One rare wild animal this is common in back yards is the possum. These critters are seeking water and food, which are abundant around the local neighborhoods.
One wild animal that is common in Lake County but rarely seen is the possum. Recently several people have reported seeing possums in their backyards.
The possum (also called an opossum) is an interesting critter and not native to California. It was introduced from the East Coast to San Jose in 1910. It is about the size of a large house cat and has grayish fur. It is believed the animal arrived in large numbers in Lake County back in the 1950s when hundreds of mobile homes were brought into the county. The possums had taken up residence between the walls in the mobile homes while they were stored outside of the county.
Possums are about 2-3 feet long, including the tail, and weigh up to 15 pounds although most fall between 4-7 pounds. Males are usually larger than females. Their feet resemble small hands with five widely spread fingers. All of the toes have a claw except for the opposable thumb on the rear foot. Opossums are well adapted for climbing. The opposable toe on the hind foot assists them when holding onto small branches or similar structures.
In urban areas possums will make dens beneath homes or sheds. There even have been cases where they entered homes though pet doors. They are classed as omnivores, meaning they will eat just about anything, including insects, berries, plants and all kinds of meat. They also will eat food left out for cats and dogs. They are normally not aggressive unless cornered. If they feel threatened they may hiss, growl and show their teeth.
There are typically two mating seasons for opossums in California: January through February and June through July. The resultant two litters yield an average of about seven young each. After a short 13-day gestation period, the tiny, hairless young are born. Just like other marsupials, the blind and helpless young find their way into the mother’s pouch where they nurse. They leave the pouch at approximately 11 weeks. At times the young will ride on their mother’s back. They are classified as nocturnal, meaning they are most active after dark.
When attacked they will often “play possum,” which means they go limp. In fact, they actually put themselves into a trance. Often the predator ignores the limp possum. They also have a unique trait in that many are immune to the poison of a rattlesnake.
Possums are classified as nongame animals by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, meaning they can be trapped and killed at any time of the year. The most common method of trapping a troublesome possum is to use the cage traps that are often used to trap unwanted feral cats. It is actually unlawful to trap a possum and move it to another area.
Possum have been known to kill small cats and even small dogs. They have a mean temper.
The best method of keeping possums from beneath your home is to close off all holes that lead to beneath the house or deck. Also don’t leave cat or dog food out. When your pet is done feeding remove the food, that way you will not only keep the possums away but raccoons and other wildlife as well. The good news is that possums rarely carry rabies, However, you should always use care when handling any wild animal.
Actually, possums are the good guys because they eat many of the bugs such as spiders, wood ticks and other bugs that are trouble in the backyard. They have been on earth longer than humans and will probably be here long after we are gone.
