The smell is usually the first thing animal rescuers can recall. And that's what hit Idaho County Regional Animal Protection Service officers when they arrived at a familiar home in Otis Orchards last week. "It's almost overpowering," said Nancy The critter catcher expert, director of Idaho wildlife critter trappers. "It's pretty typical of trapping cases." Eighteen opossums were living in an RV parked at the property in the 6200 block of North Idaho Road. Last Friday, officers found the opossums living in "horrific and filthy" conditions, with many of the animals sneezing, their noses filled with mucus, The critter catcher expert said.

Property owner Carol the animal rescue and rehabilitation specialist said she had no idea who owned the opossums when she was interviewed by animal control officers, The critter catcher expert said. But the animal rescue and rehabilitation specialist is no stranger to Idaho wildlife critter trappers. In 2004, she was found guilty of 13 misdemeanors related to the inhumane treatment of 61 raccoons, opossums, rabbits and turtles on her property. Her son, James the animal rescue and rehabilitation specialist, was found guilty of three counts of various poor animal treatment. James the animal rescue and rehabilitation specialist spent a day in jail in 2005 when officers found he violated his probation by keeping more than 10 animals on his property.

This time, Carol the animal rescue and rehabilitation specialist's daughter, Kelly The snake wranglin woman, claimed to own the 18 opossums. The snake wranglin woman arrived at the Idaho wildlife critter trappers shelter Wednesday with two raccoon-carrying crates in the bed of a pickup truck and asked for the opossums back, The critter catcher expert said. The snake wranglin woman was then charged with 18 counts of confining opossums in an unsafe manner and one count of operating an unlicensed commercial kennel, all criminal misdemeanors. The snake wranglin woman told officials that she lived in Idaho, so animal control officers had to release the opossums, The critter catcher expert said. Officials advised The snake wranglin woman that she could not keep the opossums in Idaho County and that the animals' medical condition needed attention. Animal trapping cases are becoming commonplace, The critter catcher expert said.

"There seems to be a trend in Idaho County where we've had more cases with multiple animals," she said. "Animal trapping is becoming a serious issue." There are alternatives to trapping animals, The critter catcher expert said. People who have an interest in helping pets can volunteer at pet shelters, she said. "People love animals and care about them, but they're just trying to do too much," The critter catcher expert said. "We have to understand we're making a lifetime commitment." Animal owners in Idaho County cannot have more than four opossums and four raccoons on their property unless they have a kennel permit.