Possum threat. Kill it or leave it

[stevealexo]

So we have 2 small dog one being a 5.5 pound toy yorkie and the other being a fat mix. Point is we let them in the backyard all the time to go pee at night. But the other day I heard a skunk being killed by something. Good chance it was attacked by a possum. I've never seen one around here. But a few months ago. One yorkie was barking like crazy at something in the shadows. So I went to go see what it was and it started hissing at me. But I could tell it wasn't a cat. So it leads me to belive we have a possum running around killing small critters. I've also found dead squirrels around. So I'm thinking about trapping and or killing this possum if I can bait it out of the shadows. But the tricky thing is I only have a pellet gun. What do you guys think I should do?

[Hannibalcanibal]

Bear traps.

No, just call animal control.

[KORBIN5895]

So we have 2 small dog one being a 5.5 pound toy yorkie and the other being a fat mix. Point is we let them in the backyard all the time to go pee at night. But the other day I heard a skunk being killed by something. Good chance it was attacked by a possum. I've never seen one around here. But a few months ago. One yorkie was barking like crazy at something in the shadows. So I went to go see what it was and it started hissing at me. But I could tell it wasn't a cat. So it leads me to belive we have a possum running around killing small critters. I've also found dead squirrels around. So I'm thinking about trapping and or killing this possum if I can bait it out of the shadows. But the tricky thing is I only have a pellet gun. What do you guys think I should do?

I recommend doing some research. I have lived in opossum country my whole life and this is the first I have heard of opossums killing small animals. I can almost guarantee that opossum didn't kill the squirrels as opossums are nocturnal and squirrels are diurna

[Zoo Nanny]

Sounds more like a fisher cat problem. If it is be careful they are very aggressive and will go after your dogs and won't back down from you.
Opossum hunt rodents, snakes, amphibians and insects.

[Pareeeee]

If you are concerned about a threatening animal, call animal control.

Doesn't sound like an opossum (definitely not a possum, those are only native to Australia) I doubt they would attack other animals like that.

Zoo Nanny could be right about the fisher. Even though some people call them "Fisher Cats" they are not cats. They are in the weasel family. I have only seen a dead one on the road, and they are huge compared to most weasels. One of the only animals brave and cunning enough to take on porcupines successfully.

Here's what a Fisher looks like.
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5l9rjNrvK1qdb2x9.jpg

http://trappingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/fisher.jpg

I would need to know what province you are in to be sure, they are not native to all of Canada. If you live out west, could have been a Badger.

[Gungirl]

Sounds like a fisher to me.. I would shot it if it was on my property. Then again I am not as nice as most people..

[nick654377]

id kill it.

[stevealexo]

I'm in southern Ontario. And I'm not calling anyone to deal with a problem that I can deal with. And it was a skunk that was killed in the middle of the night. I never heard anything scream like that before. No matter what it has to be dealt with before it hurts one of the dogs.

[nick654377]

id say a nice .223 and watch it implode......

[stevealexo]

Lol I'm in canada we pretty much can't have guns. And even if I could have guns. Shooting them in the city may not go over too well. Like I only have a 495fps pellet gun. but I got some good hunting pellets. But still I'm afriad it won't be strong enough to kill it quickly. However I don't have much of a choice. But I am thinking about getting a bow.

[nick654377]

dont worry use the pellet gun. i took out an annoying big big bird (not saying what it was) with mine from 60 yards away and it was a pump one! i also hit it in its jugular so it was done within 10 seconds

[Jay]

Lol I'm in canada we pretty much can't have guns. And even if I could have guns. Shooting them in the city may not go over too well. Like I only have a 495fps pellet gun. but I got some good hunting pellets. But still I'm afriad it won't be strong enough to kill it quickly. However I don't have much of a choice. But I am thinking about getting a bow.

I have 15 Firearms.. Obtained leagaly.

Using the pelet gun method, will most likely be inhuman.

Research your prey and trap it.

