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.

[whereasandsoforth]

I have a BIG one that comes to my front porch every night and eats cat food. He has been doing this for the last few years. I live in a crowded zero-lot line sub-division. We have no idea where he/she "lives". I leave the cat food out on purpose. I tend to think it is the only meal this animal can depend on.

[evets]

He should of ate it.

[MineralMan]

"I have a BIG one that comes to my front porch every night and eats cat food. He has been doing this for the last few years. I live in a crowded zero-lot line sub-division. We have no idea where he/she "lives". I leave the cat food out on purpose. I tend to think it is the only meal this animal can depend on."

They do love cat food. But you might be surprised. I'll bet your 'possum is eating at several houses. A lot of people put out food for the 'possums and raccoons. It's fun to watch them. Yours must be a male. If it were a female, you'd see it bringing its young-uns for dinner once they were weaned.

[Michael Barnes]

I don't esspecially mind the possum's, it's the damn ground hogs in Western PA that tick me off...Leave 'em to their vices and they will destroy your property.

[BigBadWolf]

It's not as if this vermin is a staple food for the region

Mmmmm mmmmm...possom and sweet potatoes. Would somebody pppplease ppppass the ppppossom?

[HairOfTheDog]

I think they are amusing too... Did you see my story at 18? ;~D

[HairOfTheDog]

I've even picked up wild ones that were on the street where they were likely to get run over.

I do feel bad for them on the road. The whole "play dead" scheme worked really well for them, till the invention of cars.

[MineralMan]

"I think they are amusing too... Did you see my story at 18? "

Yeah. They can sure fool you if they get attacked by a dog. Most dogs get bored once the thing looks dead.

'Possums are really stupid, but they must be doing something right...they survive really well around humans.

[pabianice]

EAT MO' POSSUM

[Nick Danger]

Opossums

What's this, the Japanese honorific?

Oopossum-san ga futoi desu nee.

[HairOfTheDog]

Perhaps city life is the best place for you.

[Ta Wee]

Opossums are nearly witless and incredibly hideous--but they don't bother me and I don't bother them. I didn't see any in my yard last year, and I missed their ugly pointed faces and crazy eyes.

[MineralMan]

"Opossums are nearly witless and incredibly hideous--but they don't bother me and I don't bother them. I didn't see any in my yard last year, and I missed their ugly pointed faces and crazy eyes."

Yeah, they're wierd. I remember the first time I touched one...the one that eats at my back door. He/she was chowing down on some dry cat food, and I reached over and skritched it between the ears. Nothing happened for about three seconds, then it jumped up. Went back to eating. A little slow, I guess, in the mentation department.

[N. Theknow]

Here is a photo of a 'possum-on-the-halfshell.

[Stay the course]

Ya think? Let me guess: you live in the suburbs, right? Because nobody who actually lives in the country and is around wildlife all the time could make a statement like that. It's a dang possum, for crying out loud.

[MineralMan]

Wish we had armadillos in California. I've never seen a live one in the wild.

[HairOfTheDog]

Check out my post 18 and my profile page. I live in the country on acreage, keep horses and [gasp!] there is wildlife habitat here! They are part of the landscape I treasure.

[Fresh Wind]

Fines for killing wildlife without a license and/or out of season vary by species. Killing an opossum and some other animals carries a $100 fine while killing an elk has an $800 fine.

This is discriminatory. Why should an elk's life be worth more than a 'possum's?

[Ta Wee]

Relative to body weight, I believe they have one of the smallest brains among mammals. There isn't a whole lot going on in there. The young ones will stroll right past me in full daylight while I am out weeding.

I'd much rather have oppossums around than raccoons. The raccoons climb up onto my porch roof and look in the windows...

[MineralMan]

"I'd much rather have oppossums around than raccoons. The raccoons climb up onto my porch roof and look in the windows...
"

I like both pretty well. I'm a lot more cautions, though, with the raccoons. I don't touch them, but they're another of my favorite suburban critters.