Possum in Eastern Ontario

mrgoat said:
They have been in the Southern Georgian bay area for over 20 yrs. But according to the MNR they don't exist.
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True enough !

Not many, but as far up as Midland, Barrie & Orillia. If they manage to survive a winter or two, they are generally missing their ears and parts of their tails due to frost-bite.
With the amount of snow up above the Oak Ridges Moraine, many seem to hang about winter bird feeders to get a meal. Wouldn't surprise me at all to find them around the
orchards of Thornbury & Meaford. Not as common as they are just North of L. Erie and in the Niagara/Hamilton area, but there are indeed a few around.

First one I heard of just north of Barrie was about 20 years ago ... at an MNR CO's bird feeder !
 
Weird, I have always just assumed they're everywhere in Ontario as I have seen them around here for as long as I can remember.


They're good critters to have around for the most part as they scavenge and do a great job killing off ticks. I had one for a pet in my teens that I found when it was very small and it was like having a cat. Free run of the house all day, litter trained, friendly with everyone and the dog, napped on your lap, etc. Short lifespan though.
 
At our old house we had an assortment of forest creatures attracted to the bird feeder buffet (right in front of the patio door). Last year the baby possum was the cutest and the cat loved to stalk it. He came regularly and learned to show up before the raccoons did. We even had a non-destructive chipmunk who would take peanuts and run across the garden, under the fence to his house on the wild space between the fence and road. My dad's chipmunks ate his bulbs and were generally a nuisance.

All the fun ended when the rat showed up, soon followed by 3 of his friends!!!:eek: No more bird feeders.:(
 
Seen one or two this year local to me.
The Coyote Population really decimated them .
But, the Skunks and Raccoons haven't been decimated as much.
The Cats and Fluffy little Dogs haven't remained unscathed either.
Enjoy them when you see them, by this I mean in the wild when they are doing there thing and not as road kill.
Anyone got a recipe for Possum Pie a'la Beverly Hillbillies ?
Rob
 
Our Jack Russel Terrior loved taking them on and putting them to sleep around Barns in the Regin of Waterloo.
Started seeing them in 1989. Very secretive in their living habits.
Lots of Road Kill around Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge area.
Heard they love to eat Rats (other rodents too) and Snakes.
 
canadian hunter312 said:
They're good critters to have around for the most part as they scavenge and do a great job killing off ticks. I had one for a pet in my teens that I found when it was very small and it was like having a cat. Free run of the house all day, litter trained, friendly with everyone and the dog, napped on your lap, etc. Short lifespan though.
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They are interesting critters. Lots around eastern Pennsylvania where I lived as a kid. I'd trap them occasionally and get more money 'as is' from some of the local factory workers than the fur was worth. Roast possum? Possum pie? I didn't ask. Once I caught one in a weak leghold trap and I put a rope around its neck like a leash and walked it home. It was a slow walk, but it did come along with some coaxing. I kept it in a cage for a couple weeks, then turned it loose. It was pretty docile the whole time. I never saw it move quickly. It's main 'threat' when surprised was just to open its mouth very wide and just sit there quietly. I never saw the full-blown 'playing possum' routine.
 
Old post I know, but I can confirm that there are possums in the County. See them dead on the road occasionally on 62 near Fenwood, aswell as the southern end of Carrying Place.
 
They are in Toronto too, this was taken in Etobicoke.

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hammering hank said:
Oh ya, and if you thought a racoon gets nasty don't pissed one these off. Seen a lot in and out of the GTA commuting from barrie over and up to the last 10yrs. Haven't seen one as far as barrie yet but sure wouldn't suprise me.
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I have 2 that come to the door and eat in NewLowell. They will eat all the ticks in your area so they will help.
 
badgreenbird said:
They are interesting critters. Lots around eastern Pennsylvania where I lived as a kid. I'd trap them occasionally and get more money 'as is' from some of the local factory workers than the fur was worth. Roast possum? Possum pie? I didn't ask.
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Thought I had a couple recipes in a wild game cookbook I have lol
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Keller said:
They are in Toronto too, this was taken in Etobicoke.
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I’ve seen them in the Junction in T.O. As well as behind the shop I worked at in Etobicoke in the early 2000’s
 
Wellse said:
Old post I know, but I can confirm that there are possums in the County. See them dead on the road occasionally on 62 near Fenwood, aswell as the southern end of Carrying Place.
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That's exactly where I saw the dead one on 62 just north of Fenwood... but only ever seen the 1

JJ
 
I travel 62 daily as well, and have seen 2 dead ones there, and 2 around Carrying Place. One of the ones near Carrying Place was almost as big as a raccoon. Know a guy near Demorestville who sees them all the time, and another who saw a live one near the Sandbanks Park. Yeah, they control ticks, but the eggs of ground nesting birds are a big part of their diet.
 
My wife grew up around Tilsonburg, she doesn't remember them as a child, the roads were covered with flattened ones, last time we were down. Brother in law trapped one, nasty little creatures up close. Lots of turkey vultures and raccoons as well.


Grizz
 
We had one at our bird feeders in Owen Sound 20 yrs ago. In the fall it had pink ears and tail but by mid Jan they were black; I assume from frostbite. Never saw it again the next summer, ....guessing that it froze to death. They are not designed for -20 temps. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the road killed ones this time of year are suicides. :)
 
One of the few animals i try to avoid running over. They eat ticks. I think theyre kinda cute. I have a small male that hangs around my yard. Hes quite friendly and stays on the back fence to be pet.
Theyre all over sw ontario
 
I remember seeing one for the first time back in 1992. I know what it was but had thought they only lived in the states. I called the MNR and they said that they knew about them being in Streetsville Mississauga but they were rare.
 
The first one I caught in a coyote trap set was in 1970 in Fort Erie and have caught several hundred on the Niagara Peninsula since then. Pelts go from 10 cents to $7.00 at the fur auctions.
 
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