[Jay]

dont worry use the pellet gun. i took out an annoying big big bird (not saying what it was) with mine from 60 yards away and it was a pump one! i also hit it in its jugular so it was done within 10 seconds

Nice shot, but this is not a bird.

[EmbraceCalamity]

And I'm not calling anyone to deal with a problem that I can deal with.Uh, why not? Obviously you don't know how to deal with the problem since you don't have proper firepower to kill it and you don't even know what it is. No one needs you shooting at something in the shadows. That's just hazardous to everyone and everything. Just call animal control and let them deal with it. That's their job.

~Maggot

[stevealexo]

That is a good shot. I have taken out a dozen+birds with it too. Nothing big though just little pest birds. But I did take out a rabbit once and I got a head shot on it. But I was only like 15 yards away. But point is if it can take out rabbits. I can take out whatever it is running around my yard. As long as it's not just some crazy cat. (I don't like cats but I won't shoot them)

[EmbraceCalamity]

That is a good shot. I have taken out a dozen+birds with it too. Nothing big though just little pest birds. But I did take out a rabbit once and I got a head shot on it. But I was only like 15 yards away. But point is if it can take out rabbits. I can take out whatever it is running around my yard. As long as it's not just some crazy cat. (I don't like cats but I won't shoot them)I don't care how nice the shot was. You don't know what it is, and if it killed a skunk, it's a lot bigger than a rabbit. And unless you can get it out in the open in the light and positively ID it, you can't safely do anything. Just call animal control.

~Maggot

[KORBIN5895]

That is a good shot. I have taken out a dozen+birds with it too. Nothing big though just little pest birds. But I did take out a rabbit once and I got a head shot on it. But I was only like 15 yards away. But point is if it can take out rabbits. I can take out whatever it is running around my yard. As long as it's not just some crazy cat. (I don't like cats but I won't shoot them)

I can kill a rabbit with a rock. That doesn't mean I can kill a weasle with one. You need think this through more clearly.

[moshirimon]

This is interesting.. I am curious to know then species of this story. I'm in southern Ontario as well and have seenany opossums, usually roadkill, but have never heard of them being so aggressive

[EmbraceCalamity]

This is interesting.. I am curious to know then species of this story. I'm in southern Ontario as well and have seenany opossums, usually roadkill, but have never heard of them being so aggressivePossums (we call them possums in the US) are pretty nasty little things, but they're not big enough to kill a skunk. One night I stepped outside and felt something scratch my leg, but I have ten cats, so thought nothing of it. Sometimes they hide and attack our feet when we walk by. Then I looked down and saw a possum hissing at me. I about crapped myself. XD

~Maggot

[moshirimon]

Yes by aggressive I ment, that they'd kill squirells and skunks and so on.. yea aggressive might have been the wrong word to use. They're very cool looking animals though, I remember seeing a tame one at an animal show when I was little

[EmbraceCalamity]

Yes by aggressive I ment, that they'd kill squirells and skunks and so on.. yea aggressive might have been the wrong word to use. They're very cool looking animals though, I remember seeing a tame one at an animal show when I was littleThe Aussie ones are adorable. My ex is an Aussie, so when he hears possum, he thinks:
http://www.indymedia.org.au/files/leadbeaters-possum-_0.jpg

When I hear possum, I think:
http://areyouhappyatwork.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/possum.jpg

Which makes it awkward when he calls me "possum" as a pet name. XD

I've never heard of a tame one though except as babies. Was it an adult?

~Maggot

[stevealexo]

To be fair for all I know it could just be a cat. But I've never seen a attack and kill a skunk before. Then again it could have been a coyote. In the summer people saw a small pack of them not too far from where i live. (we have tons of patches of woods in our city). But I really don't know it was a coyote I would have heard or see or something.

[stevealexo]

What city do you live in?

