Possum?

[Kisal]

So far, I haven't had even a squirrel climb my fence. I think it is because it is wired to steel T stakes loosely. My dog can't get over it though it is only four feet tall. When he tries to get over the fence, it simply leans out toward him leaving him hanging. I think if it were wired tighter to the stakes and more stable, it would be easy to climb. I don't think it would stop a squirrel if it wanted in, but it is difficult for larger animals.

Ted

You did it exactly right! That style of fence installation will stop any animal except those that can climb while upside down ... squirrels, rats, mice, etc. ... or those large enough to simply jump or step over the fence. Of course, you buried about a foot of the fence underground, right? To stop critters from digging under it?

[rainbowgardener]

agree, the deer netting is loose and flexible which makes it much more difficult to climb than a stable fence.

[garden5]

Neil, sorry 'bout recommending something inhumane, never new that .

Ted, thanks for the great fence tip . I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever do put a fence up. I take it that you have the top of it unsecured so it "rolls" back when something reaches the top of the fence?

[neil17]

Alot of people are not aware of it. I found out because we have bad racoons around me, and they are like gymnists.so I thought about getting some myself, but someone told me and I stopped on a dime when I found out.

[tedln]

Neil, sorry 'bout recommending something inhumane, never new that .

Ted, thanks for the great fence tip . I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever do put a fence up. I take it that you have the top of it unsecured so it "rolls" back when something reaches the top of the fence?

Right garden5, no toprail on the fence. It is strong, but loose and floppy.

Ted

[jennsim]

G'day lkngarden,

Does look like possum to me, we have a mango tree, last fruiting, one
fruit looked just like that, but mango in shape and colour of course.
The possum had sat ontop of the shed and leaned over and had a meal!

A caution to anyone with dogs...out little mate a few months ago got very
sick, told the vet all symptoms and behaviour leading up to illness, so an
$80 test was suggested...yep a possum bacteria was found, a course of
antibiotics fixed him up. The poor guy (dog) had blood in his poo.

We did trap the possum in a rectangle possum trap, had for transporting
chicks years ago...so a few days later we have a possum in the trap, ring
wildlife people, have to release within 20 metres of capture point!!! What
a waste of time, so I now try to make sure the dog doesn't eat the possum poo!

Sorry don't know how to deter them, we don't seem to have much other
damage from it that I can tell, I think he likes to come and drink the pond water. And poo!

Funny about the fainting possum and the poor bald dog!

jenn

[Kisal]

USA "possums" are actually the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), not the same animal that is called a possum in Australia (Trichosurus vulpecula).

Virginia opossum
[[img]http://www.nps.gov/prsf/naturescience/images/virginia_opossum.jpg[/img]

Common Brushtail Possum (Australia)
[img]http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/images/wildlife-ecosystems/brushtail_possum.jpg[/img]

[jennsim]

ewwww I'll happily have the aussie possum in my yard
He looks like a giant rat!


G'day Kisal thanks for the pics

jenn

[neil17]

The top one I'm used to seeing the top one but neither are attractive animals if I do say so myself.

[garden5]

Neil, sorry 'bout recommending something inhumane, never new that .

Ted, thanks for the great fence tip . I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever do put a fence up. I take it that you have the top of it unsecured so it "rolls" back when something reaches the top of the fence?

Right garden5, no toprail on the fence. It is strong, but loose and floppy.

Ted

Is your whole fence kind of slack, or is it only the top part? I would think it'd be better to have the fence be taut, but the top foot or two unsecured. Hmmm, on the other hand, perhaps a completely slack fence would be smart, as well.

I know I can be a pain: for every answer you give me, I fire back more questions .

Jen, your Australian possum puts our American one to shame .

[tedln]

garden5,

I have the T stakes located about every seven feet. The fence is wired to the stakes at the top and bottom. The bottom of the fence is staked to the ground tightly every three feet with tent stakes. That leaves the top of the fence between the stakes loose and wobbly. When the fence material is manufactured, a single strong wire is woven into the upper and lower edges. The edges are strong, but wobbly. I also have two feet of poultry wire fence around the bottom of the fence to keep the rabbits out. They can squeeze through the little squares in the fence if I didn't have the poultry wire.

I hope that helps you understand.

Please ask as many questions as you like.

Ted

[garden5]

garden5,

I have the T stakes located about every seven feet. The fence is wired to the stakes at the top and bottom. The bottom of the fence is staked to the ground tightly every three feet with tent stakes. That leaves the top of the fence between the stakes loose and wobbly. When the fence material is manufactured, a single strong wire is woven into the upper and lower edges. The edges are strong, but wobbly. I also have two feet of poultry wire fence around the bottom of the fence to keep the rabbits out. They can squeeze through the little squares in the fence if I didn't have the poultry wire.

I hope that helps you understand.

Please ask as many questions as you like.

Ted

Thanks a lot, Ted. Now I have a great image of what your set-up looks like. You secure normally just with the posts spaced farther apart, right?

[tedln]

garden5,

Right! I don't really have an exact spacing. I just drove them into the ground at a distance that looked about right to hold the fence up, but leave a little slack between the stakes. I just didn't want the fencing up so tight that something could easily climb it. If you measured the distance between my T stakes, you would probably find some close to six feet apart and some at seven feet apart. It really wasn't a big deal to me. I only knew where I wanted the corners to be located and I knew where I wanted a gate at one corner. The gate is simply two T stakes about 36" apart. I ran the fencing across the gate area but only attached or wired it to one stake. I wrapped the fence wire past the corner stake and bent a couple of wires to hook into the fencing as a latch.

Ted

[Troppofoodgardener]

USA "possums" are actually the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), not the same animal that is called a possum in Australia (Trichosurus vulpecula).

Virginia opossum
[[img]http://www.nps.gov/prsf/naturescience/images/virginia_opossum.jpg[/img]

Common Brushtail Possum (Australia)
[img]http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/images/wildlife-ecosystems/brushtail_possum.jpg[/img]

Haha! I've always wondered what the US opossum looked like, as I know it's a different creature to the possums we have here in Australia. I think i'd rather tangle with our native possums than yours over there. They look mean! Ours are just annoying/greedy, but overall kinda cute critters. Look up Ringtail possum for a different sort. I think they're even endangered.

We've put up chicken-wire barriers along the top of our fence to prevent the local possum from getting at our passionfruit vines. So far so good...

[keen gardener]

Whether they are Australian or American possums, both are rascally rascales eating our vegies. For little vegies like egg plants have you thought of constructing cages with lids that open? They are really good because they keep out the pests and allow you to get to your vegies. You need chicken wire some wood and a couple of hinges and Bobs your Uncle. We built some at a garden in Melbourne I used to volunteer at. We painted them green, so they were so ugly.

Cheers Keen Gardener