Thumperina
Well-Known Member
I have lived in my house for 6 years. Rabbits have been in my yard for 4 years. We are close to a busy intersection and I have never spotted any serious predators where I live. Occasionally we could see a cat hanging out nearby but it was never a real problem. For months, it's been all quiet and clear.
My rabbits are in a bunny proof yard during the day, at night they are in garage (no cars there). We have a hutch in the yard where they love to hide when it rains, but in general it's not very livable (small). We recently bought a new hutch but I don't think it would work out either -- my rabbits weigh 9-10 lbs, and there are 3 of them (I am afraid that the second floor would collapse under their weight, and the ramp is way too narrow). There is also a deck in the yard and couple of small trees (bush-like), bunnies have lot of protection. Of course, I know that it's not completely safe to keep them loose but this is not what I would like to discuss.
In summer, its hot, so I have to wait until rather late before I can bring them inside the garage for the night. I usually spend time in the yard with them after dark.
Anyway, the story started a few days ago. At first, I spotted a cat sitting on top of the wooden fence not far from our back yard. I scared it off but kept monitoring that area frequently. Suddenly, my flashlight stumbled on something I have never seen before. A possum was sitting on top of a chain link fence that surrounds my backyard (I took the picture standing inside my backyard and he was sitting where the red broom is) ! I was speechless, I have never seen them before in real life, and I thought they were vicious predators. I freaked out in fear for my rabbits who were sitting under the deck and pushed him off the fence using the red broom that was standing there. It took me a few pushes to get him down...
Since that, after dark, I started to see on top of the wooden fence either a cat or an opossum. They use top of the wooden fence as a walking path to get to the left (of the picture, this will be past my yard) because they have some business in that area (I suspect, garbage for possum that belongs to a business). The cat doesn't seem to be stray. No idea who he belongs to.
But 2 days ago I realized that the problem is worse (well, so far nobody was harmed, except fact that all wild rabbits are not seen anymore). I was driving from the store real late (my rabbits already in garage), and saw a possum crossing residential street (he was coming from the area I just described so I thought it was "my" possum). I went around my house with a flashlight and then something real strange happened. A pair of shining eyes was running straight to me as if I was a dog owner who brought a treat. Then, very close to me, this possum went up the wooden fence and disappeared behind the bushes (still on top of the fence). I was shocked that he paid absolutely no attention to me and to my flashlight. Maybe he was running from somebody? That cat? Then, another possum ran after the first one but he didn't dare to climb the fence as he saw me with the light, he hesitated and returned to the area he came from, by my neighbor's tractor (a small fence that surrounds tractor).
All this makes me think that there is a family a possums including young, that live in my neighbor's yard. There is a possibility he feeds them, given that they are not afraid of people (he is a strange old guy who doesn't say Hi to me, it's out of the question that I want to talk to him, he proved he doesn't like me and my pets).
Since that, I educated myself about possums, they don't seem to be that bad. Of course, thing #1 I need to do is to remove my rabbits where they can be reached, especially after dark.
My question is : do I need to deter possums from this area or leave them alone? I am the person who feels bad about all the wildlife that kicked out by humans from their habitats, usually...
Ideas that go thru my head:
- live trap them and take to the wild park nearby (not sure if its legal)
- put sharp wire with spikes (what is it called?) on top of the part of the fence that goes thru my yard (where bushes are). I don't want to harm anybody though.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
My rabbits are in a bunny proof yard during the day, at night they are in garage (no cars there). We have a hutch in the yard where they love to hide when it rains, but in general it's not very livable (small). We recently bought a new hutch but I don't think it would work out either -- my rabbits weigh 9-10 lbs, and there are 3 of them (I am afraid that the second floor would collapse under their weight, and the ramp is way too narrow). There is also a deck in the yard and couple of small trees (bush-like), bunnies have lot of protection. Of course, I know that it's not completely safe to keep them loose but this is not what I would like to discuss.
In summer, its hot, so I have to wait until rather late before I can bring them inside the garage for the night. I usually spend time in the yard with them after dark.
Anyway, the story started a few days ago. At first, I spotted a cat sitting on top of the wooden fence not far from our back yard. I scared it off but kept monitoring that area frequently. Suddenly, my flashlight stumbled on something I have never seen before. A possum was sitting on top of a chain link fence that surrounds my backyard (I took the picture standing inside my backyard and he was sitting where the red broom is) ! I was speechless, I have never seen them before in real life, and I thought they were vicious predators. I freaked out in fear for my rabbits who were sitting under the deck and pushed him off the fence using the red broom that was standing there. It took me a few pushes to get him down...
Since that, after dark, I started to see on top of the wooden fence either a cat or an opossum. They use top of the wooden fence as a walking path to get to the left (of the picture, this will be past my yard) because they have some business in that area (I suspect, garbage for possum that belongs to a business). The cat doesn't seem to be stray. No idea who he belongs to.
But 2 days ago I realized that the problem is worse (well, so far nobody was harmed, except fact that all wild rabbits are not seen anymore). I was driving from the store real late (my rabbits already in garage), and saw a possum crossing residential street (he was coming from the area I just described so I thought it was "my" possum). I went around my house with a flashlight and then something real strange happened. A pair of shining eyes was running straight to me as if I was a dog owner who brought a treat. Then, very close to me, this possum went up the wooden fence and disappeared behind the bushes (still on top of the fence). I was shocked that he paid absolutely no attention to me and to my flashlight. Maybe he was running from somebody? That cat? Then, another possum ran after the first one but he didn't dare to climb the fence as he saw me with the light, he hesitated and returned to the area he came from, by my neighbor's tractor (a small fence that surrounds tractor).
All this makes me think that there is a family a possums including young, that live in my neighbor's yard. There is a possibility he feeds them, given that they are not afraid of people (he is a strange old guy who doesn't say Hi to me, it's out of the question that I want to talk to him, he proved he doesn't like me and my pets).
Since that, I educated myself about possums, they don't seem to be that bad. Of course, thing #1 I need to do is to remove my rabbits where they can be reached, especially after dark.
My question is : do I need to deter possums from this area or leave them alone? I am the person who feels bad about all the wildlife that kicked out by humans from their habitats, usually...
Ideas that go thru my head:
- live trap them and take to the wild park nearby (not sure if its legal)
- put sharp wire with spikes (what is it called?) on top of the part of the fence that goes thru my yard (where bushes are). I don't want to harm anybody though.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
