what is the best way to kill all those fleas

[jyl]

Prevent possums from getting food in your yard. For the fruit trees, get roll of 1 foot wide sheet steel at hardware store, wrap around tree, fasten with staple or whatever - prevents possum from climbing. Remove all fallen fruit. Remove all other food. Is your yard fenced?

Drive off/kill any possum you see. Don't know what's feasible/legal in your neighborhood. If you are squeamish use traps or a service. Otherwise use a 22 rifle, pellet gun, wrist-rocket (slingshot), baseball bat or shovel.

Spray yard with insecticide for fleas.

Bathe and treat dogs, repeat as often as needed.

Flea bomb house if needed.

[sammyg2]

Obama likes fleas

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

We simply shoot the nasty little varmints around here.

How come it took until Page 3 to get this suggestion. 'Possums are, according my my observations, just great big rats. Stinky ones. If I could find a 'Possum herd and had enough ammunition and beer, I'd be happy to sit and blast the fukkers all afternoon. Kill 'em. Kill 'em all.

[rusnak]

Diazanon is simply not available anymore. Any living organism can live only within a specific set of circumstances. If you change the environment enough, those organisms cannot survive. Organic farmers know this and research what it takes to kill a specific pest. I think a soap solution may work, mixed with amonia. If you have tall grass, then cut it short. If you have loose bark, or plant clippings, then clean them out. The fleas will need shade, so elminate the shade by clearing debris.

Frontline plus will kill the fleas, eggs, and continue killing fleas and ticks for 3 months, and is the best stuff for your dogs. It is not cheap, period, but it is the best stuff. You may save some money buying it through a dog groomer rather than a vet.

The pesticides such as malathian will have a good chance of killing or seriously injuring a small dog. We had a 'possum around here, but I started feeding the stray cats, and they hung around long enough to kill the 'possum. I agree with shooting it, only because that way you know you got it, and you won't poison your own dog. The most effective way to kill the 'possum is to use a hot bait, or one that will kill it by thinning it's blood and attacking the internal organs. D-Con is a form of hot bait. It comes in a big bucket, and you put it where the dogs can't get at it, such as on a rafter or inside a large pipe.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Superman

How come it took until Page 3 to get this suggestion. 'Possums are, according my my observations, just great big rats. Stinky ones. If I could find a 'Possum herd and had enough ammunition and beer, I'd be happy to sit and blast the fukkers all afternoon. Kill 'em. Kill 'em all.

'Cause he lives in Kalifornia (Los Angeles, I believe). If he follows this advice, he most likely can be prosecuted for:

1) Cruelty to animals.
2) Killing a "protected" animal.
3) Discharging a firearm within city limits (I believe this applies to air rifles, too).
4) Hunting without a permit/license.

Etc., etc., etc.

Gotta love California...

[rusnak]

I believe he said he already shot (at) one, right? I laugh now at the stuff I used to shoot in the back yard. I once shot a gopher with a 12 gauge, a squirrel with a 9mm handgun, and many many many squirrels with a .22 ca rifle. I used to shoot BBs into a mayonaise jar in the front yard. Now, so many people have moved into the area that I can't even shoot the crossbow.

Just don't get caught and you'll be ok.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I believe he said he already shot (at) one, right? I laugh now at the stuff I used to shoot in the back yard. I once shot a gopher with a 12 gauge, a squirrel with a 9mm handgun, and many many many squirrels with a .22 ca rifle. I used to shoot BBs into a mayonaise jar in the front yard. Now, so many people have moved into the area that I can't even shoot the crossbow.

Just don't get caught and you'll be ok.

+1 for the crossbow. Swift, silent, deadly...

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by rnln

Thanks guys.

Alright, now I have several options, I will start with the easiest (and less cost) one first, I know Advantage is presciption required:

1- Look like malathion from Homedepot/Lowes on the yard and Frontline on the dog is the easiest way. Spray it every 7 days? Oh mine, I spray the stuff also from Home Depot, similar price, maybe 7 times a day for weeks already.
- I would AVOID malathion!

