Lovely isn't it Stu? Same thing has happened around here. Many do-gooders have thought it would be a good idea to bring certain animals into this area. Now, along the Kentucky line, not too far from here, there is an over abundance of elk. Oh yeah, and this morning around 3 AM, I came within a gnat's **** of making a nice red fox into a hood ornament.

 

When searched, this seems to be a recurring theme:

Can opossums get rabies?

It's extremely rare for an opossum to be rabid. In fact, opossums are the least likely of any wild animal to have a disease. Scientists say this may have to do with their body temperature, which is lower than most other mammals, making it difficult for viruses to survive.

If you see an opossum out in daytime, he may be fleeing a predator. Or perhaps his den was destroyed. He may have been flushed from his den by pets or people The most likely reason is that the opossum is a mother forced into the sunlight by hunger because of the extra nutritional requirements of feeding the babies in her pouch. If it’s winter, scarcity of food may force opossums to extend their search into the daytime. (Opossums don’t hibernate.)

However, if you do get scratched or bitten, be sure to see a physician immediately. It's best to play it safe by undergoing a series of rabies vaccinations. (The injections go into the upper arm and are no more painful than a flu shot.)

 

Opossums are marsupials.

 

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yeah, I know, but I didn't feel the need to check the dead one's pocket.

 

Get a female boxer. She'll kill it. She'll try to kill anything she doesn't like. Been there, done that. Mother-in-law's 7-year-old female boxer took out a possum that was almost as big as she was. In less than 2 minutes.

Cleaning the dog wasn't fun for her grandson though My brother-in-law's female boxer tried to kill a porcupine. No matter what, she wouldn't give up until she couldn't stand anymore.

I guess it would be easier to hit it with a shovel

If it were me, I would have found a way to shoo it, trap it or otherwise make sure it lived. I don't see killing wildlife as a good thing when it's just an inconvenience Much like most animals, leave them alone, they'll find their own way out.

Possums in particular, when threatened tend to just stand there (playing possum). But once the threat is removed, they move on because they don't need the grief. That's probably why when the dog threatened it, it didn't move. It was PLAYING POSSUM!

 

Could be worse!
We not only have an opossum that wanders through the yard at night, there are also numerous deer....both bucks and doe.......as well as rabbits, squirrels.....etc...

The deer collect in my front yard under a sweetgum tree for some reason...anywhere from 5 to 6 animals. There is one young buck that's missing an antler that walks through the yard almost on a daily basis!

 

I think a lot of people would be shocked at how much wildlife moves through their yards, especially those who live in the city.