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I have never had any experience with possums where I live so I am just asking this:- would a possum kill and eat a rabbit. I found the remains of a rabbit on my back porch and then found a fresh road kill possum and it is the first time that I have seen one in my area. Also would a racoon be able to kill a rabbit?
Thanks for the assistance.:moose:
Do you or your neighbors own a cat ?
Glen
Glen:- Yes we have a couple of neighbours with cats which seem to be trying to eat all the birds in the area.
Both possums and racoons could kill a rabbit and especially chickens. Mostly the possum and especially on penned chickens or rabbits.
We have issues with possums frequently in the South as they are notorius chicken killers.
Did the rabbit have its head chewed off?
More likely a cat then ...with it being found on the porch .Quote:
Originally Posted by megabucks1
Glen
Possums are killers, my neighbor had 17 hens , 4 turkeys and 11 rabbits all killed , the rabbits were in a large open stall in the barn, the culprit a big boar possum.
The killings stopped when he borrowed my large live trap and caught the possum which I then dispatched .
I shot a possum with my bow 3 years ago while hunting deer upon the farmers request and spined him. You would have thought I shot a 150lbs wild pig the way it screamed even the farmer heard it 300yards away
Dan
I thought Possums were from the South. I wonder if any have made it to Ottawa.
GW..biologically they shouldn't even be surviving in Southern Ont...but they have...definitely warm weather beasts so unless climate change warms things up here in the Ottawa Valley, it's not likely we will see them any time soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
tough SOBs that's for sure. I've killed a couple with my pellet gun and they are nasty buggers. Took about 20 pellets to the head and kill zone for it to stop moving...they eat their own kind and wouldn't put it past them to try and kill something bigger than them. nasty nasty buggers I hate possums lol
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That's no reason for a inhumane slow death by 20 shots. Sounds like the wrong gun for killing possum.
I agree, no matter how much you hate them don't make an animal suffer that is just not right. We as hunters have an obligation to use humane methods of dispatching an animal whether it's game or varmits. And admitting it on an open forum does nothing good for our passion of hunting.
Completely agree.
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Originally Posted by fishermccann
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Originally Posted by gooseman
It was only his or her second post , I am guessing they have not read many past threads on this forum. Therefore does not know what a conscientious bunch of ethical hunters we have on here.
Sorry, made me chuckle a bit here.Quote:
Originally Posted by fishermccann
I don't think all the context is here.
We do not know how powerful the pellet gun and we do not know the circumstances. If this was a powerful pellet gun and the possum in a trap then who would think that a fast pellet to the head would not work. I think it would be more ethical to pump the gun and load another pellet and shoot again then to go to the house, get the keys from there spot, go to the gun cabinet and get the 22 then go get the ammo from lockup, go back outside to the trap, load up the gun and shoot the possum.
Maybe that was not the ideal choice but it happens.
I think in 2 posts he has not yet learned when to keep quiet about things that may draw attention.
They are vermin but no need to kill them slowy like that. If you're gonna kill something do it as quickly as possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deer Wrastler
not many options living in the suburbs and my dog is at risk of getting hurt/rabies. would love to use the .22 but that's asking for trouble...600fps 3 feet away heads shots and lung shots are as ethical as can be in my circumstance. I've been reading the forum for quiet a while 1.5 years and I see the same accusations and assumptions made all the time so it's all good. just sharing my experience nothing inhumane or slow deaths lol....
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I have a 22 cal Co2 Crossman than tips over grouse nicely. I bet it would do in a Possum quickly. The only thing is it being a pistol you really need to make sure your neighbors don't call the SWAT team on you. I would get a live trap if you have a problem then you could put it right in the sweet spot.
A grouse is not a possum.Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
I hit a raccoon in the top of a tree from the bottom of the tree, hit it with a load of #4 shot from a full choke barrel and it barely flinched. I put in some #1 Buck and shot it again and it finally dropped out of the tree and came after me.
Some of these animals are tough as nails, 600fps from 3ft does not sound like he was doing anything unethical under the context, that 22 cal Crosman probably has no more energy than his rifle, assuming it is a 22 cal at 495fps.
They look pretty cool. Do they do any real damage to the ecosystem? Wonder if they taste good.
600fps? You might as well used a subsonic .22. Technically you discharged a 'firearm' in the suburbs anyways. The muzzle up close and touching with act as a noise surpressor.
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Read post # 7 , they also destroyed the farmer's pear orchard , down the road from us.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
Before the deadly cold winters of 2013 and 2014, I'd see tons of possums, mostly roadkill, everywhere throughout S. Ont. After the 2014 winter, saw very very few.. now they are slowly making comeback. It is true, they cannot survive very cold weather... I guess a few made it out of those brutal winters and are now recolonizing. Goes to show you the benefits of a very cold winter... takes care of the non-native species often.. Wish a cold winter would kill off the ash borer.. poor ash trees are disappearing.