Trapping help 101 - Opossum

[stinkbelly]

While I was at the lease, my wife heard some rustling under the house and then again in the back yard. When she investigated, she saw an opossum. I also heard some scratching under my fireplace this past week, but couldn't figure out what it was. I went searching and found a hole about 5 inches in diameter through the skirt of the house to the underside of the fireplace. I am assuming it was the opossum because my wife saw him just outside these bushes.

I put out 3 live traps yesterday and baited them all with dry cat food. The only thing I caught was my 60 pound dog. I don't know how she got in to a raccoon trap.

I want to make sure I remove the animal before I fix the hole so that I don't trap it under my house. What other baits should I try?

What should I do if I catch a skunk? It will be right next to the house so I don't want it to spray.

I have a game camera on the hole to help identify the animal or animals.

[oktx]

They will smell canned cat food better and will be more likely to enter the trap.

[Gummi Bear]

I had one in my recycle bin yesterday morning. Apparently, a pizza crust got tossed in there. I turned him loose.

[texan16]

The canned cat food should work. I suggest you get your dog in the pen or secured somewhere so he/she doesnt get back in the trap (bet that was a hoot seeing the dog trapped in the cage). Good luck. How come everything seems to happen when we are gone to the lease?

[Skinny]

If you have a dollar general near by, go in there and get you some 9 Lives canned cat food. It is 2 bucks for 6 cans and that stuff smells yummy...well, to cats, dogs, and other little four legged critters. I use it to trap stray tom cats that pass through looking for trouble. Works great for skunks too....so set your trap away from your house. Or...set the trap up agsinst your house with the opening on the hole. The oppossum has no choice but to go into the trap then. LDPs please!!!

[TMC50]

We caught a skunk and a well placed head shot with a .22 kept him from spraying!

[stinkbelly]

I let my dog out this morning to go to the bathroom while I showered. I had no idea she would fit in there. I have my game camera on it, so hopefully I got pictures.

I want to release anything I catch. I did have to shoot one animal in the trap a couple of years ago and mine has little holes (1/4" x 1/2"). I tried to shoot it at 10 yards and I hit a wire. It didn't even hit the animal. The second one did though.

[Double L]

I baited a live trap with sardines and caught a possum.....was trying to catch a skunk! Kept it baited for over a week before I caught him. I couldn't believe that I didn't catch one single cat. Good luck!

[dustoffer]

Until I finally got my shed/shop sealed against critters digging under, I had a constant skunk problem. I've caught 35+ in the 10 years I've lived in this house. The most successful tactic I've used to keep them from spraying is to get a large piece of heavy black plastic, large enough to completely cover the trap and then some. Hold it up high in front of you, just touching the ground, and walk very slowly up to the trap and lay it carefully over the trap. Give the animal a few minutes to settle down, then carefully pickup the trap and carry it off. I set it in the back of the truck on top of another piece of plastic, and put 2X4s on the cover sheet to keep it from blowing off, drive out of the neighborhood to the other side of the creek, and turn it loose. Works about 50% of the time, but my rule is: "If it sprays in the trap, it dies" so my 20 ga goes with me and I let it get 10 yds away and hammer it. Possums are released across the creek, cats--well, let's just say they go away.

[buzzcut]

Yall are confusing me by putting an "O" in front of the word possum.

[badger16]

Until I finally got my shed/shop sealed against critters digging under, I had a constant skunk problem. I've caught 35+ in the 10 years I've lived in this house. The most successful tactic I've used to keep them from spraying is to get a large piece of heavy black plastic, large enough to completely cover the trap and then some. Hold it up high in front of you, just touching the ground, and walk very slowly up to the trap and lay it carefully over the trap. Give the animal a few minutes to settle down, then carefully pickup the trap and carry it off. I set it in the back of the truck on top of another piece of plastic, and put 2X4s on the cover sheet to keep it from blowing off, drive out of the neighborhood to the other side of the creek, and turn it loose. Works about 50% of the time, but my rule is: "If it sprays in the trap, it dies" so my 20 ga goes with me and I let it get 10 yds away and hammer it. Possums are released across the creek, cats--well, let's just say they go away.

Good advice.

It usually doesn't take anything special to catch a possum in a box trap. If the cat food keeps failing, try sardines or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It also won't hurt to trail him into the trap with the bait you are using.

[Snakelover]

I baited a live trap with sardines and caught a possum.....

This. I have caught many possums with sardines.

[stinkbelly]

Yall are confusing me by putting an "O" in front of the word possum.

I only put that because it is the correct spelling.

Now try to say it. Is it : "An Opossum" or "A Opossum"?

[buzzcut]

I've always said "Look,it's a possum". No "O" needed.

[Boomerang]

Lots of good bait listed above. Corn, sardines, dry cat food, wet cat food, table scraps, and anything else will catch them. They may just be wondering some other place is why you didn't catch it but they will be back.

I think the only reason why you didn't catch it is because it wasn't there at the time.