Yorkie vs. Possum
 

Last night I took Snickers out to go to the bathroom and even though we have a fully fenced back yard, I put him on a leash....he has been obnoxious about "hunting" for mice as soon as it gets dark...we know occasionally we'll see field mice run through the yard and then Snickers will follow that same trail for days afterward. He never wants to come in when he's doing his little search, so having a leash on him makes him focus on the task at hand and hurry things up a bit.

Last night he bolted as soon as I let him out and as we came around one of the corners of the house, he was face to face with a baby possum. Luckily, since I had him on a leash, I pulled back and scooped him up really quick. Thankfully, I am the only one who got injured. I am covered in Snicker's scratches from trying to get down and go after that little guy. It looks like I have been slashing my wrists!

This is only the second time we've ever seen a possum in our yard in four years of living here. I'm so glad that I had that leash on him....I always supervise him when he is outside, but if I hadn't had the leash, I might have had to pry him off of the possum. It would be very scary, since they are supposed to be so vicious. I'm sure Snickers would have gone after it...just that terrier instinct as a ratter. So, I'm wondering, anyone ever had a wild animal encounter like this? What are you supposed to do if your dog gets into a fight with a possum? I suppose a bigger dog would be able to win a fight with one, but I'm not sure about a 4-lb Yorkie....

I remember about three years ago now (Jax was still a pup) our cockapoo (now deceased) was about 13-14lbs and had a possum cornered out in the farm field! She was never leashed, always free roam, and it was scary! I kept trying to get her to come but she wouldn't let up. I felt bad for the possum, but he did not try to fight back - he was just making hissing-type noises, and did not know where to turn to. I think eventually he got away. I am not sure how vicious they are, but this one was definitely scared. I am not sure they are known for being terribly aggressive. But I know how scary it can be. I hate taking Jackson out at night because I'll hear things in the woods, or sometimes not hear things but see him perk up and I get scared there's something out there... lol

I guess that's the benefit of having a small, wimpy yorkie. Thor doesn't even chase squirrels... probably because he knows they might win.

You just never know what you will be up against when going out at night. So glad that it went ok..

oh I love wee Thor

They can be very vicious.

I watched a feral cat take in a possum when she had a litter (there was a huge colony behind my previous home years ago). That possum came out in day, was bathed by the cats-really bothered me how one neighbor hand fed it- and for all intents and purposes I think thought it was a cat too.

Fast forward a year when there were more kittens born and mama cat was defending her litter again this possum-well she lost and didn't make it and animal control had to come out to get and bottle feed the kittens and take away a vicious possum that wasn't afraid to take on anyone's cat or of people for that matter.

I don't like them they look like giants rats with a lot more teeth.
They're one of the reasons I turn the light on at night and go out with my dogs after dark in our own tiny suburb yard.

I'm always afraid a critter will be around the side of the house and somethign might happen.

Well, hearing of a outwardly aggressive Possum (around these parts) is quite unusual. They usually hiss and take a defensive posture, but the many that have been through my yard, even little Thor would run um up a fence/tree in a heartbeat.

I have a "resident" Possum (she lives down along the Bayou) who we''ve named Sweety :rolleyes:. I have food (scraps) and water out in the yard for it, and how ever many other strays are brave enough to "trespass".

Opossums are Nature's little Janitors. Anything that dies or is left by my two little Varminteers, is gone by morning. However, Sweety knows to come after 8PM, since I close the Doggy Door for the evening.

QuickSilver, My Female Becca (2yo now) was a one time quite reluctant to challenge Squirrels, Sweetie, the Lawn People (specially the ones with Weed Eaters). But, after being with My Male Sneakers for this length of time, She's literally a WARRIOR now. Nothing is permitted to violate Her territory, and she doesn't need any backup from the Male. ;)

Much of the hunting and territorial instincts that our little Varminteers "could" demonstrate, is best taught to them by a more mature Dog. That and more is lingering in their breeding, just waiting for mother nature to bring it out. I'm very proud of Becca, She, as the breed goes, takes and active part in searching out Frogs and Snakes when we go "hunting" down along the Bayou. Both of them will eat what they catch (most of it and time permitting), and that is the only Raw I permit. I know where Sweety's den is, and I try to avoid that area, though My Male would like to visit her regularly. :rolleyes:

