Wary of possum in backyard

[topochico225]

Hey y'all!

There've been possums in my yard ever since we moved in (4 years) and they've never caused an issue before. We've found a total of 4 adults and one baby. We usually find them from my small dog (14 yo Schnoodle) barking his head off at them. When we find them, we usually shoo them off without injuring them. However, lately I've noticed that there is an adult possum lurking in the corner of the yard closest to the coop. It's never hurt the girls before, but sometimes I find little dig marks next to the run which I fill in and set a brick on top of. The chickens are securely shut into the coop at night. Is there anything I can/should do to deter the possums? I REALLY don't want to dispatch or trap them, just deter. My brother suggested a salt gun, but those are cruel imo. I was thinking of an airsoft gun, because my brothers had tons of them when they were younger and we still have them.

Thanks in advance for your ideas!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

We have had possum problems for years. At first I wasn't too concerned. Then one night I was asleep with my window open (the coop is very close to my window) and I awoke to a grand ruckus in the coop in the middle of the night. I quickly put on shoes and ran out to the coop, only to find a large male possum with one of my hens in his mouth.
He dropped the hen when he saw me, the hen ended up being okay (I believe because I got out there so quickly). The possum didn't fare so well.
I am not telling you what to do, just telling a story so you can make a more informed decision, that is best for you and your flock.

 

[Solothurn]

A cage trap works well for possums and raccoons.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is there anything I can/should do to deter the possums? I REALLY don't want to dispatch or trap them, just deter.

Hardware cloth skirt/apron to stop the digger.

MAYBE putting black pepper or red pepper on the ground so they sniff it up.. like pepper spray sorta???

Motion activated sprinkler.

Agree trapping and dispatching every one that comes my way is NOT an option.. I choose to live in the woods instead of dealing with two legged human predators which are far less predictable.

Relocation of trapped animals is often inhumane and/or illegal.

E wire, placed correctly can be extremely effective.

In LA.. predators abound.. Any upgrade to security is a wise idea!

Glad you've decided to look for input before any awful lesson.

Sorry for your experience @Ursuline Chick.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

A cage trap works well for possums and raccoons.

The OP stated they weren't interested in trapping or dispatching.

But my neighbor set his trap up incorrectly enough times it DOES deter them.

 

[Folly's place]

Having a safe coop and run, and only having food in those places, makes all the difference. Many of us underestimate what 'predator proof' really means, and find out the hard way, with dead and dying chickens. Don't do what we did until we learned better!
Opossums, skunks, and raccoons aren't a big threat to free ranging birds during the day, but all will have no problems killing birds at night.
Only trap if you will then shoot!
Opossums carry a parasite that's very dangerous to horses, raccoons carry a roundworm that can kill humans, and both skunks and raccoons are sometimes infected with rabies. In addition to other not so nice diseases. Having any food for them near the house is a bad idea!
Here I do like to feed the wild songbirds, but will stop feeding when these critters show up, until they move on elsewhere. Any food left outside will attract them, never good.
Wildlife needs to be wild, not dependent on handouts in your yard!
Mary

 

[mcdze]

never had a problem with possums .. theyre usually strictly nocturnal and scavenge more than they hunt .. as long as the door to the coop isnt left open at night and theres no easy access doubt you'll ever have an issue, but they will snatch them off the roost if they can basically walk right into the coop ..

 

[3KillerBs]

How about adding a layer of electric fence to your coop defenses?

Only trap if you will then shoot!

Exactly.

Turning your problem into someone else's problem by dumping a pest animal in their area is deeply unethical.

 

[topochico225]

How about adding a layer of electric fence to your coop defenses?



Exactly.

Turning your problem into someone else's problem by dumping a pest animal in their area is deeply unethical.

I don't think my parents would go for an EF. I'll probably make a hardware cloth skirt, and do the pepper thing @Folly's place suggested. Thanks y'all!

 

[JNC]

A trap cage will work. When it comes to my animals I’ll do anything to protect them. Possums aren’t endangered so we ended up killing it pretty brutaly but only because we are in the city and I can’t just shoot in my back yard.