Possums sighted in the area

by Jeff, Jackie, Suzie, Gail, Mary, Dennis, ML Davis, Suzette, Kerstin
(Mississauga, Guildwood, Hamilton, London, Bay of Quinte, Brooklin, Napanee, Barrie, Innisfil, Sarnia, Toronto, Windsor )

Jeff from Mississauga wrote ... I met a momma Possum last night around 3 am while walking along Windwood Drive in this suburban City of Mississauga neighbourhood. Momma was standing against a wooden fence line. My dog was eager to say hello although I kept her away. I did get close enough to try and count the babies she was carrying on her back. It was easy to count the first 6 although I think the number was more like 9 or 10. They were squirming around in the back. Seems unbelievable there would be that many but you say they can have up to 13. Momma just kept looking at us with her mouth half open. My dog barked once so it was time to move on.

Jackie from Guildwood wrote ... there was an Opossum sitting on our fence. Not moving much. Even our barking dogs don't seem to phase it much. We're waiting to see where it will go. I think it is getting vegetable food from our nearby compost.

Suzi from Hamilton wrote to say ... I've seen Opossums several times here on Hamilton Mountain but usually they have hidden as soon as they have spotted me, quickly slinking behind a shed. However, over the last year I've noticed one brave and large Possum wandering up the steps and across the concrete porch, then lowering itself over the edge into the garden below, hiding in the bushes, several times. I leave the shed door slightly open in the hope of offering a smidgen of shelter in the winter months and am thinking of putting an empty plastic tote with some shredded paper inside in there to offer a little respite from the cold.

Gail from Hamilton said ... there has been an Opossum in my yard for a week now. I’m assuming there’s babies since they normally stick around 1 - 2 nights. This is Hamilton West Mountain.

Mary from London wrote ... our security camera picked up a possum crossing my patio last night. I also had a rabbit, skunks, squirrels & deer. I live in London, Ontario near the north branch of the Thames River. We have a big backyard with many trees. Have seen their footprints in the snow but didn’t know what made them until now.

One of our readers wrote to report ... we are situated in the County on the south side of the Bay of Quinte. This spring I noted a really large opossum crossing the road and within the next couple of days caught him on the trailcam having a snack with the raccoons. I have since had "momma" opossum munching on cat food and a couple of sightings of "baby" opossums on the decks. I currently have a mid-size opossum living under my deck who enjoys chowing down on my outside kitties food. She is there every morning when I leave for work! I hope she makes it through the winter with the assistance of a homemade opossum house.


Dennis from Brooklin said ... I saw one walking toward me, between my house and the neighbour’s house. I heard it first walking on the fallen leaves sniffing loudly before disappearing into my neighbour’s bushes out onto his driveway. I’m in the Whitby area.

ML Davis from Napanee, Ontario north of the 401 highway said ... the possum was very dazed in the headlights, just stopped and waited for him/her to get its bearings and amble a way under a tree.

One of our readers from Barrie said ... we went out to the horse barn and found an opossum in a pail eating apples we had for the horses. Put a lid on the pail and walked him into the bush beside our property. We have not seen him since.

Suzette saw a Possum in Innisfil ... on December 23, I saw one by the back yard deck. It was searching through the sunflower seeds that the birds had left behind from the feeder.

A reader from Sarnia reported ... last night saw a possum walking my backyard fence and I thought it was a rat at first look. My little dog saw it and starting barking and the possum stopped, turned around and walked the fence in opposite direction, but walking slowly. I did not have my camera so couldn't take a picture, but maybe next time I see one I will.

Kerstin from Toronto said ... we saw a possum around midnight last Friday walking along the herb garden right in front of our house. He walked by and back and disappeared again. Do they dig holes in the garden?

One of our readers from Windsor wrote to remind us that sometimes Possums carry disease that can paralyze horses and can kill dogs and other house pets if they accidentally drink water that has been urinated in by the possum or eat hay or grass that has been urinated on. We had a horse that contracted EPM and it was sad to watch her lose the use of her rear legs. She had to be put down. and most recently my daughters dog contracted leptospirosis from them and died in 3 weeks suffering not able to eat or drink and very ill.