Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Rodni73 on May 23, 2009, 11:43:59 pm

Title: Opossum problem
Post by: Rodni73 on May 23, 2009, 11:43:59 pm: Today while inspecting my two new hives in the yard.... I noticed something odd infront of one of them:

Three small dried pieces of Feces that is entirely made up of digested bees...!

Two weeks ago I saw an Opossum in my yeard and I made a lot of noises to scare it away and it did. I thought it was the end of it. Well my theory is
this animal has been coming up at night scrashing the landing board and when my guard bees come out to investigate he eats them! I have a mouse guard on both hives and we have no skunks in our area.

I do not know what to do.... Any idea and is this threat serious to warrant an intervension?

Thank you
-Rodni
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: Doby45 on May 23, 2009, 11:45:11 pm: Bust a cap in the possum, problem solved. :-D
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: 1reb on May 23, 2009, 11:49:35 pm: Doby45 is right

Johnny
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: MustbeeNuts on May 24, 2009, 12:36:24 am: ditto,
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: G3farms on May 24, 2009, 01:35:18 am: Like I tell people................a box of 22 shells is awful cheap.

G3
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: JP on May 24, 2009, 02:12:16 am: Kill them all or be killed! Warning, gruesome video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvWPIvU2vxI

...JP :shock: :shock: :shock: :-D
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: bailey on May 24, 2009, 02:23:37 am: pellet rifles work wonders on the critters! ( nice and quiet ) :evil:
bailey
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: WOB419 on May 24, 2009, 08:58:31 am: If you trap him then you have the opportunity to fatten him up before you eat him. :-D
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: contactme_11 on May 24, 2009, 09:33:00 am: Quote from: Doby45 on May 23, 2009, 11:45:11 pm
Bust a cap in the possum, problem solved. :-D
+1. Opossums are habit animals, the follow the same path every night. You need to remove him before he chews a hole into the hive bodies.
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: jimmyo on May 24, 2009, 09:35:34 am: Does bee-fed possum taste like honey?
our hives are 2 concrete blocks off the ground so the varmints have to expose their belly to the hive so they can feed. sometimes other beekeepers make a 1/2 inch mesh ramp from the ground to the hive so the varmint cant lay it's belly on the ground to feed. holding the belly to the ground protects it from getting stung while eating.
I've also heard of placing a board with nails in it in front of the entrance.
Jim
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: asprince on May 24, 2009, 10:02:52 am: I vote for "lead poisoning".

Steve
Title: Re: Opossum problem
Post by: iddee on May 24, 2009, 10:11:12 am: Devil's advocate here.

Find the skunk that is getting your bees and leave the poor possum alone. I have a possum that travels across the yard in front of my hives every night and has never stopped at the hives.