blinds, I spotted a very large possum waddling across the street toward the house. It was dark, I was barefooted and didn't have my glasses on, but, I wanted to discourage it before it got into the philodendron bed so I ran out and confronted the (very fat) possum. Instead of running or playing possum, that sucker bared her teeth, hissed at me and kept coming, even when I kicked toward it and made loud noises!
I suspected it was a very pregnant female en route to drop her excess baggage in the flower bed, so retreated to retrieve the garden hose (which the yard man had conveniently wadded up and dumped in the philodendon's)! Hoping she would not continue on while I struggled to untangle the (black) hose in the dark (without my glasses), I finally had to turn the water on in order to locate the end of the hose!
Once found, I managed to pull enough hose out of that infernal bird's nest to reach the possum, which was still hissing through bared teeth, and convince her she was unwelcome.
The moral of this story is, when going hunting, be sure you do not forget your ammo, and, watch out for those killer possums; you never know!
While closing the front blinds, I spotted a very large possum waddling across the street toward the house. It was dark, I was barefooted and didn't have my glasses on, but, I wanted to discourage it before it got into the philodendron bed so I ran out and confronted the (very fat) possum. Instead of running or playing possum, that sucker bared her teeth, hissed at me and kept coming, even when I kicked toward it and made loud noises!
I suspected it was a very pregnant female en route to drop her excess baggage in the flower bed, so retreated to retrieve the garden hose (which the yard man had conveniently wadded up and dumped in the philodendon's)! Hoping she would not continue on while I struggled to untangle the (black) hose in the dark (without my glasses), I finally had to turn the water on in order to locate the end of the hose!
Once found, I managed to pull enough hose out of that infernal bird's nest to reach the possum, which was still hissing through bared teeth, and convince her she was unwelcome.
The moral of this story is, when going hunting, be sure you do not forget your ammo, and, watch out for those killer possums; you never know!
The thing I like best about possums is that they eat ticks. Anything that reduces the tick population gets my stamp of approval.
I know some people do eat possums, can't say the idea appeals to me though LOL
I know some people do eat possums, can't say the idea appeals to me though LOL
Spurchaser
Well-known member
The tick myth has been debunked, lol. Possums get trapped and shot as much as coon and coyotes down here.
I’ve caught possums and had a coyote or cat the next set. Not sure what eats possums other than buzzards. I’ve got pics of 2 coyotes coming by a possum caught in the set that was for them. They sniffed and went on about their business. Made another set across from it after resetting and had a double on coyotes the next morning.
Possums are considered nest raiders and are fair game to protect my turkeys and quail.
I’ve caught possums and had a coyote or cat the next set. Not sure what eats possums other than buzzards. I’ve got pics of 2 coyotes coming by a possum caught in the set that was for them. They sniffed and went on about their business. Made another set across from it after resetting and had a double on coyotes the next morning.
Possums are considered nest raiders and are fair game to protect my turkeys and quail.
IndexFinger
Custom Accessory Maker
12 year old thread, but I will bite ... I have shot a few Possum, but Possums are pretty social friendly. I have hand feed a few from the time they were on there own and little ( size like big Rats ). They actually pretty friendly and come around and wait at back door of the house for snacks sometimes. they really like HotDogs, melons and dry cat food. when they get to know you, ( recognize your face ) they will come right up to you.
As far as EPM on Horses, Screw the Horses, Possum been here for a few million years, Possum have earned the right to be here, Horses are the invasive species to North America., and unlike other N. American mammals, the Horse has built ZERO immunity. The ONLY reason horses are even here in N. America is they were 4-leg transportation pre-Henry Ford, and If Possum were big enough animal, humans would have chosen to saddled and ride them instead . It also pretty debatable which is more intelligent, the Horse or the Possum.
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As far as EPM on Horses, Screw the Horses, Possum been here for a few million years, Possum have earned the right to be here, Horses are the invasive species to North America., and unlike other N. American mammals, the Horse has built ZERO immunity. The ONLY reason horses are even here in N. America is they were 4-leg transportation pre-Henry Ford, and If Possum were big enough animal, humans would have chosen to saddled and ride them instead . It also pretty debatable which is more intelligent, the Horse or the Possum.
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One of the things that creeped me out the most when hunting as before dawn one morning on a deer hunt. Public WMA in TN, I had managed a little scouting & found a ridge I thought looked good, so I got out early & hiked in . I was along the top, near where I thought would be good to set up & stopped to think about it. I heard something moving near me & finally used my flashlight to see & it was a small possum. It wnet behind the tree next to me & I stepped around to get a look at it.
No possum & no sounds of it going away, I swung the light up into the tree & it was on a limb looking at me LOL
Then I held the light out level & made a slow circle.
Everywhere, I was surrounded: Pairs or red eyes looked back at me.
Even though I knew they were no threat to me it still creeped me out LOL
I had no idea that a patch of woods could hold so many of them
No possum & no sounds of it going away, I swung the light up into the tree & it was on a limb looking at me LOL
Then I held the light out level & made a slow circle.
Everywhere, I was surrounded: Pairs or red eyes looked back at me.
Even though I knew they were no threat to me it still creeped me out LOL
I had no idea that a patch of woods could hold so many of them
GC
Well-known member
Which would win in a race, a possum or a horse?
IndexFinger
Custom Accessory Maker
We live in a subdivision, inside city limits. We do have coyotes in the hood but it's not safe to shoot them. At least not with a gun, maybe a good air rifle might be ok.
We also have armadillos & possums. I found out about the possums when I saw a largish "rat" near a dish I kept outside by back door for one of our cats.
Turned to be not one, but 3 possums. They were sneaking in & eating my cat's food, which I didn't know they'd eat until then
Biggest possum I ever saw was in middle TN, the top of it's back was almost knee high & it had no interest in playing possum when I confronted it.
Biggest armadillo I ever saw was down here, in the back yard next door one day. It was easily 3 times as big as the biggest I'd ever seen before that. They're generally not much problem that I can tell except they'll dig holes in your yard, I guess to dig up bugs to eat
We also have armadillos & possums. I found out about the possums when I saw a largish "rat" near a dish I kept outside by back door for one of our cats.
Turned to be not one, but 3 possums. They were sneaking in & eating my cat's food, which I didn't know they'd eat until then
Biggest possum I ever saw was in middle TN, the top of it's back was almost knee high & it had no interest in playing possum when I confronted it.
Biggest armadillo I ever saw was down here, in the back yard next door one day. It was easily 3 times as big as the biggest I'd ever seen before that. They're generally not much problem that I can tell except they'll dig holes in your yard, I guess to dig up bugs to eat
Brushpuppy
New member
I’ve seen a possum carcass at an active coyote den that had been eaten all they left was the head, spine, and tail so yes I definitely think so but probably not often