Didn't take long

We had our first critter volunteer to try out the new critter box. An opossum had apparently been prowling around the chicken coop and was caught in the traps set for the raccoons. That is fine. I have no problem with opossums, but what a great opportunity.

I loaded him into the critter box and attached the box to the end of a short run of go to ground tunnel. I loaded some dirt into the tunnel (dogs gotta get used to digging) and brought Gordon out to check it out.

The critter cage is separated from the run by some half inch hardware cloth. It didn't take long for Gordon to run down the tunnel and start whining at the opossum. Whining is okay - I was hoping for more. I offered encouragement.

Gordon started biting a bit on the hardware cloth. Good, good.

Then he backed off a bit, as if to consider the situation, and started barking.

Perfect.

It wasn't a deep bay, but more high pitched. He wasn't lunging or attacking, only intimidating. I removed the hardware cloth to see what Gordon would do. It didn't seem like he had any desire to engage the opossum.

I was right.

The two stood face to face, Gordon sounding off, just like he is supposed to. He didn't stop until I removed the critter. Gordon tumbled out of the tunnel, tongue out and smiling. Good dog.






I separated the two new friends and then the opossum was released unharmed.