Joset

just so you know raccoon ruin more trees and buildings than other animals
i personal myself would shoot it. sorry i know that seems mean but we have
many around here every year they are destructive little devils cute but destructive.

Roberta

Happy to say my critter in the willow tree has left for a more comfortable perch. We don't have bears in the part of Maine I live, at least I don't think we do. We also don't have possum in my neck of the woods, too cold I think.

From now on when I'm doing yard work I'm make sure to look up before I begin. I wasn't afraid to hit the tree with a downed small branch because I made sure to step out of the way when I did. Two of my dogs years ago got a mouthful of quills in their mouth and snout that had to be removed by a vet who had to tranquilize them first. I sure don't want to go that route again.

All's well that ends well I say and how that not so little guy or gal managed to stay on that tiny little branch is beyond me :-)

Roberta

I could never shoot them but I've harbored the thought when three of them come up onto the deck each night and raid my birdfeeders.

ManiacQuilter2

Out here in southern California, I have had to deal with skunks, possum and racoons. Skunks I don't think climb tree and you want to back away carefully from them. Possum look like a giant rat with a long tail. When we had one removed from a storage shed, they do act dead as the animal control personal brought it out by holding it's tail. Racoons can move very quickly and are the nastiest of the three. They have a distinctive fluffy furry body with a very pointed nose. Couldn't believe it but they move as fast as cats running along the top of fencing.

IBQUILTIN

probably raccoon, don't put out any kind of feed and keep the pups in at night. They are nocturnal and very destructive

KarenSimon

How about a coatimundi? We see them in the wild around Tucson.

running1

One also must be very careful about disturbing wild animals. If they are rabid or sick in any way, their behavior can be very unpredictable and, yes, they can be nasty, in several senses! It is best to let professionals remove wild animals if at all possible. And not all possums will "play dead" when approached... many will snarl and bare very sharp teeth, especially when defending young. They are common carriers of rabies, too. Be careful!!!

jetayre

if it is a porcupine then it can climb but it is slower than a coon. porcupines smell bad too. They also have quills an they are not to be messed with. Google a picture of each on the internet and you will have your answer. Porcupines can do a lot of damage to cars. They like to chew on brake linings etc.