Possum in a bucket...

[aquabean]

No, really, I've got a possum in a bucket in my backyard and I don't know what to do.

Suggestions?


The poodles (who are currently locked in the bathroom and not at all happy about it) cornered this possum and it climbed into one of those five gallon black plastic pots plants come in from the nursery (Dad's a landscaper and there's tons of that stuff laying around here), but now I don't know what to do with it.

Can I just take a the rake and knock the pot over and hope the possum runs out? I can't leave for work with the poodles in the bathroom because that would be just cruel. But I can't really leave the possum out there either.

I really, really don't want to pick up a little plastic bucket full of really freaked out possum.


...animal control? How does a person decide if it's worth calling animal control?


*flails and runs off to see if the five minutes this took to write was enough to make the possum leave on it's own*


ETA I: Possum still in bucket. I went next door and the very nice neighbors gave me the box their new coffee pot had come in and I'm going to see if I can tip the possum into the box. ...Yeah, that's kinda what I said, but hey, I've gotta start somewhere.

ETA II: Okay, no. That box is so not strong enough to hold what is, on closer inspection, a very, very large possum. Gah! What am I supposed to do?
...Okay, I'm going to google animal control. Just to see... *faceplams and relies on the internets like the good little nerd she is*

ETA III: Solution. Find a box trolley/dolly/lifter thing and wheel the possum (still in bucket) to the little gated area off to the side of the house. Let small dogs out of bathroom.
Problem. Discover that there's a hole in the fence between yard and gated off area and yard. Put dogs back inside. Bedroom this time.
Solution: Get out ...box lifter, and move possum (still in bucket) all the way to the front yard and store under some bushes. Prepare to release dogs a second time.

Comments

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

You might call animal control and ask them for advice. I'm guessing -- and I mean "guessing," because I've dealt with bats and birds but never with possums -- that the fact that the expression "playing possum" exists suggests that it may be a long time before this animal leaves on its own. But that might also mean that it's relatively safe to get close to it, and that animal control can tell you what kind of protective gear you'd need to do it safely.

And if they should come out and deal with it themselves, they'll know that, too.

[lapislaz.livejournal.com]

Rune, honey - just tip the bucket over and the possum will run out. I promise you it will if you just leave it alone and don't molest it. It will run away and hide like the smart little possum it is.

The possum will only bite you if you corner it. So don't corner it. Just let it run away, honey.

[kintail.livejournal.com]

I called Animal Control last week, actually, after calling the Humane Society first who recommeded I call them after they chatted with me long enough to confirm what I was describing. See, there was this large African Grey Parrot sitting in a tree outside our appartment building, and among everyone gathered around to see it was a kid throwing his shoe at it to see if it would fall (it didn't, neither did it fly away). Haven't had a chance to post about it, but yeah.

Um, my point is, they were very friendly and glad I called even though they couldn't help -- it was after 6 pm and it wasn't a someone-in-danger type emergency so they couldn't page their off-duty field workers about it. They had lots of information about how I might get it down if I could ask around and get a cage and fruit from a neighbour, since the thing probably just wanted a safe-looking place to hide (ie, birdcage). Before I had a chance to start asking around, though, the parrot and crowd disappeared while I wasn't looking.

So my point is, no need to be afraid to call Animal Control. They're going to be on your side since you're concerned about how best to protect the animal and keep yourself safe -- that's what they're there to help with.

Though I also agree with previous commenter that if you just tip the bucket and run, he'll probably just run in the other direction anyway.

HEH!

[madpinkflamingo.livejournal.com]

Bucket full o' freaked out possum.

Is it a good band name?

Or possibly a racehorse name?

(not to laugh in the face of your animal trauma but, hee!)

also, I feel like you should clear up the fact that leaving the poodles in the bathroom would be cruel to the bathroom, and not as much the poodles ;)

Ew

[excursionista.livejournal.com]

Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew! Possums are soooooooo gross. You are very brave.

Re: Ew

[runefallstar.livejournal.com]

Um. YEAH.

Seriously, weird tail, little grabby hands and meeeeean lookin' teeth. Ughgh.


Also, dude, where are you? Do have a phone? When can we chat next? CALL! Heh. No, nothing exciting, just wanting to say hi. ^___^