I live about 15 miles from San Francisco, directly across the street from Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We have everything up here. Deer, coyotes (they're a pain in the butt during mating season, howling all night. In fact, the other night I went for a walk and a coyote walked right past me), foxes, mountain lions, skunks, raccoons and opossums. Which leads me to my story.
Last night I went downstairs to do some laundry. I heard a noise, and what do I see? An opossum. I have no idea how it got in the house. I scared it and it ran into our spare bedroom, which we use as a storage room. I searched for it until 3 am but couldn't find it. I had to go out today, but resumed my search as soon as I got home. Finally I found it hiding under a tool box. It was, of course, "playing possum" ,not moving. I covered it with a towel, put on some gloves, and picked it up by it's tail which is the safest way to handle an opossum. It wasn't very big, about the size of a six month old cat. I put it in a storage crate and carried it outside. It must have been really frightened because it urinated in the crate. I released it in the open field across the street. I wonder if it was part of a family and if I will have any other surprise guests.
I'm also thankful none of my cats got downstairs. That could have been a nightmare.
Last night I went downstairs to do some laundry. I heard a noise, and what do I see? An opossum. I have no idea how it got in the house. I scared it and it ran into our spare bedroom, which we use as a storage room. I searched for it until 3 am but couldn't find it. I had to go out today, but resumed my search as soon as I got home. Finally I found it hiding under a tool box. It was, of course, "playing possum" ,not moving. I covered it with a towel, put on some gloves, and picked it up by it's tail which is the safest way to handle an opossum. It wasn't very big, about the size of a six month old cat. I put it in a storage crate and carried it outside. It must have been really frightened because it urinated in the crate. I released it in the open field across the street. I wonder if it was part of a family and if I will have any other surprise guests.
I'm also thankful none of my cats got downstairs. That could have been a nightmare.