TRAPPER PATTI AND OPIE

For the past week, Mighty has flown out of the house in the mornings to chase off a rather small opossum. Originally he caught it long enough to evoke the "playing possum" defense. I caught up with Mighty to see him standing over a motionless opossum.

Thinking he had killed it though there was nary a scratch on the opossum, I picked it up by his tail to heave over the back fence. His tail was cold and I was almost convinced he was dead. I later learned via Internet that they have a very low body temperature which I guess enhances the "play dead" defense.

He must have been young and inexperienced for I felt his tail curl around my hand as I carried him. That made me a bit concerned that he may snag me as he swung near my leg but I managed to heave him over the fence with out incident. When I checked later, he was gone. From then on, Mighty was confined to a leash in the dark hours.

Now Mighty had been humiliated by a 3 pound Miniature Pincher earlier this year while he was recovering from surgery. I know he needed his confidence rebuilt but I had to remove his play dead sparring partner as there was always the treat of rabies. He is current on his shots but they are not a guarantee. I put out my Havaheart trap baited with a little dry cat food and went hunting as I usually do from the comfort of my bed.

This is what I found in the morning. It was the same one I am pretty sure. The size was identical.

Mighty really wanted a piece of him.

I took Opie the opossum (yes, I name everything) on a ride about 5 miles from my house. My relocation spot for trapped animals is beside a nice sized creek with lots of woods. This actual spot is about 100 feet from the larger creek. I wish no animal harm, I just have to protect the furry little fellow that shares my bed.

When I let him out, he ambled off down a small ravine and back up the other side. He then climbed under some rocks and peeked out at me.

This may have not been a good move on his behalf for he appeared to have crawled into a freshly dug den. Sure hope it didn't belong to something that eats opossums. I quickly left so he could scout out a better place to call home. Live long and prosper Opie, just not in my yard.

All is quiet in the yard again...for now.