Unwelcome Visitor to the yard... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

RachelandSadie · 08-14-2011, 06:06 PM

We had a night time visitor that really stirred up the pups. An opossum was walking along our low little metal fence and made both dogs crazy. Thank goodness it was nighttime since daytime activity would mean rabies were more likely the cause. DH scared it off with the waving of a board and banging on the fence with a shovel. He's out there with them now watching them pee making sure our friend doesn't come back around.

those boogers are mean and hissy. don't ever tangle with one. usually they can be scared away easily but it's not worth messing with them either.

yorkietalkjilly · 08-14-2011, 06:13 PM

I worry all the time that something like that will get into our yard, especially at night as the yard is so big and I can't see it all by some. When I let Tibbe out at night and he just dashes through the back door really fast my heart goes loop-de-loop and I rush out right behind him, usually shouting "Wait" or "Stop" just in case some critter is visiting the yard. One night it was the neighbor's cat in our yard and they had a spat but as I was right on Tibbe's heels, I was able to shoo the cat away before they could hurt each other. I did see it hit Tibbe in the face, he jumped back but was starting back at it when I was able to stop him by shouting! The cat ran and Tibbe stopped dead in his track but it was so scary. I got him inside quickly and checked his eyes and everything and he was unhurt. Ever since, when Tibbe flies out the back door, so do I.

shodanusmc · 08-14-2011, 06:17 PM

We live next to the Forrest Preserve and have all kinds of critters here. Deer, Coyotes, Oppossum, Racoons, etc. We always go out with the Yorkies, and always let Carlo go out first. His job is to make sure the yard is clear, and he has never failed to do his job.

yorkietalkjilly · 08-14-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

We live next to the Forrest Preserve and have all kinds of critters here. Deer, Coyotes, Oppossum, Racoons, etc. We always go out with the Yorkies, and always let Carlo go out first. His job is to make sure the yard is clear, and he has never failed to do his job.

Whoa, now that's what I need! Need me a big CC like Carlo to keep my yard safe for Tibbe! I'll bet you don't have many unwanted human types frequenting your premises either! Anyone prowling around/scouting out a possible place to rob would just likely move on down the road.

yorkieusa · 08-14-2011, 06:22 PM

Be careful. They have a habit of returning to their haunts.

shodanusmc · 08-14-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Whoa, now that's what I need! Need me a big CC like Carlo to keep my yard safe for Tibbe! I'll bet you don't have many unwanted human types frequenting your premises either! Anyone prowling around/scouting out a possible place to rob would just likely move on down the road.

Tibbe would be safe with a Cane Corso guarding him and the house. Yes, they are great to deter bad animals and bad people! You are in TX, they would even go after wild Hogs to protect you. A Good Corso will lay down his life protecting his family.

Lovetodream88 · 08-14-2011, 06:35 PM

Make sure you dont have any trash that there getting into and getting food. We had what he thought was one (never saw it) that in the middle of the night would take things out of our recycling bin and chew on them and leave them scattered around the yard for three nights. Once we started washing the stuff going into the recycling bin he stopped coming back because there was nothing for him to eat.

yorkietalkjilly · 08-14-2011, 06:37 PM

They are such lovely creatures! Have long loved that breed and I kind of feel like I "know" one with your stories about Carlo. He's quite a guy! Tibbe would love a big bro.

RachelandSadie · 08-15-2011, 03:07 PM

i'll have to keep going out and double checking for them to make sure he doesn't come back. or get me a Corso too

shodanusmc · 08-15-2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RachelandSadie

i'll have to keep going out and double checking for them to make sure he doesn't come back. or get me a Corso too

Rach, when you are ready for a Corso to guard the family, let me know, and I will put you in touch with the 2 best breeders in the Country.

Ojai · 08-15-2011, 03:44 PM

I'm a wildlife rehabber, and opossums are really very docile creatures. They have two defense mechanisms: "gaping" (when they make that mean, ugly face, but have nothing to back it up), and "playing dead." Whenever I've rehabbed opossums, and they start that gaping, I tell them to knock it off because they are not fooling me! Most of the mischief for which opossums get blamed is the work of raccoons (and they are mean, nasty critters). The biggest threat to our doggies from opossums are fleas, which can be a real pain. I've been bitten by squirrels, pecked at by birds, but have never had any problems with opossums (but they don't bond ... squirrels and birds will come back, but once I release an opossum, I never see it again!).

gracielove · 08-15-2011, 03:47 PM

I live in a wooded area and we have such visitors on the patio at night on a fairly regular basis. Opossums, raccoons, skunks, etc., and those are the night visitors. Opossums are the least harmful of any the critters. They are scavengers and are just looking for left overs. They are like the bottom dwellers of the forest. They are very awkward and slow also. I find we get more visitors when we have been cooking out as they smell the food and come looking.
If my cat is outside I always have to take a good look around before I let her in because the raccoons will walk right in with her if I'm not careful. No, the cats don't bother with these forest critters. They know not to pick on someone bigger than them.

yorkieusa · 08-15-2011, 04:21 PM

They will attack if they're cornered or feel threatened and yorkies are good at stirring up trouble. I know!

gracielove · 08-15-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

They will attack if they're cornered or feel threatened and yorkies are good at stirring up trouble. I know!

