[Taltarzac725]

What do you do about a mother opossum with little ones in your neighbors' yards?

My pooch was nose-to-nose with a opossum a few nights ago right between our house and the neighbor's. He had cornered her against some bushes and she was having a hissing fit while he barked angrily to tell us that he got something.

I had seen what looked like a mouse in the bushes on the backyard neighbor's property. My dog had been trying to get into these bushes for a week. Coming out of these same bushes, someone else in my family had also seen what he said looked like a mouse. On second thought though, we figured out this was why that opossum was sticking around and was hardly playing possum.

She was defending her ground even if it was against a dog about the same size as a opossum.

What do you do though about an opossum in the neighborhood which has babies?

Call animal control and have them move them if they can even find these nocturnal animals?

I know she (the mother opossum) is out there but really do not want to risk another encounter between my dog and this mother opossum.

Another neighbor also has a much smaller dog than mine. I told her about the opossum mother as I did not want her dog to get hurt.

[n8xwb]

Opossums are not agressive and are a beneficial wild animal. I dont understand your concern unless you and your neighbor let your dogs outside without being on a leash WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF THE LEASH LAWS IN TV. Let mom and babies be, & use a leash!

[Bonny]

[zcaveman]

Call Amimal Control and let them handle it. They will know what to do.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

Call Amimal Control and let them handle it. They will know what to do.

Thanks, zcaveman. I am not sure where this opossum is now. It seems she moved her babies a few doors down. I mentioned the opossum and babies to our local District leader's wife, who is a good friend.

I will just have to keep my dog on a leash at all times during the night in his own backyard.
I looked at the deed restrictions for this District, Plat and Unit http://www.districtgov.org/departmen...terCounty.aspx and they could be construed either way of requiring pets to be on leashes at all times or allowing pets in your own yards to be controlled by various means like an invisible fence or a stake in the grass attached to a leash or voice command. They do make it clear you have to clean up the poop and are responsible for damage done by a pet to other's property.

I would hope a little common sense would be allowed in how deed restrictions are interpreted? Dogs chase stuff if they get a scent. The mother opossum a few night ago was within a long leash distance between our house and the neighbors. She was also very much standing her ground and looked like she could take a chunk out of a small dog. She was agrressive when protecting her young in other words.

Next door, there is a family of ducks who come to lay eggs every year. These duck eggs are probably not going to be safe from the opossum.

[er9027]

They are VERY aggressive if backed into a corner or feel threatened!! (babies). Lots of teeth, possible rabies. Leave them alone and they are fine.
If they are in close proximity of pets,people,etc. call animal control. They normally don't hang around long, probably just passing thru. (Nocturnal)

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by er9027

They are VERY aggressive if backed into a corner or feel threatened!! (babies). Lots of teeth, possible rabies. Leave them alone and they are fine.
If they are in close proximity of pets,people,etc. call animal control. They normally don't hang around long, probably just passing thru. (Nocturnal)

Thanks. I was very surprised to even see an opossum in this neighborhood. We are not that close to areas that get a lot of wildlife.

I hope she and her babies are just passing through.

[rubicon]

If I were you and since critters and don't get along well I wold have called animal control at the first sighting to have them relocated, possibly to out of state.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by rubicon

If I were you and since critters and don't get along well I wold have called animal control at the first sighting to have them relocated, possibly to out of state.

The opossum and offspring will probably stay somewhere nearby as this neck of the Villages does not have any coyotes, wild cats, alligators, owls, etc. It does have the occasional speeding golf cart or speeding car. They would not have to go far though to become game to these predators or risk being hit by a vehicle.

[rubicon]

[QUOTE=Taltarzac725;466747]The opossum and offspring will probably stay somewhere nearby as this neck of the Villages does not have any coyotes, wild cats, alligators, owls, etc. It does have the occasional speeding golf cart or speeding car. They would not have to go far though to become game to these

Taltarzac 725" I love animals from afar. The only animals I ever managed to gain rapport with were horses when i rode alot as a kid and a neighbor's dog when my kids were little.

so forgive my reaction if it seem insensitive. I do have more of heart for animals then I would let on.

[Graytop]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

What do you do about a mother opossum with little ones in your neighbors' yards?

My pooch was nose-to-nose with a opossum a few night ago right between our house and the neighbor's. He had corned her against some bushes and she was having a hissing fit while he barked angrily to tell us that he got something.

I had seen what looked like a mouse in the bushes on the backyard neighbor's property. My dog had been trying to get into these bushes for a week. Coming out of these same bushes, someone else in my family had also seen what he said looked like a mouse. On second thought though, we figured out this was why that opossum was sticking around and was hardly playing possum.

She was defending her ground even if it was against a dog about the same size as a opossum.

What do you do though about an opossum in the neighborhood which has babies?

Call animal control and have them move them if they can even find these nocturnal animals?

I know she (the mother opossum) is out there but really do not want to risk another encounter between my dog and this mother opossum.

Another neighbor also has a much smaller dog than mine. I told her about the opossum mother as I did not want her dog to get hurt.

What does the law say about discharging firearms in our fair city? I assume it's OK if I shoot an intruder in my home,...what about pest animals? Are you allowed to shoot them?....I suppose a more humane approach would be to live trap them with a have a heart trap and let them loose out in the country.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Graytop

What does the law say about discharging firearms in our fair city? I assume it's OK if I shoot an intruder in my home,...what about pest animals? Are you allowed to shoot them?....I suppose a more humane approach would be to live trap them with a have a heart trap and let them loose out in the country.

Interesting question, Graytop.

There is a field about a mile away from here where rumor has it a farmer shot a coyote.

My guess is that the animal would have to be inside the house for me to shoot it with a firearm. This looks like it would have to be FL State Law as the FL Legislature has the first and last say-- as far as I can tell-- on the discharge of firearms according to this FL Attorney General Opinion.

http://myfloridalegal.com/ago.nsf/Op...25703C0071D2FB

[Graytop]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Interesting question, Graytop.

There is a field about a mile away from here where rumor has it a farmer shot a coyote.

My guess is that the animal would have to be inside the house for me to shoot it with a firearm. This looks like it would have to be FL State Law as the FL Legislature has the first and last say-- as far as I can tell-- on the discharge of firearms according to this FL Attorney General Opinion.

Advisory Legal Opinion - County ordinance re discharge of firearms

OK then,...going by other posts on this forum today,...you could install a doggy door in your home. When the possum enters the house uninvited through the doggy door then you could legally shoot it? Do I have this right?

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Graytop

OK then,...going by other posts on this forum today,...you could install a doggy door in your home. When the possum enters the house uninvited through the doggy door then you could legally shoot it? Do I have this right?

I am not allowed to give legal advice....

Kind of got that grilled into me while being a reference librarian.