Opossum sightings

[Mark]

I have seen a live opossum in my front yard each of the last two years.  I'm in Etobicoke between Kipling and Islington south of eglinton and north of Rathburn.  I also saw a dead one this year in the old kingsway.

[Napper]

An a Opussum slithered through my yard  this evening around 9:30 pm way out here in the styx of Milton.


I have not seen one here since March..


Napper  :lol:

[Julia]

I saw the Mezzrow's opossum a couple of weeks ago, taking advantage of the remaining grapes on the vines over the back patio.  A friend had an encounter with one on the patio of the Cadillac Lounge, apparently it couldn't get enough of the smell of his feet.  It may have been the same one, but they're a few blocks apart.  Also saw one squished at Queen and Dunn, don't know if it was either or both of the barflies.

Julia

[Faunistic]

Below is a pic of "Virginia", who made nightly visits beneath one of our backyard birdfeeders here in Mississauga last winter. We have a cottage at Sauble Beach, and we've found carcasses of possums well north of Wiarton in the recent past. One of my sons, whilst doing fieldwork for his M.Sc.F. at U of T this summer, found a juvenile possum in one of his Sherman 5x5x15 traps and was very surprised at how docile the animal was!

[David Shilman]

Below is a pic of "Virginia"...

Great pic.  If it's regular next winter, I want to come and see it!  

I saw the Mezzrow's opossum...

Huh?


David

[peter monahan]

A couple of years ago now (3? 4? ) there was a short report in the local (Alliston) paper of a possum found in Barrie, suffering from frostbitten toes.  From that I'd inferred that they didn't winter well up here but if they're in Wiarton (northern Bruce Peninsula) they obviously do get by!

As to the how, I heard this story years ago "from a guy".  (Sorry, can't recall the source and never tried to verify it. ) Apparently some of the fruit trucks bound for Canada - peaches were mentioned - are loaded at night in Georgia and so on and the possums stow away on board.  Accidentally, one assumes.  As I said, I never tried to verify this but it would explain how they get across the Niagara frontier, a substantial barrier and one which is currently keeping a new and nasty strain of rabies confined to the US and out of Ontario.  For what it's worth.

Saw my first live possum this July past here in Alliston but have been seing roadside corpses for half a dozen years at least.

Peter

[alan]

I saw my first opossum in early Oct in my back yard, but haven't seen it again since. Like others it took me by surprise - thought it was a giant rat at first! My house is on Vermont Ave, just SE of Dupont & Christie and it was walking along my side fence. We have quite a population of racoons; do they fight each other for territory???

[kandee]

As I went out to last night to take my puppy out for his last run, we both heard this noise.  Low and behold I looked at the back of my fence and saw this animal slithering across the top of it.  He had the elongated nose, was the size of a cat and had the tail of a rat.  Upon looking on the net I stumbled across this board and found some pictures of the animal that I saw, which I can say that I saw a possum.  I didn't think we had them up here in Ontario.  Anyways this creature was spoted in Bradford, Ontario, approximately 10 minutes north of Newmarket.   I mentioned it to my neighbours today and my friend told me that she is always seeing them by her work at Finch and Weston Road.  We will definately keep our eyes and ears open and I will try to have the camera near by.

[Napper]

Apparently Opossums are now a year round occurrence.

12:30 am two nights ago,  I sighted a possum/Opossum  in my neighbours yard,  a large one

heading for my yard most likely to nest/roost/sleep under my deck . Once he saw me he ran,  climbed

fence and headed East .

:lol: I could have had some fun with this post but "Billy Bob" and "Billy Michelle Bob" talked me out of it..:lol:

Napper :lol:

[Margaret]

Two friends and I saw 3 young foxes approx 7pm late Summer on Brampton greenbelt playfully enjoying the evening for about 15 mins. Never seen since.
A first for me at the house in 24 years: a skunk at end of back garden one morning when I opened the curtains at 6:30am.
Quite a shock to see a white stripe moving across the lawn!

[Brian Bailey]

My first Opossum of the year was a dead one at the side of the ramp from EB 401 to SB 427 this afternoon.  It can be a dangerous ramp in a car:  much more hazardous for an Opossum!

BB

[Halton Hills]

My first Opossum of the year was a dead one at the side of the ramp from EB 401 to SB 427 this afternoon.  It can be a dangerous ramp in a car:  much more hazardous for an Opossum!

BB

Why does everyone lose their mind when the right lane ends once you get around that curve?  LOL  

I wouldn't be surprised if the Possum commited suicide.


.

[Axeman]

Opossums moved gradually northwards to the GTA about 20 to 25 years ago...I live in Grey county and have seen opossums in the area...not sure how far north they go...

What really floored me was the sight of 2 coyotes crossing bloor street just west of the old mill...they moved from some dupsters behind an apt. building across bloor to a cemetary...it was around 2 a.m. a few years ago.

[Turtle]

This message is for David, if he is still Opossum hunting!
I just identified the critter that is visiting my garden as an Opossum - and he is alive.
I think it is a Virginia Opossum, and I live in downtown Toronto near the lake. (near Tip Top Tailors)
I have seen him twice, he is the size of a big rabbit, light coloured brown tipped fur, brown nose and mottled tail - and boy does he stink!
 He is welcome to stay as long as he likes.
Turtle

[David Shilman]

This message is for David, if he is still Opossum hunting!...

STILL hoping to see a live one.

David