Possum Issue - How to 'remove' ?

Forums › Off topic › Possum Issue - How to 'remove' ?

1 | 2 | 3

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2846721 11-Jan-2022 13:45

MikeAqua:
A cross bow in an urban area ... I'm not sure how the cops would react if someone complained.

I checked out the legal side before I started and it's OK, also told the neighbours (one of whom said he uses a slingshot to do the same thing), it's not a full-sized crossbow so doesn't have much range, and I'm shooting from an elevated position down onto them so any misses will bury themselves in the ground. In fact because of the limited range I have to get as close as possible to them so there's no chance of stray shots, it's not like I'm shooting from one end of the property to the other.

Edited to add: Oh, and it's not that urban, there's native bush down to the water so no people in that direction anyway.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2846732 11-Jan-2022 14:11

neb: I checked out the legal side before I started and it's OK, also told the neighbours (one of whom said he uses a slingshot to do the same thing), it's not a full-sized crossbow so doesn't have much range, and I'm shooting from an elevated position down onto them so any misses will bury themselves in the ground. In fact because of the limited range I have to get as close as possible to them so there's no chance of stray shots, it's not like I'm shooting from one end of the property to the other. Edited to add: Oh, and it's not that urban, there's native bush down to the water so no people in that direction anyway.

Interesting. Do you have link for that small crossbow?

Mike

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2846738 11-Jan-2022 14:31

MikeAqua:
Interesting. Do you have link for that small crossbow?

It's a highly customised Man Kung Alligator. It comes with picatinny rails and is much bigger than the usual pistol crossbows so you can add accessories and the larger size makes aiming easier. In my case I added a foregrip, removed the sights, replaced them with a 3x44 RDS scope, and added a spotting torch. All of the accessories are cheap airsoft stuff (some only a few dollars) from China at a fraction of what they'd cost locally, and the Man Kung is Taiwanese so not the cheapest flimsiest thing you can get from China.

networkn

Networkn
32353 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2846749 11-Jan-2022 14:51

neb:
MikeAqua:

Interesting. Do you have link for that small crossbow?

It's a highly customised Man Kung Alligator. It comes with picatinny rails and is much bigger than the usual pistol crossbows so you can add accessories and the larger size makes aiming easier. In my case I added a foregrip, removed the sights, replaced them with a 3x44 RDS scope, and added a spotting torch. All of the accessories are cheap airsoft stuff (some only a few dollars) from China at a fraction of what they'd cost locally, and the Man Kung is Taiwanese so not the cheapest flimsiest thing you can get from China.

You sound like the Jesse Mulligan (he is the rat killer) of Possums :)

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2846760 11-Jan-2022 15:15

networkn:
You sound like the Jesse Mulligan (he is the rat killer) of Possums :)

After losing entire (sizeable) crops of fruit and even having fruit trees destroyed by possums, not to mention the damage they do to the nearby natives, I decided the problem wasn't going to go away unless I gave it a helping hand.

Geektastic

17943 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2846822 11-Jan-2022 17:43

neb:
Geektastic: I use a 12 bore. Wait until they are asleep in the day and then... Bang.

How do you get the tracking tag on the possum to find the tree it's in?

German Shorthaired Pointer....

networkn

Networkn
32353 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2851844 17-Jan-2022 08:57

So far, no luck getting the creature, though I notice our crops continue to be ravaged. Quite frustrating.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Bung

6488 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2851848 17-Jan-2022 09:12

Sometimes it can be quite random. IR filming shows possums walking past traps. They are curious, it might just take a little extra to get their attention. If the trap is close to the target try making it stand out by sprinkling some flour on the ground in front. My usual bait is apple with cinnamon. In the dark ages I recall aniseed dabbed on the leg trap was the go.

I have to modify my trap in the tree to stop them landing on top of the trap first as that sets it off. Something like a roof over it.

networkn

Networkn
32353 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2851929 17-Jan-2022 09:58

The people who loaned us the trap were emphatic it could take a few weeks and they used apple but don't want us touching it, so we are in their hands. I may try some flour or perhaps a bit of Chinese Five Spice near the trap. He (she) can walk along the fence line direct to the tree so may not actually ever need to get to the ground.

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2851977 17-Jan-2022 10:02

Aniseed oil mixed in flour used to work a treat for me. Some sprinkled on the apple as well.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

Gurezaemon

~HONYAKKER!~
1355 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3109003 28-Jul-2023 10:14

Our place backs on to an isolated patch of bush that I have taken upon myself to keep possum free.

I've had lots of success with the Flipping Timmy (tree-based Timms trap) using chunks of apple. I'll often get a possum per night for several days running, and then nothing for a while, and then another family of them moves down from the larger reserve up the hill - rinse and repeat.

In the last couple of weeks though, my bait has gone missing, but without triggering the trap. I thought it could be rats or similar, so I have put a rat trap nearby, also baited with apple. With the result that apple disappears from both the possum trap and the rat trap, with neither being triggered. Both traps are still extremely sensitive, and I'm struggling to figure out what could be removing the apple without triggering either of the traps.

I've tried coating the apple in cinnamon (known to be popular with possums) but to no effect - it vanishes just the same.

Any suggestions? I'm not interested in splashing out for a trail cam or anything, I just want to keep the possums down.

Get your business seen overseas - Nexus Translations

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3109008 28-Jul-2023 10:19

You could put a trail camera in your garden to make certain it is. Possum visiting your restaurant. It could be birds especially certain indigenous species.

Bung

6488 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3109075 28-Jul-2023 13:13

Gurezaemon:
In the last couple of weeks though, my bait has gone missing, but without triggering the trap. I thought it could be rats or similar, so I have put a rat trap nearby, also baited with apple. With the result that apple disappears from both the possum trap and the rat trap, with neither being triggered. Both traps are still extremely sensitive, and I'm struggling to figure out what could be removing the apple without triggering either of the traps.

My 2 most successful Timms traps are the most sensitive. The only way they lose bait is by going off 1st and then it's free access. I usually put a generous slice or whole apple in so there's no chance the bait just falls apart. Mice can strip a rat trap without triggering it. I prefer to catch the rats but leave mouse poison in a plastic milk bottle for the mice.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3109081 28-Jul-2023 13:19

Gurezaemon:
In the last couple of weeks though, my bait has gone missing, but without triggering the trap. I thought it could be rats or similar, so I have put a rat trap nearby, also baited with apple. With the result that apple disappears from both the possum trap and the rat trap, with neither being triggered. Both traps are still extremely sensitive, and I'm struggling to figure out what could be removing the apple without triggering either of the traps.

Could be two culprits, rats going for the possum trap which they easily clean out overnight and then insects at the rat trap, in both cases something too light to trigger either. I realise you said you didn't want to get a trail camera but you may have to get one to sort out the problem, until I got one I had no idea what was getting the bait from the rat traps but never getting caught in them. You can get cheapies from TM that are kinda rubbish in terms of battery life and features but OK if you only need them for a few days each time to figure out the problem.

1 | 2 | 3