Friday, February 12, 2010

Is it bad to feed the opossums?

I started putting food out for a stray cat, but saw that opossums were coming and eating the food. They come every night and eat the cat food. I was told this is bad because they will come to depend on the food I put out. I have read that they eat whatever food they can find, so I figure this is just what they happened to find. I don't want to mess up their natural feeding habits.Is it bad to feed the opossums?
I am a wildlife rehabilitator whose closest rehab buddy specializes in possies.





Possies do love their cat food, and frankly it is only a matter of time before the cat and possie are joined by the raccoons, skunks and rats, along with the crows during the day.





Should stray cats have food left out for them...IMO, no, the local shelter should be contacted, the cat caught, fixed and adopted out. Stray/Outdoor cats are responsible for slaughtering 6-12 songbirds (and squirrels, and bunnies, and other baby wildlife) DAILY. So no, I do not feel that a non indigenous species should be allowed to predate on actual indigenous wildlife. It was created and dumped because of humans, it should be humans that collect it up, treat it and rehome it.





Should humans provide handouts for wildlife...well, techincally no - not because of what most folks say about dependancy etc., but because it encourages wildlife to congregate in unusual numbers. This makes it more likely for illness to be contracted and spread (canine distemper, feline distemper, rabies, parasites such as fleas and worms), and can lead to huge die offs in certain species affected. The second problem is twofold. If you are not supported in your efforts, it is only a matter of time before a neighbor is calling pest control and having the offending (snacking) wildlife trapped and killed or dumped in an unsuitable release site. And, what happens when you die, sell or otherwise are no longer there. The new people will likely not be so enamoured with your wildlife buddies and the first thing on their agenda will be to put out poison, traps or otherwise eradicate the wildlife you have taught to trust....





Now there are exceptions...if an animals is injured or ill, yes, absolutely supplemental feed for a short period of time. Does the animal have young it is nursing? Then yes, for a short period of time while she is so desperate for calories. To do it daily, monthly, 365 days a year is because you enjoy seeing the wildlife, not because they 'need' your handout.





Hope that helps.Is it bad to feed the opossums?
You should stop. They'll start hanging out around your house and they can be quite mean.
Yes, it is bad to feed the opossums as it does mess with their natural feeding habits. Also, the next pandemic could be the ';opossum flu'; OP52 Virus???
gee that's a tough one
You should stop feeding the wildlife.They will find food elsewhere.If you don't stop feeding them,more and more of them will show up in your yard and then you will have to contact wildlife to come haul them off.They may get into your house and I'm sure you wouldn't want that.Also they could carry disease that you don't want either.Do not try to touch them,as they are wild and could bite you.I'm sure you have seen their teeth.They may look somewhat cute,but can be nasty.

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