Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: biggraham610 on September 10, 2014, 08:58:00 PM

Title: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: biggraham610 on September 10, 2014, 08:58:00 PM
just asking because when I was going thru my hives today one was smokin hot. Never has been before and my dog had a possum backed up to a stump before light a couple mornings ago when I let him out before work. I had the 22 pistol when I went to see what it was, should have shot it but didnt feel like dealing with it at 5 am. But, I think now he might get whacked. Anyone have any idea, I assume they will harass a hive like a skunk. G :chop:
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: iddee on September 10, 2014, 10:36:06 PM
I have possums in my compost pile all the time. Never seen any sign of one around my hives.
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: sterling on September 10, 2014, 11:44:49 PM
I have had two different possum bother my hives. They are good baked with sweet taters around um.
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: BlueBee on September 11, 2014, 04:54:56 AM
Sterling I might have to cancel my lunch plans. :-D  You don't seriously eat those things do you?

Have not seen possums messing with my hives, but the skunks sure do.
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: sterling on September 11, 2014, 10:27:26 AM
Quote from: BlueBee on September 11, 2014, 04:54:56 AM
Sterling I might have to cancel my lunch plans. :-D  You don't seriously eat those things do you?

Have not seen possums messing with my hives, but the skunks sure do.


no I don't eat em but I had something scratching the landing boards a few years ago and thought it was skunks because I have alot of skunks around the place where the hives are. So I set traps caught two possums carried em off and scratching stoped. The skunks are still there and go around the hives alot and eat the dead bees in front of the hives but don't bother the hives.
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 11, 2014, 01:16:43 PM
Quote from: sterling on September 11, 2014, 10:27:26 AM
Quote from: BlueBee on September 11, 2014, 04:54:56 AM
Sterling I might have to cancel my lunch plans. :-D  You don't seriously eat those things do you?

Have not seen possums messing with my hives, but the skunks sure do.


no I don't eat em but I had something scratching the landing boards a few years ago and thought it was skunks because I have alot of skunks around the place where the hives are. So I set traps caught two possums carried em off and scratching stoped. The skunks are still there and go around the hives alot and eat the dead bees in front of the hives but don't bother the hives.
Probably because you have the hives off the ground and the bees know how to get to those tender spots. Is that correct, are they off the ground?
Jim
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: sterling on September 11, 2014, 05:00:05 PM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on September 11, 2014, 01:16:43 PM
Quote from: sterling on September 11, 2014, 10:27:26 AM
Quote from: BlueBee on September 11, 2014, 04:54:56 AM
Sterling I might have to cancel my lunch plans. :-D  You don't seriously eat those things do you?

Have not seen possums messing with my hives, but the skunks sure do.


no I don't eat em but I had something scratching the landing boards a few years ago and thought it was skunks because I have alot of skunks around the place where the hives are. So I set traps caught two possums carried em off and scratching stoped. The skunks are still there and go around the hives alot and eat the dead bees in front of the hives but don't bother the hives.
Probably because you have the hives off the ground and the bees know how to get to those tender spots. Is that correct, are they off the ground?
Jim

Yea, I have the hives about a foot off the ground. I had one skunk a couple years ago that would come by about every day and clean up in front of the hives. I would watch him and never saw him bother the hives. Had another momma skunk with four little stinkers come out once in a while and browse around the hives but wouldn't bother them either. Also had a momma skunk raise a liter of babies under the floor of the feed room at the barn one year and didn't have any mice that year.
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: SCPossum on September 16, 2014, 12:45:20 AM
Quote from: biggraham610 on September 10, 2014, 08:58:00 PM
just asking because when I was going thru my hives today one was smokin hot. Never has been before and my dog had a possum backed up to a stump before light a couple mornings ago when I let him out before work. I had the 22 pistol when I went to see what it was, should have shot it but didnt feel like dealing with it at 5 am. But, I think now he might get whacked. Anyone have any idea, I assume they will harass a hive like a skunk. G :chop:

Hey!  Go easy on the kinfolk.
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: AllenF on September 16, 2014, 09:55:41 PM
I have run oil trays on some of my hives a few years back.  After a while, the trays would be pulled out.  Coons getting free meal I figured.   Too many hives now for oil trays. 
Title: Re: Possum, hive harasser?
Post by: biggraham610 on September 17, 2014, 01:27:32 PM
Quote from: SCPossum on September 16, 2014, 12:45:20 AM
Quote from: biggraham610 on September 10, 2014, 08:58:00 PM
just asking because when I was going thru my hives today one was smokin hot. Never has been before and my dog had a possum backed up to a stump before light a couple mornings ago when I let him out before work. I had the 22 pistol when I went to see what it was, should have shot it but didnt feel like dealing with it at 5 am. But, I think now he might get whacked. Anyone have any idea, I assume they will harass a hive like a skunk. G :chop:

Hey!  Go easy on the kinfolk.
[/ :lau:quote]