in one of my traps so i kept it since it looked sort of unusual. I thought it was special but my mom said it might just be old?

I usually feel sorry for possums though on account of their looks and turn them loose if possible.

Plinker

They've been around for many thousands of years ,a real survivor.Can carry rabies.Will eat just about anything.

Yeah, i know, but i was wondering if anyone knows how common it is for them to be allmost completely white and if that is a color variation or if it is because it is an old one.

Penny

My guess is you are correct--the older ones tend to get lighter in color. Certainly the younger ones seem darker.

I've seen quite a few over the years that were almost solid white in color. It's not rare.

I shouldn't have skinned the greasy old thing, then. Oh well.

Plinker

Plinker,

Have it tanned, possum fur is so beautiful, for such an ugly animal! I have some pelts and plan to make a set of comfy ear muffs out of them.

Make a useful project out of yours, heck, winter I am sure brings some cold wind your way.

That is a good idea. Have it tanned. Maybe a set of ATV mitts, too would have to have a pattern though.

Plinker

Plinker,

Possum are one of the prettiest furs once cleaned & brushed. The skin is very fragile though - thin as paper like rabbit. Getting all the fat and flesh scrapped off without tearing the hide is a chore. The worst part is the SMELL. Can't stand that sort of sweet greasy odor any more. In the early eighties the Koreans were buying them up at crazy prices - I skinned ever one I could get my hands on.

Sounds like you're starting out pretty much on your own. Try the WV Trappers Assoc. for some guidance if I'm right. http://www.wvtrappers.com/

quote:

Originally posted by mete:
They've been around for many thousands of years ,a real survivor.Can carry rabies.Will eat just about anything.

I know they are a die-hard animal.Every time I think of what happened to one I feel really bad.I caught one in a conibare 220.I checked the trap before going to work one morning and caught a possum.It was close to the house so I thought I would take care of it when I got home.It was caught through the head and the gut area.I thought it was dead.But when I got home and went to empty the trap the poor thing was still moving.I dont know why I am even telling this story.

quote:

I dont know why I am even telling this story.

NEITHER DO I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're telling about it will help other people realize how hard they are to kill, and that is important. Thanks.

Plinker

MDMike & Plinker,

Please allow me to explain my previous comment on Mike's story. I did not mean to admonish him or offend anyone.

Trapping is under constant attack by the animal rights people. It is perhaps the most vulnerable of all "consumptive sports" due to the small number of practitioners and the misunderstanding of the practices. Mike's story about not removing the possum till afternoon could be fertile ground for any of them reading this to use as "proof" that trappers let animals suffer long hours.

That of course is not the case but the same story repeated to someone who doesn't understand trapping or that only in exceptional circumstances could that possum have survived, would only see that it was in the trap longer than necessary. If trapping is to survive we MUST be careful what we say and how we say it in an open, public forum such as this. This same caution goes for hunting, farming or any other "use" of animals. I've spent many hours over many years as an advocate for the outdoor sports including trapping. One such statement repeated out of context or to the wrong people could be devistating to that cause. A cause that is on very thin ice in Maryland particularly.

I never even thought about being (careful).I guess you dont know who might be reading this.

I know why I told the story.I learned a lesson.Its a lesson that I hope nobody else has to learn.