This possum continues to inhabit my, and several other, back yards, but has turned out to be a delight rather than a pest.
After doing some research, I found out that possums (1) do not carry rabies, in fact their metabolism is set up to REJECT rabies--one has a higher risk from a dog, cat, racoon, or HUMAN bite than from a possum
(2) Possums eat all the icky vermin: mice, roaches, ants, slugs, etc. So they're like little bio-vacuum cleaners.
(3) My cats get along with the possum and don't attack it, even when it comes in the back door to eat their food. They, evidently, think it's another cat and part of the "family." The cats don't like squirrels, though. Felix and Rodentia families just don't mix.
More later
After doing some research, I found out that possums (1) do not carry rabies, in fact their metabolism is set up to REJECT rabies--one has a higher risk from a dog, cat, racoon, or HUMAN bite than from a possum
(2) Possums eat all the icky vermin: mice, roaches, ants, slugs, etc. So they're like little bio-vacuum cleaners.
(3) My cats get along with the possum and don't attack it, even when it comes in the back door to eat their food. They, evidently, think it's another cat and part of the "family." The cats don't like squirrels, though. Felix and Rodentia families just don't mix.
More later