What does this have to do with winter sowing? My recycling bin is out there. CRAP!

LOL Thanks Bakemom you are the best....Now what? You have to get rid of it...Possum pie for dinner...Yummy

You need to get an owl. :)

Put a bowl of cat food just outside the garage door. When the possum goes to eat, and it will, close the door.

I told her she's a pretty pretty possum princess and has a lovely pink nose. She looked at me and sighed and went back to sleep. I was able to unload my car.

We need to work Harrison Ford into YOUR "scream like a girl" story.

Token, do you resemble Harrison Ford? Fine. Today you do. Bakemom, Token is right about the cat food.

There, that wasn't so hard, was it? (Working HF into this thread!)

Possums are wonderful - nature's clean up squad! I'd hate to think what the world would smell like if they weren't around to eat rotten yuck.

Just lay out a trail of good possum snacks for her and let her toddle off. A bowl of cat food at the end of the trail would be like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to a possum.

After she's gone, be sure do a good check of your garage to see if there are any yummy possum attractants that are luring her in.

Their only defenses are to try to scare you by showing teeth, farting out some scent so they don't appear tasty to predators, and then passing out and looking dead and inedible. It's a rather cartoon-like way of dealing with world and I must admit we have quite a soft spot for them.

I've attached a link to cute possum photos to help you pass the time as you wait for your visitor to wander off.

Lynda

Here is a link that might be useful: Cute possums

I gave her a bowl of purina cat chow and she ate half of that. After all, it's Christmas Eve. I put it in Fire King Jadeite restaurantware from the 1940s. I don't think she really appreciated that feature.

Then again, my cats drink out of a Bauer California Art Pottery bowl from the 1950s and don't appear grateful either.

We permanently leave the garage door ajar because I have a possum family in there--somehwere in there. I have an old paintcan that holds the door up just enough that the critters can go in and out. None of them have ever pooped or peed in the garage so I haven't had a reason to shew them away.

It's a pretty little animal with an ugly set of teeth--like a cross between a chainsaw and Jaws. They hiss too. Eek.

Possums are funny looking, sort of odd... put a mirror in front of her when she wakes - she'll run for her life....

carrie

I was sooooo hoping for a picture. Snap one if you can before you shoo possum away.

my dentist had one under the porch and the nature center said to let it be cuz they eat MICE.

I want one.

Supposed to be the only marsupial in North America and we are supposed to treasure it. lol
Such an ugly creature, to me. :-)
Hope it does not have rabies. Watch out!

Awwwww .... send the cats out to play .... they are so
CUTE! hehehe ....

PV

Oh bakemom, they scare me and I am so sorry you have one for the holidays!!!!!!!! We have them all over the place out here, very often catch them in thr headlights and they are so so so ugly and pitful looking.

Nan, they eat leopard slugs! We have them everywhere too ;-(

Merry Christmas first of all.

Bakemom how big is this possum? I know I've seen them get quite large. I can't get over the tails and size although their faces are cute. I had no idea they ate slugs.
My dog wouldn't allow one in my yard though, she took down a groundhog and a raccoon this year, and the cat keeps bringing me squirrels.
I loved hearing about your son's reaction. What does he think of it now?
Do they make anyone else think of RUS's from Princess Bride?

Cute??? How could anyone think of a giant !@#$% rabid rat as cute? Possums are just giant rats if you ask me. Definitely the definition of ugly.

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. Dogs and kittens are cute. Horses are pretty. Possums are ugly rats.

There are companies who will come and trap an animal and relocate it. "Critter Gitter" was one that used to advertise locally.

Maybe sell the house complete with possum.

Karen

I have a barn cat that I "keep" in the garage. One night the dog ran in there barking his head off. When I went in something was hissing and growling horribly... It was a HUGE possum.... HUGE!!!!.. showing his ugly teeth and snarling like a junk yard dog.
I had to put the cat food up on top of the stack of plastic lawn chairs, cover the cat food tight and put my horse cookies in sealed containers. He might come back to check, but he doesn't stay.

Bakemom, put the food outside until it leaves, don't put any more down unless you want another "cat". My friend has 3 cats outside, when she feeds them at night there is an Opossum who belly's up to the feed bowl with the cats.

I did what Bakemom's son did.... screamed like a girl... hands up and everything.....*shaking head* ..It's growl was awful and scary.
Andrea

She's gone. I wanted to take a picture, but my batteries were dead in my cam. She had two bowls of cat chow and had a nice nap. The cats are peeved, but safe. I think she lives in my front landscape.

She showed me her teeth twice and played dead, but I don't think she was serious. She didn't hiss or fart. My boys are still mad at me for not being more aggressive, but she's an animal who isn't hurting anything so....

