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We've had a heck of a time with a family of possums this summer. At first it was young and stupid ones after my young chickens. We caught all four pretty easily and quickly with live traps and moved them. Then about a month later I managed to catch the mother with my bare hands when she was after one of my rehab robins. She moved out with her kids. Now, I have what I assume to be the grand old man of the group and he is smart!
He took a silkie and we set three live traps for him. So he moved to the chicken pasture next. we set live traps for him there and shut the chickens up in a tight pen at night. Nothing happened for several days. Then he pulled a chicken through the wire and ate it that way. Then we started setting leg holds around the outside of the tight pen. Nothing happened for a week or more. Every day I would go and trip the traps then let the chickens out and reverse it at night. He started coming earlier. We started penning them up earlier.
They learned to roost away from the sides of the pen so I quit setting the live traps (I worry too much about other animals and birds getting in them) Now, last night, DH (the D does not stand for dear today) said he shut them up for me. He didn't. I lost my last Welshimer hen. So in a huge rainstorm I moved all the chickens to the chicken coop.
I'm ticked off and frustrated, How can I catch this clever old guy. I know he is going to hang around out there, just waiting for the opportunity to raid something. Does anybody have a fool proof bait for the live traps? (other than chickens) I have tried things that really smell strong, like cat food and sardines. (I caught cats and a seagull) I've tried fish, (caught that cat again) even ham sandwiches (That cat is getting pretty testy).
The leg holds are pretty limited where I can use them and hate to bait them anyway (Worried about that cat) I only put them inside the fenced in pasture where I knew nothing else could get to them (well, there was an unfortunate grackle, but I rehabbed him and he is getting along fine with one leg)
Do you think that since the chickens are out of his reach he might get a little careless and hit the live traps now? (Oh boy, that cat is going to hate me)
I'm open to ideas here. I need help.
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