Our yard has a variety of wildlife, some more welcome than others. The chickadees chatter throughout the day, the scrub and stellar jays take the coconut fiber and sedum/semps from planters. An odd great blue heron or gull visits the fish pond. Then there are the squirrels, rats, racoons and possums. Everyone visits the filberts throughout the spring, summer and fall. We are having a rotation of species happening right now. Four years ago we had at least 6 nests of squirrels in the surrounding trees. Then a racoon moved into the firs along our property line and there were no squirrels, or possums, and fewer birds (I guess they eat the babies of all species..possums, squirrels and birds). After two vet visits for one of our dobies the racoon(s) is/are gone. In their place the possums have moved back in. Here is a photo of one of the two different ones that I encountered this morning (in the neighbor's yard)after the dogs began making a fuss. Our huntress dobie doesn't kill possums because once they play dead she looses interest. The second possum she was carrying. I scolded her and she knew she was bad so dropped it. It was a small one, so I scooped it into the shovel and the little possum is back in the neighbors yard. I don't think there is enough habitat for the number of possums that has shown up. How many babies, how often??? Guess the wildlife rotation will continue. cute or furry rats...I'm never sure ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) possums are back ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )
The only possums I see round here are roadkill :/ Although I did see a live one in the road once...I was able to avoid hitting it. They are kinda ugly as adults, but the babies are cute
Jewell, what is that mean thorned branch across the first photo? Almost looks like an old rose bush cane. We get some critters in our little city too. They are opportunistic, looking for pet food left out, or fruit that is dropped from trees. Once in the middle of the night I heard an unusual sound, peeked out the back window to see a family of skunks playing under the avocado tree. It is scary when the our pets get involved.
Here is one playing dead. We took him about 3 miles from our house and when we opened his box, man, did he take off. They are smelly and ugly. Barb in Pa.
Bip and Calin, I think that both the raccoons and possums are kind of cute if they don't have their teeth bared, and snarling. It must be the cute little round ears. Both are about the same as rats though, with raccoons being the meanest and most destructive. Cuatro-gatos the thorned branch is an old blackberry cane. That neighbor has old fruit trees and brambles on an acre lot. Unfortunately they tried to clean it and created a huge pile, perfect habitat for critters. One other neighbor also has a huge lot that also provides lots of fruit and homes for wildlife. If it wasn't for our dogs we'd have a menagerie in our yard too. Waretop, I just drop the critters back where they came from. Saves on gas and they just seem to fill in any voids any way. Possums are sure ugly when they are playing dead aren't they.
I have raised baby opossums and although not the prettiest animal, they are the best garbage disposals. If you can`t eat it,, they will. And no rabies worry with opossums. I find them interesting and unusual animals that can get quite tame although petting a wild one is not the best idea since they have a good set of teeth.
Since I have no opossums or racoons I find them both very cute and interesting. I'm sorry they mess up your garden, but I'm glad you show the photos.
Mart, I have worried about the littlest possum that keeps passing through the yard. I could see how they are quite interesting, and I prefer them to raccoons. Didn't know about the rabies thing. The raccoons around here have learned to kill cats and small dogs, and act more like bears. I find them a bit worrisome. Droppy, I haven't had too much garden damage from either. The fish pond was the real problem until I put a small electric fence around its perimeter. They had eaten every last living thing in the pond and then used it for their own bathing nightly. I have two small watering places/pond for them at the back of the lot. It is amazing that wildlife is as successful in town as the are. I love hearing the towhees calling during the day. It always amazes me how many critters have a city address.