I don't think you'll miss it too much :) I was going to suggest you take a broom and push it on out, close the door.

No, I'm not hard hearted and thought them kind of cute too until the first time one bared its teeth at me after pooping on the cement next to my car. They aren't vaccinated, de-flea'd, or housebroken so don't meet the criteria to live in my garage.

Have a merry christmas!

During the summer, I have a possum that comes up on the porch to eat the cat's leftovers. He particularly fond of Kit & Kaboodle, although Meow Mix doesn't seem to be a turnoff.

The first time I saw it, I heard a ruckus on the porch so I went to check. There it was hissing and spitting in my direction. I shut the door as its tail went round the corner and off the steps. Now, I know who it is and make sure there's only as much food as the cat will eat in a day. If she overeats, I give her just a bit more, but never after dark.

I used to set a Have a Heart trap - hoping for a bunny. If I got a rabbit, i would relocate it.

Every time I set the darned thing, I'd either get a possum or a raccoon - never a rabbit!

Three days ago, we caught another raccoon - but this time he was so mad, he broke the $60 trap trying to get out... Guess that's good luck for the rabbit and we're out sixty bucks...

I give up... :0(

Carrie

"Pulling up a soapbox.... Standing to face the crowd... "May I have your attention?">

I am a high school earth/environmental science teacher. We get calls about once a month what to do with X creature. We as residents of planet Earth need to remember one thing: the animals were here first. Doesn't matter if you believe in creation or evolution, the critters were here first!

Ok, critter class 101:

1) critters are looking for three things: food, shelter and a mate. Let's take care of the mate first. Unless you are the opposite sex and are giving off the right pheromones, responding with the right colors or the right dance pattern, sorry, they aren't interested.

2) shelter: We are bull dozing their homes. We are destroying their places to live faster than they can move. As some of the posts have said, critters serve a very useful purpose. Possum, coons, owls, snakes, etc. They all serve a purpose. They are all predators. They eat things that will and can hurt us. Europe eradicated one of the main predators of rats in the 15ht century and 1/3 of Europe was wiped out by a plague spread by rats.

Animals need a place to shelter. We need to leave green space in our neighborhoods for them to live. If we don't, they come to our garages, under our porches, under the pool, in our attics, in wood piles, etc. If you have a voice, encourage some green space in the neighborhood for the critters to live, or you will have them in your yard.

3) food: with disappearing shelter, there is disappearing food. Most predators also learn to adapt. We as a species are very wasteful with our food. We throw away about 1/3 of our food as a society. Animals are finding this out. Many cities are having more animals coming to the neighborhoods for the buffet. Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point are all large cities near me. This year, all three have had black bears in the cities this year alone. Why? They were knocking over trash cans. Possums are a common site in the cities now as well as all the others.

How do we discourage the feeding? simple: budget our food preparation better. Throw away less. It also helps our budget!

Ok, off my soapbox now.

Back to Winter sowing... and now for my question that I came today: I am new to WS and was wondering what do you do when seeds germinate too early? We have many high temperature days here in NC before the spring planting season. I can see many of my WS jugs start to grow and then, BOOM another cold snap. What do you do to help this situation?

The only in-town possum encounter I've had was when my father's tenant called to report one on the back porch roof next to the deck (where the tenant would leave food for the stray cats-gee, and she had a possun-duh!) We didn't want it to hang around-see previous posts regarding fleas & such-but we didn't want to hurt it. We started with trying to shoo it, no luck, proceeded to pouring water down the roof hoping that it wouldn't like it, but all we did was make it a little cleaner! Finally my husband found an abandoned football & tossed a perfect pass that Mr. Possum caught perfectly! He jumped off the roof, did a little roll & scampered off-no harm appearing to be done! After explaining to the tenant that cat food attracts more than cats (see "the skunk family"!) there was no more problem. Oh, but the NFL still hasn't called my husband!

agree with your post, markcase - but one thing I need to mention - I live on three wooded acres in a neighborhood with three or more acres for each house - There is a huge amount of land behind our house belonging to one person who may never develop it ;0)

So... I think they are coming to MY house because they like to eat what I am growing... especially the rabbits. I mean I see the rabbits coming from all the way from the back of my woods, cutting through all the brush and ending up in my flower beds. Is there no food they like amongst the wild that still surrounds our houses?

Anyway, I do feel sorry for the little critters, but I hate seeing my greens being eaten to the nub.

Carrie

Anyway, I do feel sorry for the little critters, but I hate seeing my greens being eaten to the nub.

