I have a friend who has had some possums making messes and tearing up his yard. He’s set up a cage and has caught two of them so far. His plan has been to trap them and then take them to another part of town to let them go. When I suggested he kill the things, he acted like that was a horrid idea. I really can’t imagine doing such a thing myself, but I also can’t imagine relocating dirty rodents that may or may not have rabies and other diseases.
Is killing possums animal cruelty or is it rodent extermination? What do you think?
Personally, I hate their beady-eyed selves, but if they’re in a forest preserve, I’ll take a live and let live attitude. Now…if I found one in my house? Whoever draws first wins.
I definitely wouldn’t do it myself(look at these guys - they’re like furry little babies), but I believe people who are at risk of diseases from infected animals can kill them to protect themselves. I hope you find a humane way to kill them if your friend oks it.
'Possums rarely carry rabies. Around here it is skunks and bats you have to worry about.
I live in the country so I have a live and let live policy with regard to 'possums. They have scared the shit out of me by being on my porch when I go out at night, but since I apparently scare the shit out of them at the same time, I figure we’re even.
I feel sorry for them since they are so ugly, and have mercy.
You might check with your county extension folks about relocation and rabies.
They do have an awful lot of teeth…
Possums have too low of a body temperature to support rabies or give anything to humans. And they’re adorable! They’re also not rodents - they’re marsupials. If you kill them, how are you going to keep other ones from just taking their place?
Any possum in my backyard has told the universe that it is ready to leave this planet, as far as I’m concerned.
Granted this may involve me screaming like Jamie Curtis in “Halloween” and flailing with broom until I can get in the door, which I will then lock behind me… but you get the idea.
Yup. I was told when I was working for a wild animal rescue organization, that they can’t give humans any diseases. And they’re CUTE! They look like giant rats! They’re really soft too.
I am a country boy and people often things “trapping and releasing” is good, but often it’s not.
Usually the possum or skunk simply winds up in another’s territory and is harassed or even killed by other animals (of the same kind or different kind).
Getting a dog or another animal to drive off your possum is the best answer, but merely releasing it somewhere else is like 50% chance it won’t last in the new location. But it makes people feel better, but then again, I wasn’t raised thinking chickens come from the store.
They are disgusting but sure, why not release them. The best place to do it is on the median strip between both sides of a busy interstate highway. They will know what to do from there.
Only one thing matters in all of this their favorite thing to eat is the roach.
And ridding an area of possums/rodents is a full time job. But hey, if your idea of fun is sitting on your porch at 3 in the morning with a pellet rifle, then have at it.
I think I just have odd standards. When my cats hiss at me, I think it’s funny. And the possum I knew bit me once (I can’t hold it against him - I had dragged him out of his cage by his tail, as per procedure.)
Sure, sure. You set out to exterminate them, but they ‘play possum’ and you only think they’re all dead. Then they come back and get you when you least expect it.
Opposums have a very low incidence of rabies. And as RichS said, they will eat roaches, slugs, snails, and other things that you don’t want around your house and garden.
They’re shy creatures that make good neighbors. Why chase them away, let alone kill them?