Well, I guess any creature will defend it's self if cornered. I never let Gracie out unless she is with me on a leash. My concern is more with owls in the early morning and at night and hawks during the day.

Ojai · 08-15-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

They will attack if they're cornered or feel threatened and yorkies are good at stirring up trouble. I know!

Well, Kansas opossums must be different from our California laid-back version! I have rehabbed for about 14 years, plus I have lived for 17 years in a very wooded area where opossums are part of the natural wildlife, and I have never seen one attack anything, including me when I picked it up. Must be all the sunshine here!

08-14-2011, 06:06 PM	#1
RachelandSadie No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 5,748	Unwelcome Visitor to the yard... We had a night time visitor that really stirred up the pups. An opossum was walking along our low little metal fence and made both dogs crazy. Thank goodness it was nighttime since daytime activity would mean rabies were more likely the cause. DH scared it off with the waving of a board and banging on the fence with a shovel. He's out there with them now watching them pee making sure our friend doesn't come back around. those boogers are mean and hissy. don't ever tangle with one. usually they can be scared away easily but it's not worth messing with them either.

08-14-2011, 06:13 PM	#2
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	I worry all the time that something like that will get into our yard, especially at night as the yard is so big and I can't see it all by some. When I let Tibbe out at night and he just dashes through the back door really fast my heart goes loop-de-loop and I rush out right behind him, usually shouting "Wait" or "Stop" just in case some critter is visiting the yard. One night it was the neighbor's cat in our yard and they had a spat but as I was right on Tibbe's heels, I was able to shoo the cat away before they could hurt each other. I did see it hit Tibbe in the face, he jumped back but was starting back at it when I was able to stop him by shouting! The cat ran and Tibbe stopped dead in his track but it was so scary. I got him inside quickly and checked his eyes and everything and he was unhurt. Ever since, when Tibbe flies out the back door, so do I. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

08-14-2011, 06:22 PM	#5
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	Be careful. They have a habit of returning to their haunts. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

08-14-2011, 06:35 PM	#7
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,248	Make sure you dont have any trash that there getting into and getting food. We had what he thought was one (never saw it) that in the middle of the night would take things out of our recycling bin and chew on them and leave them scattered around the yard for three nights. Once we started washing the stuff going into the recycling bin he stopped coming back because there was nothing for him to eat. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

08-14-2011, 06:37 PM	#8
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	They are such lovely creatures! Have long loved that breed and I kind of feel like I "know" one with your stories about Carlo. He's quite a guy! Tibbe would love a big bro. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

08-14-2011, 06:17 PM	#3
shodanusmc BANNED! Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,603	We live next to the Forrest Preserve and have all kinds of critters here. Deer, Coyotes, Oppossum, Racoons, etc. We always go out with the Yorkies, and always let Carlo go out first. His job is to make sure the yard is clear, and he has never failed to do his job.

08-15-2011, 03:07 PM	#9
RachelandSadie No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 5,748	i'll have to keep going out and double checking for them to make sure he doesn't come back. or get me a Corso too

08-15-2011, 03:44 PM	#11
Ojai Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ojai, California, USA Posts: 34	I'm a wildlife rehabber, and opossums are really very docile creatures. They have two defense mechanisms: "gaping" (when they make that mean, ugly face, but have nothing to back it up), and "playing dead." Whenever I've rehabbed opossums, and they start that gaping, I tell them to knock it off because they are not fooling me! Most of the mischief for which opossums get blamed is the work of raccoons (and they are mean, nasty critters). The biggest threat to our doggies from opossums are fleas, which can be a real pain. I've been bitten by squirrels, pecked at by birds, but have never had any problems with opossums (but they don't bond ... squirrels and birds will come back, but once I release an opossum, I never see it again!). __________________ "In a room where people unanimously maintain a conspiracy of silence, one word of truth sounds like a pistol shot." -- Czeslaw Milosz Ruby Tuesday Cubby Lily

08-15-2011, 03:47 PM	#12
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	I live in a wooded area and we have such visitors on the patio at night on a fairly regular basis. Opossums, raccoons, skunks, etc., and those are the night visitors. Opossums are the least harmful of any the critters. They are scavengers and are just looking for left overs. They are like the bottom dwellers of the forest. They are very awkward and slow also. I find we get more visitors when we have been cooking out as they smell the food and come looking. If my cat is outside I always have to take a good look around before I let her in because the raccoons will walk right in with her if I'm not careful. No, the cats don't bother with these forest critters. They know not to pick on someone bigger than them.

08-15-2011, 04:21 PM	#13
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	They will attack if they're cornered or feel threatened and yorkies are good at stirring up trouble. I know! __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel