Could have done without this evening's excitement

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

i just love animals when they sleep. they are like little angels and makes u want to wake them up just to kiss them.

Or club them and eat 'em.

[JenT 0]

So I get home LATE from my hair appointment and let my dogs out in my backyard (which is surrounded by chain link fence). Next thing I hear is the frantic barking of my beagle who only has that 'tone' when he's cornered a wild animal. I went out with a flashlight and find my shepherd mix working on ending the life of an oppossum. He's done this three times before, so he has considered himself the greatest hunter of all time. The beagle just stands there and barks like a maniac. His contribution to the frey.

I called the shepherd off, dragged the beagle inside, and assessed the damage to them. Blood all over the shepherd's neck and chin... the beagle is only spattered on one leg. I proceed to clean them up (none of it was their blood) and went out with a shovel to finish the job the shepherd started. Twice before, he's taken care of it, this is the second time I've had to take care of the rest...

So how do I keep these stupid oppossums OUT of my yard???? I'm getting very tired of this whole process... Of course, it only happens at night since they are nocturnal creatures. And ugly and smelly.... yuck.

Jen, you could always place a PVC pipe on the ground along the side of the yard that the possums frequent too. One that's about 8-inches in diameter and around 5-6 feet long would enable the possum to run into it and the dogs couldn't get at it. You would still know the dogs had one cornered by the sounds they made and could bring them in and both the possum and your dogs would stay safe. And the possum could leave of it's own accord.

That's a great idea... just not sure how they're getting in.

As far as the ammonia idea... I have no grass in my backyard actually... I landscaped it all out in favor of rock beds, a water 'feature', mulch, patio, and plants... hated dragging the mower back there... it's not a huge, but sufficient for the dogs' exercise.

Sigh. I appreciate all of you who took the time to write!! Some days, I appreciate the 'small' problems. Just don't want my doggies to get hurt. Don't really want to hurt the opposums either... but it IS the dogs' territory. I should be grateful for their prowess, right???

Edited September 2, 2006 by JenT

[*Robert* 2]

Why did the opposum cross the road?

To show the armadillo it could be done!