Opposums

Hava a couple live trapping jobs where customer wants raccoons she saw in yard and landscaping removed. I made sure it was clear could not control capturing of non targets! I set 3: 30 L X 11w X11h single doors, 2 large double doors with bait secured above trip pan. And 2 9x9 single door cage traps a mixture of baits . And we have caught opposums in nearly every set at different times. It's gettig frustrating. Thinking of using a trail camera on this one . But any other suggestions. It is a large 3 acre lot surrounded by woods on 3 sides! When I took this job on I thought it was gona be an easy one!

What are you using for bait? Maybe think of setting the trap off the ground, raccoons will climb if the bait is right. Maybe a couple milk crate would do the job. JMO

You've gotta love folks who look out the window and see an animal and have no damage or actual impact from that species yet want it gone.

Especially those who buy other lots in the middle of the woods.

Have some great conversations with folks who call when I ask, "so what is happening in terms of damage or concern that caused you to call this morning?

"Ummmmmmm...... Well I saw it and I thought I should probably have it removed."

Always happy to have folks say in their voicemail "I don't know whether this is an issue or not and wanted to ask."

Damage being caused is to landscaping, outdoor furniture, dumpster being raided . We secured dumpster. 2 yrs ago this customer had rac in attic as well. So being a bit proactive in their eyes

Ahh, yup they've had some issues! Can understand their reaction wasn't just to seeing it in this case.

They are the number one non target for us.

I would imagine that we have fewer opossum to contend with than any of you as our winters are not real possum friendly. I often

wondered if we put a collar on one and let it go, how many days in a row we would catch him in the same trap? When you show the

customer how cute they are and how wonderful they smell, most of them will pay you to take it along rather than release it in their

backyard.

It occurs to me from time to time I've never seen one "play possum". They are often sleeping in the cage when I walk up, but soon after start hissing, soiling my cage, and acting ornery.

Bait wise I have been using tree berry paste on a crack or on a marshmallow in back of trap. Have used oatmeal cream pies. Canned cat food, an a stinky long distance predator bait. All traps are on the ground at this point . I do have some brick ledges to work with around the patio were damage has occurred but trying to keep things as clean as possible.

Update:I did catch 2 armadillos with double doors in the landscaping . A I suspected they were the ones grubbing in the mulch. I also finally caught 1 raccoon a small male. She said she saw 4 . So reset with same bait same location no luck yet. Is a 9x9 cage to small for raccoons in your opinion?

One other thing she is saying she sees turkey's pulling up her flowers after she plants them in the spring I suspect turkey's are doing a bit of the damage to the mulch. It is spread all over driveway and things like that. She said I could shoot them with a bow, they are in a subdivision with 3-5 acre lots. So that would be cool and all but time is precious , I will probably go sit out tree this weekend ,but any other methods to keep turkey's from causing damage?

Can you shoot legally in that situation? We need to be 500 feet from any dwellings that didn't give you permission to shoot closer here.

Most if not all states consider Turkey's a prized game animal. and special permits may be required to ADC them. In Mo they can only be hunted with shotguns, with shot no larger than #2's. Don't know about ADC.

Pez,

What state are you in?

Yea I'm not sure about this particular county in MO . But I am definately over 500ft from any other dwelings. Also big bob, you can hunt turkey's with a bow- in MO anything during deer archery season.

I was more interested on how you planned to get close enough to get a good shot off with a bow!

You aren't releasing the possums are you? My experience is you have to catch and remove all the possums before you can catch the target animal. I'll never know how many bobcats I've missed because a possum got in the trap first. An old trapper tells me, "The possum spends his life trying to find his way into your trap, and he will unless he gets hit by a car first."

Question: Do you ever find the opossums killed and eaten by bobcats ( or anything else ) while caught in the foothold? I have found

other animals like raccoons, squirrels, and rabbits eaten but I can't recall any opossums that became breakfast.

I'm trapping with cages here in Washington state so the dumb possums are safe once they trigger my traps.

Have watched possum carcasses rot in the woods. Even in late winter. Yotes peed on 'em, crows ate the eyes and that's it. Everything else from bunnies to coons to deer disappeared in short order on that property.

Which is interesting as I do not find them to be bad eating. Not great either, but hey.