2- Peppermint Soap: where can I get it? Is it prescription required? What kind of percentages to mix it with (water?)?
- all Grocery stores have it here - ask for "Dr. Bronner's" - natural foods or health store if the grocery doesn't have it.
no prescription
- try 50/50 to start - soak everything good - they sell it by the gallon

Regarding the Benadryl, if the dog is only about 3 to 5 lbs, how much should I give them? 1/4 tab or need to be smaller?
- ask your vet. Be SURE to see your vet. Lay out your control program & discuss.

Again, thanks everyone.

I agree re cutting the grass, cleaning up debris etc.

Don't listen to the morons who say you can't kill possums in Calif. What you CANNOT do in any city, is discharge a firearm. Often they define pellet guns as firearms, but WHO is going to know? Just BE CAREFUL - a powerful pellet gun is quite dangerous, so be sure the pellet cannot travel into a neighbor's yard - you need to shoot down.

Cleaning up the habitat is the best. Never leave dog food etc. outside. Feed the dog inside only. Get rid of places a possum can shelter. Make sure the neighbors aren't harboring possums - now that ought to be illegal -- "harboring possums"

[slodave]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Don't listen to the morons who say you can't kill possums in Calif.

Excuse me? I'm a moron for telling rnln that it is AGAINST the LAW to kill an opossum.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Don't listen to the morons...

[rnln]

hohoho...

anyway, thank you much guys. I got more information than I can handle now. Don't worry Dave. I can't catch them anyway, and I understand that you just helped searching on someone else articles.
Again, thanks.

Originally Posted by slodave

Excuse me? I'm a moron for telling rnln that it is AGAINST the LAW to kill an opossum.

[EdT82SC]

It may be illegal, but IMO the only good possum is a dead possum. Do what you need to do. Getting rid of the possums is the only way you'll rid yourself of fleas. If you're not going to kill or relocate the possum then you need to figure out exactly where in your yard they are sleeping during the day. I took out the deck they were sleeping under. I still get possums visiting to eat avocados, but I've "dealt with" two of those, and haven't seen one in nearly a year. Good luck to you.

[EdT82SC]

[tabs]

Just send KevinP73 through your yard an when he leaves all your fleas will be gone....I think he would prefer the fleas to the "creeps" that I give him...

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Or run up on it quickly and when it balls up pick it up by the tail and put it in a box and take it several miles in the country and release it. It may look fierce but they are not agreesive and probably won't try to bite you.

Probably? You go first!

Originally Posted by slodave

[rusnak]

I have never seen a 'possum "play possum". They fight first and then retreat. The ones I saw had no fear whatsoever. Just shoot the damn thing and bury it.

[scottmandue]

Gunna buy me a shotgun and kill all the possums I seeee...

Gunna buy me a shotgun and kill all the possums I seeee...

When I kill all the possums I see...

Possum ain't gonna bother me...

Gunna buy me a shotgun and kill all the possums I seeee...

[scottmandue]

As a native Kalifurnian I have never heard of anyone being cited for running over a possum with their car...

Just sayin.

Late at night, a few avocados get left out in the street.

Accidents happen.

[tabs]

My Airedale used to grab those things and carry them around in her mouth...she thought they were great fun to catch. the next morning they were usually gone...with a few teeth marks for their reminder of my dog.

Now Skunks were something else she would go in and kill, especially after they pi$$ed her off by trying to spray her. With those I called animal control and they would come by at 2 AM to pick those things up. RABIES...

Rats were probably her favorite play toys...she could spend hours catching those. That dog was fking quick even at eight years.....Bam she would be on that thing...it never really had a chance. All you'd hear is a little yelp and that was it for the RAT.

If she got bored she would go after Birds and catch them.

Naturally the Cat that I had, had some nice dinners from the prey the dog would catch.

It has just been over one year that I have lost her, and have a new doggy doggy to love on..but I still miss her ornery ways.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I have never seen a possum "play possum". They fight first and then retreat. The ones I saw had no fear whatsoever. Just shoot the damn thing and bury it.

Bury it? You gotta be kidding! Why go through all that work? Why did the chicken cross the road? To show the possum it could be done. You think anybody will do an autopsy on a dead possum aside a lonely road? The Turkey vultures will appreciate the easy meal.