Boy meets Marsupial

[da]

My morning's been like something out of Monty Python. Rover the wonder-dog started barking while she was outside. This time it wasn't a cat, it was the oppossum I suspected was living under our house.

I called a pest removal company (AAA Wildlife Control). But their agent, who wasn't just a receptionist, and sure sounded like she knew her wild animals, basically convinced me that we may have scared it away for good already. She reassured me that there aren't any baby oppossums back at the nest (they're marsupial, and it's too early in the season for babies, and besides they'd stay in the mother's pouch for a while), and while they sometimes nest in groups for warmth, it's likely that there aren't any others under the house either.

And, if it turns up again, the company will happily handle removal and install a chicken-wire barrier to keep it out.

I asked whether they release animals out into the countryside. She said by law, they're not allowed to put them into a different habitat, so they release them elsewhere in the same habitat. (What exactly does that mean? The 'possum halfway house in my neighbourhood?) So that solution isn't so much different than if Rover convinced it our house isn't the right place to live. I guess Rover earned her kibble this morning.

Isn't it a weird looking beastie?

Comments

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

As d. said, skunks are worse to have as flatmates.

But now, to solve the question of why our house was skunked about 5 times this winter/spring. Either there was a skunk and oppossum repeatedly fighting under our house, or the oppossum came back from fights and stunk really badly, or they were playing cards under there and got into an argument, or something.

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

Well, the opposum does have a pouch in which to hide cards. Maybe they cheat!

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

...I just mentioned this to Rover, and she was aghast. I told her she's got to choose her card-partners carefully, she can't just trust every critter who comes in off the street.