I think with proper exposure/training, you would see that little Thor would learn to use that natural Hammer he has. From my personal experience, a 4lb Yorkie, can whip a 10lb Possum, any day of the week. :thumbup:

I know this is somewhat controversial, but IMHO I believe our little Varminteer Warriors should be given the chance to do just that. Let them be Dogs.

yorkie vs. possum
 

my male yorkie loves to chase any other critter even if it is bigger than him or smaller and he is not afraid to chase the bigger critters. Bandit is 10 lbs. . I always take him out on his leash and harness for the simple fact that he will chase anything. Two years ago we went out the front door and there was a young buck in the front yard and it decided to come after me and of course Bandit had to protect me start barking and growling very aggressively at this buck. I pulled him back to me and went into the house walking backwards. We had to wait about two hours before we could go back outside. Usually a possum wont fight unless it is cornered and feels very threatened.

When I have had them in my yard they will play dead and the dogs will walk away from them. Of course if they are out during the day that's a different story

redwolf41,

Wow, that really warms my heart, hearing of how Bandit wants to protect you. That's what "Pack" is all about. Much of the time, we forget "WE" have to earn that status with our companions, it makes me feel really good, knowing my little ones, will put themselves in harm's way, for me.

However, on the practical side of that (Banded vs Deer) encounter, don't think that Bandit would have lost per se. Yorkies are quick, and able to size up their opponent, and I doubt if Bandit would have gotten close enough to the Deer, to have been in any trouble. Most times, given the size difference, our little protectors would have just caused such a nuisance, that the "territorial offender" would have just left (with it's fingers in it's ears) probably. :D

On several occasions (where larger "opponents" were involved) territorial instincts and protective nature have allowed both of mine to defend. But beyond how good that makes me feel, they come trotting back to me, tails wagging, heads held proudly up, and SO happy they have done that. Beyond any doubt, it makes them just as happy as it does me. I sincerely believe there is a basic "need" for them to demonstrate that cohesion toward their Pack. :thumbup:

Ummmm...
Bandit, at 10lbs, is he a member of the TeaPot Club ?
Just in case he's not, please let me offer a codrdial invitation to join, at...
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...apot-club.html

There is no formal Form for the application, but use these guidelines please...
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/3815164-post666.html

Opossums what we have here never actually play dead so I guess there are some differences between Opossums and Possums-?

No, they/we're talking about the same sweet smelling, polite animal. :rolleyes:
Possum is just an abbreviated term for Opossum.

Oh! I didn't know that-okay I guess i've just never seen one 'play dead' before.

:thumbup:

I have always heard the term playing possum.... but i never got it until I saw that "dead" possum in our back yard. I'm glad i didn't go up to it cause my husband started poking it and it came back to life and scared the PEE :eek:out of me . Then I remebered Ice Age when the girl mammoth said playing possum BAHAHAHAH I finally got it !!!! I had no idea!!!!!

hahah maybe that's where the cliche about poking something dead with a stick came from too!

Yorkie vs. possum
 

SWHouston,

Bandit is very protective of me and even more so of my 14 y/o daughter. Sometimes I swear he is half pit because when we play with his rope toy he will get ahold of it and I can pick him up off the ground with it and he will not let go at all. I am very glad that he is that protective of her because sometimes I work in the evening and dont get home until late, but I do feel better with him there because I know he will protect with all he has. He is my spoiled rotten boy!

I thought one was dead once. Went t o get the shovel and when I got back it was looking at me. It was a baby and then just ran off.

Opossums are not vicious. They look very scary but they have very little in the way of being able to defend themselves. They are slow movers and scavengers. They usually end up on the worse end of a dog fight. Foxes like to use them as a meal when they can find them. Coyotes also take advantage of their inability to fight.