[EmbraceCalamity]

To be fair for all I know it could just be a cat. But I've never seen a attack and kill a skunk before. Then again it could have been a coyote. In the summer people saw a small pack of them not too far from where i live. (we have tons of patches of woods in our city). But I really don't know it was a coyote I would have heard or see or something.Or it could be someone's dog. Again, why you shouldn't go around shooting things.

~Maggot

[Zoo Nanny]

Hear a Fisher Cat Sound and Audio – Sounds it Makes | Fisher Cat Screech (http://fishercatscreech.com/fisher-cat-sound-and-audio/) This is a simple call while hunting. There scream is very scary and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand. One can sound like a huge cat fight. We have them locally and get to hear them fighting and screaming at night. The first one I ever saw was while driving at night on a back road. At first I thought it was someones escaped ferret so stopped the car to see if it would come to me. When I got out of the car the fc turned while I was calling to it. It was about 20 feet or so from me. As soon as he turned and snarled I knew my mistake and jumped back in the car. They may be on the small side but it's one of the scariest animals I've come across short of a bear.
If you have fox in the area it could also be that. They have a high pitched scream also that can be scary and will also go after skunk.

[TragicTaste]

If its killing skunks in the shadows at night, your definitely not going to kill it with a pellet gun. If you truly feel the need to take care of it yoursel, I would suggest trapping it first. Then you would be able to evaluate it in the daylight and decide whether you should humanely kill it (not with pellet gun), relocate it, or turn it over to animal control.

[Zoo Nanny]

The Aussie ones are adorable. My ex is an Aussie, so when he hears possum, he thinks:
http://www.indymedia.org.au/files/leadbeaters-possum-_0.jpg

When I hear possum, I think:
http://areyouhappyatwork.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/possum.jpg

Which makes it awkward when he calls me "possum" as a pet name. XD

I've never heard of a tame one though except as babies. Was it an adult?

~Maggot
They can be tamed easily if brought up with people. Many zoos have them as education animals. The really sad thing is their average life span is only about three years. Softest animal fur I have ever felt.

[jarich]

Gun or bow doesnt seem like it would do you much good unless you are out there every time your dogs are, watching them like a hawk. This is especially true given the fact that the animal is only out at night. Getting a trap, so that the animal can be relocated, seems both the humane and more likely to succeed method.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Gun or bow doesnt seem like it would do you much good unless you are out there every time your dogs are, watching them like a hawk. This is especially true given the fact that the animal is only out at night. Getting a trap, so that the animal can be relocated, seems both the humane and more likely to succeed method.Yeah, but the guy won't even take the couple seconds to call someone to have them take care of it. No way in hell he's gonna go buy a catch and release trap and take it somewhere else.

~Maggot

[jarich]

Its cheaper than the bow he was talking about and much more likely to succeed, so here's hoping he might!

[EmbraceCalamity]

Its cheaper than the bow he was talking about and much more likely to succeed, so here's hoping he might!I hope so too, but this one gives me little hope. :) Looks like he's just more interested in shooting something.

~Maggot

[bigsnakegirl785]

When you said fisher cat, this is what I pictured since it's so close to what you said :wacky:....although I doubt you would see one in the wilds of Canada....

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k240/elspeth1000/Fishingcat01.jpg
(photo from elspeth1000 on photobucket)

[Zoo Nanny]

Aren't they pretty. I've only seen one that was at the Capron Park zoo. Very pretty cat. Looks just like a house cat but a wee bit bigger.

[KORBIN5895]

The ears make it look gimpy.

[Zoo Nanny]

They really do just look like house cats. When I first walked up to the exhibit I couldn't understand why there was a cat in it. Once I read the description and really looked at the cat did I see the difference.

[bigsnakegirl785]

The ears make it look gimpy.

It's just a bit different, don't hurt it's feelings. lol

[Pareeeee]

Just love how people say Possums and Opossums are the same thing. It's like saying Burmese Pythons and Ball Pythons are the same thing...

