Hamilton area Possums
by Chris
(Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)
I live on a horse farm and they are a pain because their urine is a deadly killer to horses, so we have to kill them.
I have killed two - one last year and I found one in my barn last night.
The danger of Possums to animals .....
Opossums will sometimes try to eat small critters such as mice, reptiles, amphibians, and even young kittens if other food is scarce. They will leave most larger animals alone and, in fact, are more likely to be harmed by a dog or full-grown cat than they are to inflict injury on them. They will rarely fight, despite putting up a fearsome display if threatened, and most likely will simply attempt to flee or play dead.
The only animals that should avoid exposure to opossums are birds, horses, and sea otters. Strange as that may sound, if these animals ingest opossum feces they are at high risk of contracting a deadly disease known as sarcocystosis. (If you suspect an opossum may have entered a stable of horses, look for signs of their feces)
The "About Horses" website has more info.