Your dog probably would have not had much of a fight from a baby Opossum although of course it is something you certainly want to avoid. It sounds like your little guy has all of his terrier attributes working at 100%!

here's a possum story
 

Ok Yorkie Lovers out there , this is my story about my Yorkie boy Sir Theodore Mr.Sexy (Teddy) for short.
About a month ago i was grilling out on the porch and a baby possum stuck his head around the lid of the grill like hey whats for dinner i grabbed him by the tail and threw him over the fence and went back to cooking. Two nights later i open my bed room door and my Yorkies went straight under the bed and it was on. I thought they were fighting with each other and the noises I was hearing didn't sound just like play fighting so i looked under the bed and teddy had a baby possum in his mouth dead i quickly took it from him and deposed of the foot long baby possum. Apparently a mom possum had gotten under my house and had babies, and they came threw my heating vents under my bed . by the way omg, so any ways, about a week after that it happened again let the door open into the bed room and all hell broke loose again this time Teddy wouldn't let go he had another baby possum by the head my husband had to help he to let the possum go. haven't seen anymore possums since but now when he goes out side to potty he is always hunting and every singal time i open the bed room door they run under there but nothing yet. But now im scared that now that he has killed it will change his demeanor towards other domestic animals is there any thing i can do about this? Oh by the way he has a new nick name (Possum) Thank you for letting me tell my story :aimeeyork:aimeeyork:aimeeyork:aimeeyork:aimeeyork :aimeeyork:aimeeyork:aimeeyork yes that is how many babies i have it is like romper room here never a dull moment and i love each and everyone as my children :D

I have tons of Possum pix because we have at least one possum family on the property every year. When we had the big 120+ lb Shep/Lab mix, after he learned his territory and we'd turned off the fence, leaving him to believe it was still working...;):p:D...he would roust our resident possum, Petey, almost nightly. Petey got rousted, played dead, and was rescued by us humans so often that he quickly learned we'd be there momentarily, and felt safe with us. We found this out one night after he'd been rousted when I simply grabbed the big dog by his collar, and DH said to Petey, "It's okay now...you're safe." Petey opened one eye, looked around, saw we were holding the dog, got up, and lumbered off into the woods, but looked back over his shoulder as if to say "thanks, again" as he was leaving. Reminded me of Eyore in Winnie the Pooh...and was very hilarious to watch.

In all the almost 20 years of resident Petey, Paulie, and Pauline and Pattie possum families on the property, we have yet to have any issues, serious or otherwise, between the pets and the possums. Now, between the possums and the raccoons that trek through looking for food...and the one raccoon family that thinks its a good place to live near and visit often and will come to the door begging for kibble, it appears the possums yield to the raccoons same as they've all done with the big dog...although I've not seen one play dead for a raccoon yet. Regardless, if there's a ruckus outside, I run out hollering for them all to 'cut it out right now or else' even though I have no idea what my 'or else' might be !!! :p

Another Possum story
 

This happened many years ago when our 10 stall barn was full of horses and we were buying horse feed by the ton and storing it in 50 gallon plastic barrels. We also had four barn cats to help with the mouse population. It seemed like the barn cats were going through way too much kitty kibble. Lo and behold late one night while on foal watch I strolled into the barn to check on the girls I came face to face with a possum. Since possum poop is very dangerous to horses, I was very concerned. So I set a live trap and baited it with canned kitty food. The next morning we had one very large very dead possum in the trap. Well, hubby said it was dead, I said it was playing possum. Hubby did just what hubbys do - he picked up the trap and shook it - and yeppers, the possum was dead :rolleyes::eek:. So he took the trap with dead possum out into the yard opened the trap and started shaking it to get the possum out. Well this "dead" possum must of gotten religion real quick like 'cause he sprang to life jumped out of the cage and went into attack mode. He/she was one pissed off possum. Hubby jumped out of the way and the possum gave up the battle and lumbered off into the woods.

It was hysterically funny - and of course I DID say, I told you so :D.

Possums will bite. They have alot of teeth. Dogs in the neighborhood have been bitten pretty bad by them.

Funny opossum stories! I used to leave food out on my patio for the feral cats at night time. No more! I would look out there at night and I had raccoons, skunks, and opossums having a party on the patio. When I turned on the light they were not impressed. The most forward of all the critters were the raccoons! They would stand on their hind feet and put their forepaws on my patio door looking for more food!

One night after I stopped leaving food out I was opening the back door to let my cat in (or so I thought) and a raccoon sticks his head in! I felt like that lady in the commercial that didn't have her glasses and let a raccoon in! Now I leave my patio light on at all times during the dark hours. I hope to discourage the wild ones from visiting.