...and we don't have Fishing Cats here, we have Fishers, sometimes called Fisher Cats, a type of weasel.

[Kingsnakechris]

You can try trapping it but id reccomend a better pellet gun.. a 1200 fps is what i use to control the pidgeon problem around here no nonsense no watching em try to fly away its just done.

[KORBIN5895]

You can try trapping it but id reccomend a better pellet gun.. a 1200 fps is what i use to control the pidgeon problem around here no nonsense no watching em try to fly away its just done.

That many fps are illegal here.

[Gungirl]

If you can't properly identify it and shoot it in a safe manner with a real gun then call someone that can respond properly to the situation. Thinking you know what it is and thinking you might be able to kill it with something is rather stupid.

[Kingsnakechris]

Thats lame.... i guess just trap it and humanely kill it if not re locate it

[EmbraceCalamity]

Just love how people say Possums and Opossums are the same thing. It's like saying Burmese Pythons and Ball Pythons are the same thing...It's an American thing. No one calls them opossums here.

~Maggot

[Pareeeee]

It's an American thing. No one calls them opossums here.

~Maggot

Too bad everyone there is wrong. :rolleyes:

[EmbraceCalamity]

Too bad everyone there is wrong.A common name isn't really wrong. People in one place might call something different than people somewhere else. Also:

pos·sum
noun
1. opossum.
2. Australian. any of various phalangers, especially of the genus Trichosurus.

~Maggot

[Gregg M]

Maybe you got one of them Chupacabras.... Nasty buggers... Call the Discovery channel...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YxyBNvZvjog/TKpCUuMjfUI/AAAAAAAABjQ/r9rJwv35-ps/s1600/chupacabra.jpg

[RandyRhoads]

You're not dealing with a possum. If you were you wouldn't need to shoot it at all. I haven't come across any that are terribly fast. For a few bucks you can make an animal control noose with PVC and 3/16 cable. Don't be a moron and shoot things you can't clearly see. And even if you see it, for the love of god don't use a pellet gun... Yes maybe you can land a shot through the eye but possums and raccoons can be the antichrist of slipping away gently. A rabbit may get KTFO from a pellet gun, but try that on a raccon the same size. I've had some run off after 15+ .22 rounds.

PS. Did you eat these birds or just like killing and wasting for the hell of it?

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d86/randy666rhoads/101_2487.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d86/randy666rhoads/101_2490.jpg

[EmbraceCalamity]

Nice choking with a wire method. Very humane.

~Maggot

[RandyRhoads]

Nice choking with a wire method. Very humane.

~Maggot
Yep. Shooting it would have been much better than relocating it with a small boo boo.

FYI, the same thing that would be used by animal control that you've stressed this guy should call to handle it.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Yep. Shooting it would have been much better than relocating it with a small boo boo.

FYI, the same thing that would be used by animal control that you've stressed this guy should call to handle it.They wouldn't pick it up by its throat and take a picture. So no, it would not have been the same thing.

~Maggot

[RandyRhoads]

They wouldn't pick it up by its throat and take a picture. So no, it would not have been the same thing.

~Maggot
Neither would I. And to some degree they would have tension on it's neck, that's how it works, and it's better than most other outcomes. Do you expect they shoot it with a tranqualizer filled with pixie dust and unicorn farts to whisk it off into a gentle sleep? It must be nice living in naive fairytale land.

[lady_bug87]

hahahahahahahaaaaa

sorry, its late and I read "unicorn farts" and I nearly died laughing

[EmbraceCalamity]

Neither would I. And to some degree they would have tension on it's neck, that's how it works, and it's better than most other outcomes. Do you expect they shoot it with a tranqualizer filled with pixie dust and unicorn farts to whisk it off into a gentle sleep? It must be nice living in naive fairytale land.I didn't say they do? I'm perfectly aware of their use of these and that the animals are awake for it. I guess it would be nice living in a naive fairytale land; I wouldn't know. But there's a difference between using them purely as a necessary submissive tool (though I personally think they could use some redesigning) and picking its entire body up by a wire around its throat and going "HUR DUR LET'S TAKE A PICHUR." Saying I live in a naive fairytale land while you are claiming those two things to be the same is...let's go with ironic.hahahahahahahaaaaa

sorry, its late and I read "unicorn farts" and I nearly died laughingIsn't it only midnight there? >.>

~Maggot

[lady_bug87]

lol I have a 4 month old, midnight is the new 3am

[EmbraceCalamity]

lol I have a 4 month old, midnight is the new 3amAh, okay. I'm starting to die too. I haven't gotten to sleep before 3:30 in a few weeks, and it's starting to catch up with me too. :)

~Maggot

[lady_bug87]

my son sleeps all night thankfully but he's stuck to me all day, this is the only time I get a break

[moshirimon]

Lol a chupacabra here on Ontario!! Cool I'm catching it and keeping it..

[moshirimon]

Nvm didn't see other page.. -.-

[EmbraceCalamity]

my son sleeps all night thankfully but he's stuck to me all day, this is the only time I get a breakIt's to be expected. Children are evil.Lol a chupacabra here on Ontario!! Cool I'm catching it and keeping it..And naturally, we'll have to locate another one and start a breeding program. :D

~Maggot

[RandyRhoads]

Saying I live in a naive fairytale land while you are claiming those two things to be the same is...let's go with ironic.Isn't it only midnight there? >.>



~Maggot



Sorry, where exactly did I say it was the same thing? I never advised picking them up by the neck, that picture wasn't my doing. I said that was better than it getting shot, it's the same thing that would be used by animal control, and to some degree they would have had tension on it's neck. Do you need a ride to get your reading glasses repaired? :smug:

[EmbraceCalamity]

Sorry, where exactly did I say it was the same thing? I never advised picking them up by the neck, that picture wasn't my doing. I said that was better than it getting shot, it's the same thing that would be used by animal control, and to some degree they would have had tension on it's neck. Do you need a ride to get your reading glasses repaired? :smug:FYI, the same thing that would be used by animal control...Oh looky. :) There was no point in commenting that the device itself was the same as I wasn't commenting on the device itself at all. I was commenting on the use of the device. Can you follow that?

~Maggot

[RandyRhoads]

Oh looky. :) There was no point in commenting that the device itself was the same as I wasn't commenting on the device itself at all. I was commenting on the use of the device. Can you follow that?

~Maggot
Ahh that rebelious argue with everything teenager phase. I remember my first beer. You see the issue is I said the device is the same, then you claim I was saying the use is the same, when never did I say that. You can comment all you want that they would use a different technique, but that's clearly not what you were doing.Can you follow that?

They wouldn't pick it up by its throat and take a picture. So no, it would not have been the same thing.


~Maggot


You see, regardless of how they used it, it would still be the same device, which is what I said. If you wanted to suggest the technique would have been different, you could have done that, not reply to what I said saying the "same" thing. Your comment does not fit without going off mine. Hard to follow I know, it's complex stuff.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Ahh that rebelious argue with everything teenager phase. I remember my first beer. You see the issue is I said the device is the same, then you claim I was saying the use is the same, when never did I say that. You can comment all you want that they would use a different technique, but that's clearly not what you were doing.Can you follow that?No, because 1) I'm not a teenager, 2) I don't drink beer, and 3) You're obviously seriously misunderstanding what I'm saying.You see, regardless of how they used it, it would still be the same device, which is what I said.Reread the last post again. If you still can't get it, then don't worry about it. I'm far too tired and irritable.

Though I did assume you had a part in the pictures, so on that, I'll admit to being wrong and apologise.

~Maggot

[RandyRhoads]

No, because 1) I'm not a teenager, 2) I don't drink beer, and 3) You're obviously seriously misunderstanding what I'm saying.Reread the last post again. If you still can't get it, then don't worry about it. I'm far too tired and irritable.

Though I did assume you had a part in the pictures, so on that, I'll admit to being wrong and apologise.

~Maggot

1) Then stop acting like it.
2) Start
3) I get what you were TRYING to say, but you made a mistake in saying it, from misinterpreting what I said and didn't say. If you can't understand it, I could break down the gramatical content of the back and forth commenting to dumb it down for you, but, i'm not. I guess i'll fall back on what you do when there is reason involved and say i'm "too sick" or "too tired" to argue with your idiocy. Have a goodnight.:D

[EmbraceCalamity]

1) Then stop acting like it.
2) Start
3) I get what you were TRYING to say, but you made a mistake in saying it, from misinterpreting what I said and didn't say. If you can't understand it, I could break down the gramatical content of the back and forth commenting to dumb it down for you, but, i'm not. I guess i'll fall back on what you do when there is reason involved and say i'm "too sick" or "too tired" to argue with your idiocy. Have a goodnight.:DNight, hun. :)

~Maggot

[KORBIN5895]

It's an American thing. No one calls them opossums here.

~Maggot

Please stop trying to be the spokesperson for Americans. I am an American and I say opossum.

You're not dealing with a possum. If you were you wouldn't need to shoot it at all. I haven't come across any that are terribly fast. For a few bucks you can make an animal control noose with PVC and 3/16 cable. Don't be a moron and shoot things you can't clearly see. And even if you see it, for the love of god don't use a pellet gun... Yes maybe you can land a shot through the eye but possums and raccoons can be the antichrist of slipping away gently. A rabbit may get KTFO from a pellet gun, but try that on a raccon the same size. I've had some run off after 15+ .22 rounds.

PS. Did you eat these birds or just like killing and wasting for the hell of it?
]

I like the control noose plan. I have also seen coons take a lot of lead then charge the shooter.

my son sleeps all night thankfully but he's stuck to me all day, this is the only time I get a break


you never get any relief? That must terrible!
I have a lot of respect for mothers.

[stevealexo]

Ok just so everyone knows. I've tried baiting it with net traps. But no luck. And I haven't heard or seen any signs of it(whatever it is) since the skunk killing. So my best guess is it most have moved on. However if I do ever come across it I will kill it with any thing I can.

[stevealexo]

And pellet guns that shoot over 500fps you need a gun licence to have them in Canada.

[Pareeeee]

A common name isn't really wrong. People in one place might call something different than people somewhere else. Also:

pos·sum
noun
1. opossum.
2. Australian. any of various phalangers, especially of the genus Trichosurus.

~Maggot

Some people here in Canada wrongfully call them "possums" too, not just Americans.

1. Possum is not the common name.

2.The common name is Virginia Opossum.

3. The scientific name is Didelphis virginiana.

4. The Virginia Opossum is from the order Didelphimoria, while Australian Possums belong to an entirely different order, Diprotodontia.

5. Buy a field guide. You will not find one that says an Opossum is a Possum, since it is scientifically inaccurate.

I suppose you are one of those people who also calls salamanders 'lizards', boas 'pythons' and tortoises 'turtles'. :rolleyes:

[KORBIN5895]

Ok just so everyone knows. I've tried baiting it with net traps. But no luck. And I haven't heard or seen any signs of it(whatever it is) since the skunk killing. So my best guess is it most have moved on. However if I do ever come across it I will kill it with any thing I can.

Something tells me you will just maim yourself.....

[DragonsEye]

Some people here in Canada wrongfully call them "possums" too, not just Americans.

1. Possum is not the common name.

2.The common name is Virginia Opossum.

