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Posted: 3/15/2011 3:26:31 AM EDT
Sorry, no pics.
Two days ago I saw a big groundhog out on our hillside. Consequently, I kicked off the annual war against the groundhogs by baiting a big box trap with some apples. I set the trap in the late afternoon. At some point over the next 24 hours, Mr. Possum got himself caught. No big deal. When I got home from work yesterday, the kids were very excited: "Daddy! Daddy! You caught a possum in your trap!" I wasn't nearly as thrilled as they were. 
Anyway, I walked down to release him (not really worth a bullet, IMO). When I got to the trap, there was a medium-sized possum in there, but he was stone dead. I thought at first he was just 'playing possum,' but he was, in fact, cold, stiff and departed. I'm trying to figure out why he died. It wasn't all that cold so I doubt he froze. The flaps on the trap slam down pretty hard but I wouldn't think they'd have enough force to kill a possum. Maybe stun him, but not kill him. I know possums are odd creatures, but I've never run across an animal with so little resilience as this one. Maybe he was sick? Anybody ever see this sort of thing before? |
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Posted: 3/15/2011 3:30:06 AM EDT
[#1]
Murderer!!
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Posted: 3/15/2011 3:47:56 AM EDT
[#2]
First Tier Possums will add the cold, stiff routine to their dead routine.
You were out foxed! |
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Posted: 3/15/2011 3:58:44 AM EDT
[#3]
Quoted: How many yards? Sorry, no pics. Two days ago I saw a big groundhog out on our hillside. Consequently, I kicked off the annual war against the groundhogs by baiting a big box trap with some apples. I set the trap in the late afternoon. At some point over the next 24 hours, Mr. Possum got himself caught. No big deal. When I got home from work yesterday, the kids were very excited: "Daddy! Daddy! You caught a possum in your trap!" I wasn't nearly as thrilled as they were. Anyway, I walked down to release him (not really worth a bullet, IMO). When I got to the trap, there was a medium-sized possum in there, but he was stone dead. I thought at first he was just 'playing possum,' but he was, in fact, cold, stiff and departed. I'm trying to figure out why he died. It wasn't all that cold so I doubt he froze. The flaps on the trap slam down pretty hard but I wouldn't think they'd have enough force to kill a possum. Maybe stun him, but not kill him. I know possums are odd creatures, but I've never run across an animal with so little resilience as this one. Maybe he was sick? Anybody ever see this sort of thing before?  |
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Posted: 3/15/2011 5:38:58 AM EDT
[#4]
Feral (im not a possum expert, LOL) I believe the physiological process that causes a possum to "play possum" can actually stop it's heart for a period that causes death in rare circumstances.
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Posted: 3/15/2011 6:01:47 AM EDT
[#5]
Maybe the stress of being trapped caused it to have a heart attack.
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Posted: 3/15/2011 8:41:32 AM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
First Tier Possums will add the cold, stiff routine to their dead routine. You were out foxed! Nah, unless he's an absolute world-class possum, he was as cold, stiff and dead this morning as he was last night!
Quoted:
Feral (im not a possum expert, LOL) I believe the physiological process that causes a possum to "play possum" can actually stop it's heart for a period that causes death in rare circumstances. It must've been something like that or a heart attack as also mentioned. I just find it weird. 
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Posted: 3/15/2011 8:46:57 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Quoted:
First Tier Possums will add the cold, stiff routine to their dead routine. You were out foxed! Nah, unless he's an absolute world-class possum, he was as cold, stiff and dead this morning as he was last night!
Quoted:
Feral (im not a possum expert, LOL) I believe the physiological process that causes a possum to "play possum" can actually stop it's heart for a period that causes death in rare circumstances. It must've been something like that or a heart attack as also mentioned. I just find it weird.
Seen it once myself. I figure it was shock/stress. TRG |
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Posted: 3/15/2011 5:57:28 PM EDT
[#8]
Don't let CBS know about this or we'll all be watching CSI - Feral.
R. |
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Posted: 3/15/2011 6:19:40 PM EDT
[#9]
Some animal rather die then be caught. I know for sure squirrels are like that.
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Posted: 3/15/2011 6:38:25 PM EDT
[#10]
Don't feed those apples to your kids!
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Posted: 3/15/2011 6:42:08 PM EDT
[#11]
A wolverine will chew off its leg to get out of a trap. I think the possum may have swallowed his own heart. They are not quite as crafty as the wolverine.
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Posted: 3/15/2011 9:53:35 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
Quoted:
First Tier Possums will add the cold, stiff routine to their dead routine. You were out foxed! Nah, unless he's an absolute world-class possum, he was as cold, stiff and dead this morning as he was last night!
Quoted:
Feral (im not a possum expert, LOL) I believe the physiological process that causes a possum to "play possum" can actually stop it's heart for a period that causes death in rare circumstances. It must've been something like that or a heart attack as also mentioned. I just find it weird.
Well, if you disposed of it in any manner, I hope you cut its head off. Possums have a freaky ability to return from the dead, and haunt those who fuck with them. don't ask me how I know......................... |
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Posted: 3/15/2011 10:06:38 PM EDT
[#13]
Great zombie possums.....
Anyways my bet is heart attack or maybe even a parasite.... These fugly lil buggers seem to not always be the cleanest of things |
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Posted: 3/16/2011 3:50:23 PM EDT
[#14]
Did you pick it up and heft it?
Sometimes space aliens'll holler 'em out, at least around here.
I have had them stone dead in a trap, with out a SINGLE mark on them. And have had Great Horned Owls eat them right out of foothold traps- looks like a possum bomb went off! |
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