Plant some wormwood around your gardens. That's what the companion plant books I'm reading tell me. It stinks, so it should work. I had three plants last year, but I think i got them in too late for them to come back this year.

token, I've heard of that BUT... you haven't seen the amount of garden borders I have (it's ridiculous).... I would have to plant at least 50 or 60 plants to cover part of the borders. Since wintersowing, I've opened up parts of my woods, made paths, etc. etc. with flowers overflowing all summer. It would be impossible to even fence all of my borders - My husband thinks I should plant lettuce here and there, but that's only good in the spring - and plus I always think that would attract more animals.

The only thing that ever works, but it's so expensive and annoying (when it rains), is grating soap all around the gardens.

This summer, I am going to try not to stress and whatever happens with the animals I'll just have to live with. Easier said than done... ;0/

Carrie

If you keep the door open so that it leaves during the early part of the evening and shut everything tight after it leaves it should find itself a new home shortly.Like most animals it's afraid of you and most likely will run if threatened,unless it's sick or rabid.I suggest giving your son a stick to poke it and keep a camcorder handy.
Gene

Mark, it's so good to see you over here on the WS forum!!! Dan hardly comes over here, so you don't have to share!!LOL!!
To answer the question, even with a freeze/thaw situation having the seedlings in a mini greenhouse should protect then from a drastic change in temp. They may have popped up now but shouldn't grow enough to do much damage. That said it depends on what they are and how much they've grown now. I'd try to keep them out of the sun and on the cool side until it's closer to spring(BTW when is your spring?)
And as for the possum, God doesn't make things for the heck of it! Once we had a possum hanging around our front yard eating duck eggs(we lived in the country at the time)not knowing his health status, and the fact that he kept comming back led to drastic measures :-( After he was gone we had duck eggs blowing up all over the front yard!!LOL!! lesson learned everything has a purpose!
Bakemom-thanks for not axing the possum!
Here is a funny possum picture
{{gwi:456535}}
-B

Thanks for the welcome. I have not tried the WS before and am intrigued.

Our spring is usually early April. The latest recorded frost is April 21 according to the airport.

I have not started anything yet. What can I WS? What veggies? I would like to try it. I have about 30 bottles stashed aside and ready to start. Can I do tomatoes? Peppers? Eggplant?

What flowers?

Any general advice would be appreciated.

Perhaps the funniest story I ever heard was the girl that brought home the Sylvester kitty cat. She got sprayed by a double striped skunk when she walked in the door. Happened over in High Point, about 20 miles from here!

Hey Mark. I'm just a little south of you in Albemarle. Glad to see some other locals.

You can do perennials and things that need stratification now. I'm planning to wait until March to sow any annuals or tender perennials. I'm going to do a few tomatoes then as well. The cukes, etc, I'll start in the cold frame.

Oh possum, schmassum! We have coyotes! Poor Spot got the bejeezus scared out of her... and DH almost wet his pants one night while walking. I warned him about those walks at night without her leash! But nooooo... does he listen? Didn't he figure that out the night the dog got skunked? Nooo... cause I had to bathe the silly mutt!

There's 3 dens of coyotes nearby and we're missing all but 1 or 2 feral cats in a colony that used to number at least a dozen. The squirrels are coming back, but I kind of wish we had a bunny or two. Yeah... so do the coyotes!

OK you guys! I would never dream of killing Polly. She's a sweet pea that I feed all year around and I see her now and then in the warmer weather. This is the first time I have seen her in the garage and being aggressive. I was startled by the teeth bareing and was concerned about rabies or distemper - distemper is a problem with racoons around here.

I imagine the problem is one of my own making, but she has lived out here for 10 years (or her progeny) with no problem. I was freaked we had a distemper problem. Even though my son's testicles have shot north and my artieries are now clear, I imagine that Polly is back in her den thankful that those nutty humans are inside where they can be contained.

OK, I definitely like possums.

The dogs were out in the big yard tonight and they must have surprised a possum.

We found it when they brought it to the back porch. It had a tiny little blood scratch on it but otherwise seemed fine - except for being passed out cold and drooling.

We think the dogs must have come across it, gone to investigate, and the possum quickly smiled, drooled, farted and fainted. Of course our dogs felt their Lassie instincts kick in and delivered it to the back porch.

It was starting to wake up so we stroked it gently with a snow shovel until it passed out again and then hoisted it out to the edge of the front yard. That way he'll be in a dog-free area the next time he wakes up and can wander off to the woods.

I am so glad that the dogs met a possum instead of a raccoon. Possums fart and faint and usually don't carry much chance of disease because their body temperature is not hospitable to many diseases. (Which makes sense for an animal who's job is garbage clean-up.)

If the dogs had met up with a raccoon we could be dealing with a variety of animal injuries right now - and at this hour around here that would mean a 75 mile drive to the emergency vet in Columbus. But Mr. Possum just got a scare, the gentlest relocation that two Rottweilers could provide, and a ride in the snow shovel. I bet he would have preferred a fancy Bakemom cat food dinner, though.

We just checked on him and he's wandered off. I'm glad he wasn't hurt.

Lynda

i had one in my bedroom this last summer. found him at 2 oclock in the morning. not a pretty sight.

Well.. I had one in my washing machine! yes... I was woken up around 2am one night by my fiancee'... he's from Canada and has never seen one of these lovely lil creatures.. anywho he wakes me up and says "Wendy.. I think there's a big rat in your washer." I probably looked at him like he was an alien and muttered much the same and he's like no really I'm SERIOUS!! So I grumble and mumble and crawl outta bed to go look. Imagine my surprise when I open the lid and see all those teeth!! WOW.. THAT woke me up REAL QUICK!!! Turns out he came in thru the dryer vent, guess cuz it was warm inside.. found his way up onto the dryer, then accidentally fell in the washer cuz the lid was up. It couldn't get out and by gosh I tried... I had a pillowcase and a spatula. (it was 2am gimme a break! lol) I warred with it a good while, and it hissed and snapped at me. I hissed and snapped back I'm pretty sure! lol Finally after about an hour I gave up.. stuck some full paint cans on top of the washer and went to bed. Called animal control the next morning and they came out with one of those sticks that noose around their necks, pulled it out and took it away to let it go somewhere far far away! Turns out the lil boogar left me a nice present for my troubles.. it had pooped ALL over the inside of my washer!!! UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

*NOT a fan of possummy creatures! :P
~Wendy

Came back to this thread to see if the 'creature' had been giving you more entertainment Bakemom since the posts were continuing. I ended up getting entertained by everyone's stories and my ribs are near breaking right now!!!!! What a hoot! :O) LOL!!

Thanks everyone for sharing your 'possum stories. I am LOL as well!
I saw my first possum last summer in this area. Haven't seen any since.

Of course, the year I lived in Florida, we had possum on the half shell: armadillo! They were a real problem. Got into the house, dug up the garden, everywhere! Glad they are not here in NC.

We had a distemper problem here in our land locked suburb and had the UAPD out with pistols. Our distemper raccoon got away, (can't be that sick) but I heard from neighbors that the problem continued with several shots fired. So, when I see Polly baring her teeth I think of my cats and get very protective.

I'm sure Polly is in her home in the front landscape and is snuggled down just fine.

Once when my kids were little my son came running outside and said Mommy there is a HUGH rat in your bedroom, now it being daylight I am thinking he just THINKS he sees something and it is the 'lighting' or something but NOOOO he INSISTED there is something in my bedroom.
MY fiancee is about to leave so I mozey my keyster in the house to my bedroom and GOOD GRIEF IT'S A POSSUM IN MY ROOM! And it is on my dresser at the moment.
I do a quick 180 and run out to chase SO down and tell him he better be getting his hinney in here to get this thing OUT of my bedroom.
He gets the broom and had removed the screen from the bedroom window HOPING it will jump out, but nope, it turns ever so slowly and WALKS back across the dresser, onto the windowsill, onto the headboard of my bed and disappears!
OMG WHERE DID THE CRITTER GO????
Albeit it was a baby BUT it WAS a possum none the less, turns out there is a hole in the floor under our bed the little critter crawled through to come in.
A mama possum had set-up a home underneath the mobile home and had actually gotten into the walls and maybe the ceiling too, I heard noises there ALL the time. I kept telling him SOMETHING BIG was in the walls, ceiling, FLOOR, under the trailer and HE always said it was stray cats I KNEW with the size of the sound I kept hearing it wasn't a cat!
At any rate when the baby possum made it's appearance he finally figured out that was the sound (the mama possum) I had been hearing, he patched the hole so no more would come in and when we moved out I am assuming mama possum and more babies lived there long after we did!

I am SOOOO glad I am not the only one who had a possum INSIDE their home! I just thought it was CREEPY!!! It was a cute little baby, but NOT IN MY BEDROOM! And it darn near terrified my son, he really thought it was a LARGE rat...poor kid, guess I would have too at 6 years old! He really wasn't far off either huh?

:) Fran

Do you know what armadillos are called in Texas?
Speed bumps
-B

That's an old joke and not too funny, to boot. Possums are generally gentle, agreeable creatures and the chance of one carrying rabies is nearly zero.

They love their catfood but a steady diet of only that can cause serious problems. High on their fave foods list are berries, apples, sunflower seeds, nuts, cherries, corn, peanut butter, and sweet rolls. Orange and dark green leafy veggies are very bad for them.

They're also big water drinkers - my mama possum will usually down close to a pint every evening. She and Mr. Possum are quite fond of macaroni & cheese but will pretty much clean up any leftovers; kind of like mobile garbage disposals.