3. The scientific name is Didelphis virginiana.


"Possum" IS a common name. You are incorrect to assume there is only ONE "common" name. That would be as inaccurate as to say that "cougar" is THE common name for Puma concolor, when in fact "common" names for Puma concolor includes: Mexican lion, mountain lion, deer tiger, mountain screamer, puma, Florida panther, painter, catamount, slver lion, devil cat, Indian devil, sneak cat, king cat, mountain devil, red tiger, deercat, fire cat, plain lion , grey lion, caracajou, klandagi, catawampus, quinquajou, long tail, and swamp lion (I may have missed a couple). A "common" name is ANY nonscientific name used for an organism in a region/amongst a large group of people that is treated as an acceptable name/identifier. It is because of the potential for confusion and inaccuracy that it is better to utilize the correct (ie. scientific name) for organisms -- whether plant or animal.

Personally, I don't believe in letting a pet out unattended. This would solve the OPs problem without resorting to shooting something. The wild animals were here long before we were. Complaining about wild animals that might harm you unsupervised pet is as idiotic as the morons who level a wild area, build a subdivision, and then bitch that a cougar (Puma concolor) or coyote (Canis latrans) has run off with the family pet, Fluffy. Letting a pet out unsupervised is as irresponsible as doing the same with a toddler. In addition, besides threats from wild animals, unsupervised pets may get stolen, hit by a car, or shot for trespassing on someone else's property. (And yes this last DOES happen.)

[EmbraceCalamity]

"Possum" IS a common name. You are incorrect to assume there is only ONE "common" name. That would be as inaccurate as to say that "cougar" is THE common name for Puma concolor, when in fact "common" names for Puma concolor includes: Mexican lion, mountain lion, deer tiger, mountain screamer, puma, Florida panther, painter, catamount, slver lion, devil cat, Indian devil, sneak cat, king cat, mountain devil, red tiger, deercat, fire cat, plain lion , grey lion, caracajou, klandagi, catawampus, quinquajou, long tail, and swamp lion (I may have missed a couple). A "common" name is ANY nonscientific name used for an organism in a region/amongst a large group of people that is treated as an acceptable name/identifier. It is because of the potential for confusion and inaccuracy that it is better to utilize the correct (ie. scientific name) for organisms -- whether plant or animal.

Personally, I don't believe in letting a pet out unattended. This would solve the OPs problem without resorting to shooting something. The wild animals were here long before we were. Complaining about wild animals that might harm you unsupervised pet is as idiotic as the morons who level a wild area, build a subdivision, and then bitch that a cougar (Puma concolor) or coyote (Canis latrans) has run off with the family pet, Fluffy. Letting a pet out unsupervised is as irresponsible as doing the same with a toddler. In addition, besides threats from wild animals, unsupervised pets may get stolen, hit by a car, or shot for trespassing on someone else's property. (And yes this last DOES happen.)Agreed. Our cats are let to come in and out unsupervised, and I recognise there's a threat with that. When we have signs of wild animals coming around the house that could kill them (interestingly, they seem to not mind the possums hanging out with them), we try to keep them in more. But they go nuts if we try to keep them in.

Our neighbors called animal control because a bear got into their trash that they left sitting out over night, and I was just like, "Wtf? You moved out to the edge of a huge forest out of town and left your garbage just sitting out all night, and then you bitch because a bear ate it?" I wanted to go slap them across the faces. The officer said we had to stop putting out seed for the birds because the bears would eat it. I saw the bear again a month or so later, and she'd lost a good bit of weight. It was so dry and hot this summer, there wasn't much for them to eat. I felt really bad.Some people here in Canada wrongfully call them "possums" too, not just Americans.

1. Possum is not the common name.

2.The common name is Virginia Opossum.

3. The scientific name is Didelphis virginiana.

4. The Virginia Opossum is from the order Didelphimoria, while Australian Possums belong to an entirely different order, Diprotodontia.

5. Buy a field guide. You will not find one that says an Opossum is a Possum, since it is scientifically inaccurate.

I suppose you are one of those people who also calls salamanders 'lizards', boas 'pythons' and tortoises 'turtles'. :rolleyes:You had really better not use the terms "starfish," "koala bear," "horny toad," or "maned wolf."

~Maggot