cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/44759758
been having car troubles (think the battery i warrantied and swapped got swapped for another dud 💀 checked for a parasitic draw and didn’t find one) and i discovered a critter in the car today. it’s alive but didn’t seem very enthusiastic about moving, i think it was probably sleeping. not sure how it survived in there in this heat, but whatever. might be an opossum?
any advice for getting it out of my car if it’s still there tomorrow? i’m a suburb baby, i’ve only heard of finding animals in your cars in myths and legends 💀 was thinking i would gear up from the waist down and poke it till it leaves with my umbrella, but i’d appreciate a more experienced perspective
Id just put on a nice thick glove and remove any nesting material, chances are the creature wont be home (if its an opposum try the evening, i think theyre crepescular) Also, if you keep killing batteries then I would check your alternator, they do wear out after a while.
Yeah. Wear them big gloves that go past your elbows, if you must. Possums in the US are just adorable trash goblins. Trap and release far away.
I read their body temp does not tolerate the rabies virus. I do not believe they prevent ticks, however
They eat the hell out of ticks.
That alone is reason enough for me to be very welcoming of them in my yard.
You don’t say where you are, but here’s some advice from thelegalguide.org
What To Do If A Possum Is On Your Property
If a possum is found inside a home or in a potentially dangerous situation, take a cautious, compliant approach. Do not attempt to capture or relocate the animal yourself. Contact local animal control, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, or a state wildlife agency for instruction. If the animal appears injured or ill, request professional assessment promptly.
Document the situation with clear notes and photographs if safe to do so. This information helps authorities determine the appropriate course of action and whether relocation is ever permissible in that jurisdiction.
oh interesting, i assumed animal control would have told me to go fuck myself
First figure out what it is. A rat? A raccoon? A snake? That’s the first step to keep yourself safe. After you know what it is, you’ll know if it is nocturnal or not. You’ll know what bait to use if you need to trap it. Further advice is futile until you know what it is.
the folks in !opossums@lemmy.world have a sticky post or something in the side bar.
Have you tried C4 explosives, and blowing up your car? Cover it in a layor of gasoline first if you want to start a big cool fire!
Bring marshmellows.
C4 burns very nicely by itself!
Lure it out with something smelly and tasty. Like tuna fish.
Play music really loud and scare it out. Then move it somewhere it can’t get back in.
This is where that 9mm is handy. A bit of brandishing is all it should take to scare them away. But if they should take a single step towards you, then you are cleared hot to empty the 17 round magazine, (you have one of those right?), into various parts of your car as long as you don’t hit the critter.
Good Luck!
The best thing to do would be to put a sugar cube in the gas tank and buy an electric scooter/bike. Maybe you can write it off with insurance too, but I suspect you’d have to then put a sugar cube in everyone else’s gas tank to claim vandalism. This way you stop contributing to the ongoing environmental collapse and provide a toehold for local wildlife that lived in your area before it was developed. Win-win!
