Opossum problem

[Rodni73]

Today while inspecting my two new hives in the yard.... I noticed something odd infront of one of them:

Three small dried pieces of Feces that is entirely made up of digested bees...!

Two weeks ago I saw an Opossum in my yeard and I made a lot of noises to scare it away and it did. I thought it was the end of it.  Well my theory is
this animal has been coming up at night scrashing the landing board and when my guard bees come out to investigate he eats them! I have a mouse guard on both hives and we have no skunks in our area.

I do not know what to do.... Any idea and is this threat serious to warrant an intervension?

Thank you
-Rodni

[Doby45]

Bust a cap in the possum, problem solved.  :-D

[1reb]

Doby45 is right

Johnny

[MustbeeNuts]

ditto,

[G3farms]

Like I tell people................a box of 22 shells is awful cheap.

G3

[JP]

Kill them all or be killed! Warning, gruesome video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvWPIvU2vxI


...JP :shock: :shock: :shock: :-D

[bailey]

pellet rifles work wonders on the critters! ( nice and quiet ) :evil:
bailey

[WOB419]

If you trap him then you have the opportunity to fatten him up before you eat him. :-D

[contactme_11]

Bust a cap in the possum, problem solved.  :-D

+1. Opossums are habit animals, the follow the same path every night. You need to remove him before he chews a hole into the hive bodies.

[jimmyo]

Does bee-fed possum taste like honey?
our hives are 2 concrete blocks off the ground so the varmints have to expose their belly to the hive so they can feed. sometimes other beekeepers make a 1/2 inch mesh ramp from the ground to the hive so the varmint cant lay it's belly on the ground to feed. holding the belly to the ground protects it from getting stung while eating.
 I've also heard of placing a board with nails in it in front of the entrance.  
Jim  

[asprince]

I vote for "lead poisoning".

Steve

[iddee]

Devil's advocate here.

Find the skunk that is getting your bees and leave the poor possum alone. I have a possum that travels across the yard in front of my hives every night and has never stopped at the hives.