What can you do with a Virginia possum?

[1965]

These critters are are really settling in here in Ontario. I am seeing dead ones on the roads all the time now. My brother in-law found what he thought was a dead one in his yard until he picked it up with a shovel and tossed it into the woods and it scurried off. They are darn near as big as a cat. The Clampetts were partial to possum inard pie but that doesn't sound all that appetising. So can you eat them, make pets out off them, can they be a nuisance, cause property damage or just live in peace and harmony and go about our own thing?

 

[newbury]

Add a six pack for a 7 course meal.

 

[nybirdman]

Funny you should mention that!

 

[EddieWalker]

They are a good animal to have around. Not very pretty, but very beneficial. They eat all the things you don't want, and you rarely see them.

A buddy of mine always has a live trap set at his house to catch racoons, but sometimes he catches a possum. He will grab it with his bare hands and hold onto it, petting it, until it calms down. This just takes a few minutes. Then it's like a pet and seems to enjoy being petted, even when he lets it go, it will stick around for more attention. Scariest thing to see at first, but amazing to see how quickly it happens.

 

[4get gto]

Funny you should mention that!

That's too funny. We have them around our house all the time. Other than getting into the cats food they're really not a problem.

 

[JB13502]

Funny you should mention that!

Goes right along with:

 

[dadster4]

Possums are docile for sure and rarely cause problems, BUT, they are one of the worst carriers of fleas of small critters. Look but don't touch!

 

[nybirdman]

I have caught a few in a Havaheart;the buggers like my pheasant and pheasant eggs.

 

[F1520]

North America's only marsupial.

 

[1965]

They are a good animal to have around. Not very pretty, but very beneficial. They eat all the things you don't want, and you rarely see them.

A buddy of mine always has a live trap set at his house to catch racoons, but sometimes he catches a possum. He will grab it with his bare hands and hold onto it, petting it, until it calms down. This just takes a few minutes. Then it's like a pet and seems to enjoy being petted, even when he lets it go, it will stick around for more attention. Scariest thing to see at first, but amazing to see how quickly it happens.

They have a rather scary business end, don't know that I would grab onto one with bare hands. I wasn't sure if they get into sheds and chew things up or burrow under porches. Glad to here they are an OK invasive species for once.