Skunks and Opossums

Hello All,

I have had three skunk jobs this week. In all three cases opossums were living under the shed,house and trailer as the skunks.

Is this common?

Thanks

Chuck

I'm going to say yes Trying to catch coons in this old barn. There are at least 4 den holes in this barns floor. Skunks, opposum coon and feral cats have all been taken in here

They show no aggression toward each other in here. Except of course the dang cats

The opossums that cohabitate a structure with coons, especially springtime coons are usually pretty rough looking possums.

Chewed off tails, ears, open festered bite wounds, etc.

Skunks and opossums are frequently caught together here. Opossums don't seem to strike terror in anyone's heart.

Pretty much over here too...matter of fact , right after I caught my first skunk,next came an opossum that smelled like a skunk...

I catch may opossums when targeting skunks, although last week I set for skunks, caught 1 the first night. Caught a woodchuck the next. Then another skunk, then an opossum.

most of the time skunks, coons and definitely grinners are what I call circuit animals, unless it is a female with young in the den, so yes all 3 will use the same dens. and they do not know when each other is there as in that pic above. Plus when we are talking groundhog dens I think at least 2 of them can be down there and not be in the same spot as the groundhogs make a maze of tunnels down there. I found this out when we used dogs down in the tunnels to get the groundhogs.

Wow CT. has groundhogs out!!! We still have a foot of snow on the ground!


Chuck

Keith seems to have everything out in his location (while I sit on my thumbs). Earliest I've ever caught one was 3/13/12. Haven't seen any sign of them in my area yet.

Sharing a shelter site, with or without den holes is very common to all short legged species. Particularly if there is any stored junk, equipment, hay etc. This kind of habitat sanctuary is a magnet for wildlife of many kinds. Ground hogs like beaver create great opportunity habitat for wandering nomadic animals/wildlife as well as seasonal occupants.

Kind of like low to no income housing units. Lots of variety living there. Some move out while others move in once they are evicted or shot.

Underground crack houses for varmints.

I've caught lots of possums that smell like skunks.

I caught a possum in a skunk set, in December, that when I saw it at a distance I thought it was a skunk. It had a white head with a white strip down its back. The skunk I caught the day before in the same trap, sprayed before I got there.

Maybe the possum caused the skunk to spray.

I caught an opossum that had eaten an entire skunk, scent glands and all. I looked under this overhanging closet and he was standing

on this fresh skunk hide, licking his lips and giving me his famous possum grin. I keep wondering if he shoved cotton in his nose.

Will a possum eat a hibernating ground hog Or is that an old wives tale

Kermit, I'm pretty sure opossums like their meals well-done. I think a hibernating woodchuck would be considered extra-rare.

yes in WA also.....

I had 3 jobs this winter, skunk smell under structure. Caught 1 grinner on a positive set at 1 location and nothing at the other 2. Question is would grinners predate skunks when their hibernating?

I believe that neither skunks nor opossum are true hibernators, but just like a fat raccoon, they can curl up and sleep for an

awfully long time. Opossum are a more southern animal, so I guess they would sleep first.

I Think they fight and that is why there is spaying