I got a good look at him from about 7 feet away, and he looks healthy. No frothing at the mouth. He is not destructive like Coons, and just eats the fallen seeds off the ground.
Should I be concerned about this 'Possum, or just enjoy the show of nature ?
I wouldn't worry about him unless you have chickens, guinea fowl, domestic rabbits, etc. the big males are actually pretty serious predators and will kill grown chickens and rabbits in pens.
I kill every possum I see because they're such serious nest predators on grouse and turkey. They're probably great eating, but I've never been able to make myself cook one after I got it skinned.
I don't kill my 'Possums because they keep the Ground Hogs ran off. I have one Old 'Possum that only scavenges at night. He is huge. The one I have been seeing during the daylight, is a young male.
If you ever skin one, be prepared for a lot of grease on the hide.
I will post a photo of my daylight bird feed raider tonight.
I'll just make cornbread from the meal and buttermilk, thanks.
I find it funny, that 'Possums will not destruct a bird feeder, but Coons wreck havoc on everything. Coons don't live long around my house.
They are a primary rabies reservoir and vector so I do my part to thin the population.
However, so far his tail seems locked in the position in the photo. I have never seen him move his tail.
I am thinking he was injured. His fur is thick shiny and healthy. When I was a kid, Joiners Hardware would give me 2 dollars for a hide like his. Then I could buy some of those fancy cedar arrows, instead of having to shoot homemade river cane arrows.
He showed up about an hour later, and I had to go out on the deck and barbecue some pork chops. He paid me no never mind at all. Only when I walk to the edge of the deck, wave my arms, and talk to him does he walk away.
It was a good show yesterday, and he fed for over an hour.
The Big Old Male only comes at night. He is huge, and you can hear his footsteps coming to the feeder. I think the Coyotes are even scared of the buzzsaw teeth on the Old Guy.
my "reservoir" comment was re: raccoons (since the current rabies pandemic is Eastern Raccoon variant, raccoons are the reservoir) re: "Coons, yeah, I eat coons. They are a primary rabies reservoir and vector so I do my part to thin the population"
"Reservoir" is the term the wildlife biologists, veterinarians, and MD's I work with use to describe what raccoons are to raccoon rabies variant, bats are to bat variant, skunks are to skunk variant, dogs are to dog variant, etc. I'm not smart enough to know if it's appropriate, I just repeat in in conversation to sound intelligent. :)
