What is up with all the opossums?

[Hammer Handle]

Each fall, my dog kills 5-6 opossums in his large fenced in area. Why do they go in there and typically only in the fall? No, there is no dog food they are coming after. There is pine trees in the area though.

I was told due to global warming...they are getting more and more popular in MN. They typically only come out at night and hibernate in the winter...so are non seen too much...but they are there. They typically cannot handle cold winters even when they hibernate, but many mild winters in a row have moved many up north.

[Tippman]

I shot one two Decembers ago who's tail was completely frozen solid right up to its butt.

[Grant Pearson]

I've noticed a lot more possums, too. Especially when hunting at Carlos Avery. They're thick up there!! One night I accidentally ran over 2 in a quarter mile stretch!

[Eric Wettschreck]

Lots of em out there, that's for sure.

If your dog is getting into them, make sure you keep an eye on his dump. Possoms are nasty flea stricken critters that will give your dog worms.

I found out the hard way, more than once. Shoot them all.