Piggy Possums- HELP!

This quote probably explains why:

Granny: Elly May done popped the buttons off her shirt again.
Jed Clampett: Elly May carries herself proud with her shoulders throwed back.
Granny: It ain't her shoulders that have been poppin' these buttons.

This is the thing about this forum, we digress from Possums to Elle Mays body, some fun and sharing of our knowledge, whether it be vast or minor, I call it friendship in Cyberspace with a capital F.

@ Dave

Never can have too much of either fun or friendship Roseman!

Here I was having a giggle at you guys yesterday, but today I'm steaming! This morning I discovered my newly planted roses, that were shooting so well and looked so healthy, all chomped up! Few scattered leaves around. As I'm in downtown suburbia, it could only be possums, which we have many of, brush-tailed and ringtails. They have never bothered with my roses before. I could just scream!!!!

Nice young fresh feed will bring them every time. We have friends that live in Vic, Mt Waverly and Glen Waverly and another not far from there, name escapes at present, all have that problem, mainly Glen Waverly, so I guess they are fairly common.

I spoke to Ma on the phone last night (life-long garden nut), she suggests dusting on and around plants with fine pepper. I guess if it doesn't deter them at least we will be alerted by the sneezing!

Thanks lildeb, I'll definitely try that! Would the pepper burn the young leaves (what's left of them). I kept sending the dogs out to rustle off any interlopers, but I'll be blowed if I'm going to watch all night. Last night they came back for seconds! They haven't touched my established roses funnily enough, even though they also have young tender foliage. They have never bothered any of my roses before. Very frustrating!

if the pepper doesn't do the trick, give them a irresitable meal of very hot chillies.....

Thanks Neptune, I've heard of chillies. Do you just cut up some fresh and smear it on? Doesn't burn the leaves?

won't burn the leaves as it is organic. As I said make up an appealing meal for it with the hot chillies, so they will take it but won't come back......

I hope it gives them a godawful stomach ache. Ma Clampett had the right idea, bet she would have used the chillies in the stew to balance that gamey flavour.

@ Neptune