Opossums protected by state law

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Thursday, May 15, 2003 | Michael A. Fuoco

[Willie Green]

Personnel at a Westmoreland County wildlife rehabilitation center plan to report to state game officials that an Arnold man beat an opossum to death with a shovel when it wandered into his yard on Mother's Day.

Mel Schake, information and education supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission's 10-county Southwest Region, said he hadn't yet heard about the Arnold incident but, speaking generally, said people need to realize that wildlife are protected by law.

[Willie Green]

I can't quite figure out why this law is on the books.
Afterall, Pennsylvania is north of the Mason-Dixon line.
It's not as if this vermin is a staple food for the region.

[dighton]

Do you still have a photo of my "cat"?

[Calpernia]

It is found throughout the eastern United States except Main, west to Colorado and Texas, north to Minnesota, and south into Mexico. It is also found in Pacific coastal areas and in some parts of Arizona and New Mexico. It makes its den in hollow trees, logs, or abandoned burrows of other animals.

Usually nocturnal, the opossum feeds on a diet made up of insects, frogs, birds, eggs, snakes, earthworms and small mammals. It adds to this diet plant food such as apples, corn and persimmons when they can get them. Unfortunately for the opossum, it also has developed a taste for carrion and is often killed by cars as they try to steal a snack of recent road kill.

When a female is ready to have a litter (she can have up to three a year) she builds a nest of leaves and twigs in her den. After only 12-13 days of gestation, her tiny babies (numbering from 1 to fifteen) are born. The babies are so small, that a typical litter can fit comfortably inside a teaspoon. They immediately climb into her pouch attach themselves to a nipple inside her pouch. Those who don't find a nipple, die. Once they attach themselves to a nipple they are unable to let go for several weeks. Within a week, they will grow 1000 percent! After four weeks they will stick their heads out of the pouch and a week later be able to leave the pouch for short periods of time. They can take care of themselves by the time they are eight weeks old. Living for about 7 years, opossums are ready to breed at a year old.

We have lots of opossum by my house. They seem to just go about their business. My veggie garden was totally snacked on. But I wouldn't beat a opossum with a shovel over it.

[angcat]

I have them come to my deck in the winter and eat the cat food that I leave out, they also make themselves at home in the dog house that I keep on my deck (for the cats). I think they are so cute.

[Conservababe]

Well, if you've ever had a possum hiss at you unexpectedly, you'd kill it with a shovel, too.

Which reminds me of my brother's possum story. He was traveling on the interstate from Louisiana to Kentucky. In Mississippi, he hit a possum on the highway. It completely destroyed his oilpan as possums jump straight up when frightened. He had to sit on the side of the road two hours before a State Trooper pulled up to help.

He hates 'em.

[Calpernia]

Watch for fleas. My cat has brought home baby opossum as presents. Opossum seem to have a nice infestation.

Maybe put some flea powder in the dog house ;)

[Calpernia]

Well, that would piss me off too.

[Chewbacca]

I almost ran over one once late at night.

I see them mostly as road kill.

[xJones]

My mother-in-law in California has possums. She doesn't want them, and her doberman can't catch them but they're there. She has a luscious grove of orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and pomegranate trees. The possums bite holes and suck everything out. While one understands that possums have to live also, the little darlings suck most of the fruit.

Possums love kitchen garbage cans, also. Two invaded my home early one morning after a back door was blown open for a few minutes. The ensuing fight with me vs. the possums would be too embarrassing to relate. I won, but it wasn't easy. :)

[angcat]

Actually the Cat house is for the strays, I keep my cats in the house at all times. I feed all animals in the winter and since the winter has not ended in PA I guess I am still feeding all the animals!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

"Opossums are not the cutest, most attractive critters we have, but they are still protected under the game and wildlife code

Well they better haul their rears down here and tell my dachshund. His score stands at two opossum, three rabbits and a squirrel.

[MineralMan]

"Well, if you've ever had a possum hiss at you unexpectedly, you'd kill it with a shovel, too.
"

Why? Opossum's are pretty much the most inoffensive wild animal that visits our homes. They don't bite. They don't attack dogs and cats. They just walk around, mostly at night. Harmless critters.

[dwilli]

If they have become protected, will we start seeing "Possum Crossing" signs on the highway?

[nightdriver]

"Opossums are not the cutest, most attractive critters we have, but they are still protected under the game and wildlife code and you can't indiscriminately kill them," Schake said.

They are "protected" here in my state, too. Still, I'll cross six lanes of traffic to run over one.

[Conservababe]

Yes, yes, I grew up in Louisiana. I know possums. They are so cute lined up on a tree limb hanging by their tails in order of size, sleeping.

But, at night, if you happen to run across one unexpectedly, the hiss will raise the hair on your head.

LOL

[MineralMan]

"They are "protected" here in my state, too. Still, I'll cross six lanes of traffic to run over one."

That's pretty impressive. Pretty manly, too. Wow!

[HairOfTheDog]

Schake said that just because wildlife may wander into a neighborhood doesn't make it a nuisance.

This is a valid point. I always fail to be incensed when people tell me that they have to deal with wildlife. Egads, that is one of the wonders of living for me. Possums, rabbits, coyotes, deer, squirrels. I stop and watch them. I treat the coyotes with caution, and I worry for my cat and encourage the dogs to bark, but what a treat. I would never think that they need to be killed just because they exist nearby and traverse through my pasture looking for bunnies.

I had a funny experience with a opossum a while back.... I looked out to see that my dog had one on the ground. Not wanting her to get hurt by it, I went out to intervene. I walked up though, and realized she had already *killed* it. I was too nervous to pick it up, so I grabbed a flat shovel and picked it up, almost put it in my burn barrel, but decided against that, and just dropped it over my fence where the dog couldn't get it again. I'll be darned if it didn't get up and walk off a few minutes later! - Fooled me! - It played dead, mouth open tongue hanging out and completely limp when I scooped it with the shovel. An amazing experience.

[Stay the course]

Vermin is right. Possums, coons, skunks, they're all disease-ridden, thieving pains in the ass. They like to take up residence in my barn in the winter and eat my corn and crap all over my hay. I say terminate with extreme prejudice. Shovel, pitchfork, crowbar, whatever's handy. I usually drown the skunks, though. No sense taking chances.

[MineralMan]

"But, at night, if you happen to run across one unexpectedly, the hiss will raise the hair on your head.

"

Well, that's true. That hiss is pretty loud, especially at night.

I have one that comes to my back door every night. I feed him peanuts in the shell, one at a time. He or she even lets me scratch her between the ears. Cute critter. My cats just ignore it, or walk up and sniff noses with it.

I've even picked up wild ones that were on the street where they were likely to get run over. You just grab em by the armpits and carry them somewhere else. Put 'em down, and they wander off in a new direction. Stupid, but amusing.