The poor opossum.

[The Backlash Cometh]

A truly oppressed creature, the opossum. I caught a baby in my rat trap last night and the poor thing is playing possum and pretending to be dead. For that reason, I imagine, it doesn't know to test the cage and figure out that the door is open behind it. It's a tight fit, an opossum in a rat cage, so unless it backs up, it won't be able to get out. I imagine it's not trying, even now after it's been undisturbed since morning, because it's a nocturnal animal and doesn't know what else to do but sleep until dusk descends.

So while it waits, I take to the internet to determine if there is any reason why I shouldn't let it live, and here I go and type the words in yahoo: "What do opossums eat?" Just to make sure it's not eating the caterpillars in the butterfly garden. And what do I get with that inquiry? Top on the list: "Do Rednecks really eat opossum"? and testimonials that it, indeed, makes good food.

The poor opossum.

So, does anybody know if they will eat caterpillars in my garden?

[Shell Beau]

1. I don't know but can't you try to free it?

I guess you could risk getting bit which could mean rabies, but that just sounds sad. They have some serious teeth too! Poor little baby.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. We have a pair of red shoulder hawks that patrol the area.

It's best it stay where it is until nightfall. I'll tip the cage over then. I have a dark towel over the cage so it's completely hidden from predators.

[MrCoffee]

2. I know who you can ask!

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Now she looks like a woman who has eaten her share of possum.

[Rue]

5. Hmm.

Says here they'll eat just about anything, so it probably would eat your caterpillars.

Possums are pretty interesting creatures.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. What an excellent source!

Thank you! I didn't know they went into a catatonic state. That's good information to know.

[Wcross]

6. Take it to the local park this evening and shake the cage!

I feel sorry for the little fellas, especially when they wander out into a road. DUDE- Playing dead in traffic isn't a good option!

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. I'm actually okay with the opossum.

They're not as much of a nuisance as the armadillo or the Attic rats. The wood mice, I haven't quite made up my mind about. I know that they're the reason the red shoulder hawks have come in so near to the house, which is the whole purpose of having a backyard habitat.

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Maybe put out some cat or dog food in front of the cage...?

An opossum does not have a method for storing food or energy and needs food sources that are stable from season to season and year to year. Its diet includes a wide variety of foods, including insects, earthworms, small mammals, fruits, grains, plants, and the flesh of dead animals it happens to find. It forages intensively in a small area on whatever is available. When food resources become depleted in one place, the animal simply moves to a new area. Although the foods an opossum eats are varied, they must be abundant and closely spaced. Extreme weather conditions, such as a severe drought or extended cold, can reduce food availability and have devastating effects on opossum populations.
http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/opossum.htm

FOOD HABITS
Aside from the overwhelming reproductive powers, a reason for opossum survival is their ability to eat nearly anything, vegetable or animal, in any state of decomposition. They serve as scavengers, thriving on foods discarded or rejected by other animals. Opossums eat eggs and young of fellow creatures and occasionally kill sleeping poultry and ground nesting birds. These items are rounded out with nuts, acorns, persimmons and corn. They do not hibernate, but amble forth in search of food on cold, winter nights.
http://www.scienceviews.com/animals/opossum.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Coincidentally, I put bird seed at the opening to try and coax it out.

[Dogtown]

11. Possibly, but unlikely

They are omnivores and will eat anything, but they have very slow metabolisms and probably won't hustle just for a bug.

They *are* great carrion eaters and will clean up lots of small bio-messes.

Very slight chance of rabies, they are very primitive mammals and I think the virus doesn't incubate well.

I'd turn him loose, or take him to a park and release him. They are harmless and useful creatures.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. Just checked.

The possum has left the building.

[Shell Beau]

13. Yay!!!!! Go possum!!!!

[Dogtown]

14. HA!

They do look like WhiteVinylElvis, at least in silhouette.

:headbang: