I now realise that I have posted this in the wrong forum. Oh dear! I will put it down to tiredness although some will argue about that.

Cheers,
Dee.

Not to worry Dee, I don't know about possums eating dry dog food,
But I know lots of birds do the meat eating type maggies, butcherbirds.

But no I would not think possums would eat it as they are the fruit, flowers,
green type of food, herbivores thats that the word I am thinking of..
" We all have that problem " So it probably is mice or rats..Cheers...MM.

Thanks MM. I do know that it's not birds, because this is happening at night on a roofed patio. I too thought that possums only ate fruit etc. but wasn't totally sure. I guess I probably am looking at a rat....yuk!! I will make sure I take away the uneaten food and I will invest in a 'special little something' for the rat.

Cheers,
Dee.

The following paragraph is included in possum advice given by the web page linked below:
"Find out what is attracting the possum to your backyard. Perhaps there is a ready food supply (eg dog food, fruit trees, vegetable or ornamental garden, compost bin, birdseed left on a bird feeding tray)."

Here is a link that might be useful: Parks Web - Biodiversity

Well, how about that!! Thanks Jan. The little possum was out on the fence last night, right near the dog food. I watched for ages but I think he knew I was there and wouldn't come down.

Anyway, we won't leave the food there for him to eat anymore, it drives the dog crazy! I reckon my husband is overfeeding her, so we'll cut back and see how we go.

Cheers,
Dee.

So glad you have that mystery solved Dee and thats good to know for other Members
Specially if they are having the same problem...Well done Jan I would never had guessed.
Cheers..MM.

my brothers possums (south coast NSW) eat dog and cat biscuits - and just about anything else left out and not nailed down.

Feed your possum - you'll have a great garden visitor to show friends and rellies

Tongue in Cheek
Here we have possum pies, not that I have or would eat one.
There has been talk of turning them into canned dog food.
Heather

Hi Heather,

Much as I love our possums, I do appreciate what a feral nuisance they have become in N.Z. Perhaps the dog food is not such a silly idea. I'm not so sure about the possum pie though!

Cheers,
Dee.

I was in a knitting wool shop the other day and spotted some possum/merino blend. It contained 30% possum fur. I asked in any possums were killed in the making of the yarn, and was informed that Yes, they were. It is a NZ product and a small answer to their enormous feral possum problem. I'm all for it and hope they put the leather to good use too.

The commentator for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony said the possum cloaks worn by the Aboriginal women were made from NZ not Australian possums. Like Dee I love them but understand they're a problem in NZ. I've seen possum/wool socks and beanies from NZ in the shops.