Possum How To Get Rid Of
Possum How To Get Rid Of Them Safely and Humanely
If you've noticed strange noises in your attic, knocked-over garbage cans, or mysterious paw prints around your yard, chances are you have an uninvited guest: the opossum. While these marsupials look cute from a distance, they can quickly become a nuisance, causing damage and spreading messes.
Don't worry, getting rid of opossums doesn't have to involve harsh methods. Our comprehensive guide will walk you through the most effective and humane ways to tackle the problem. We will focus primarily on prevention and eviction so you can finally figure out Possum How To Get Rid Of this persistent visitor for good.
Understanding Your Possum Problem
Before jumping into removal tactics, it helps to understand why opossums choose your yard or home. Possums are opportunistic scavengers looking for three main things: food, water, and shelter. They are typically nocturnal and highly adaptable, meaning suburban environments are perfect hunting grounds.
One positive note: Possums are incredibly resistant to rabies and they eat thousands of ticks! However, their downsides often outweigh these benefits when they start sleeping in your crawl space or tearing up your garden.
Understanding their motives helps us eliminate the attractants that bring them around in the first place. Therefore, deterrence is always the first and best line of defense.
Implementing Proactive Possum Prevention
The core philosophy of successful possum management is making your property as uninviting as possible. If they can't find a free meal or a cozy bed, they will move on quickly. These preventative steps are crucial if you want to know Possum How To Get Rid Of the issue long-term, rather than just temporarily relocating them.
Prevention involves two main strategies: eliminating food sources and securing potential dens.
Securing All Available Food Sources
Opossums are not picky eaters. They will happily consume fallen fruit, pet food, and whatever scraps they can find in your trash. Removing these buffet options is often enough to send them packing.
Follow these specific steps to cut off their dining options:
- Secure Trash Cans: Use heavy-duty cans with locking lids or bungee cords. Never leave garbage bags outside overnight if you can help it.
- Control Pet Food: Bring pet food dishes indoors, especially at night. If you must feed pets outside, ensure they finish all their food immediately and store the remaining kibble inside.
- Manage Fruit and Berries: If you have fruit trees, pick up all fallen fruit promptly. Fermenting fruit on the ground is a major possum magnet.
- Protect Gardens: Install low electric fencing (often used for rabbits) or secure netting around valuable vegetable patches.
- Limit Water Access: Repair any leaky outdoor faucets or sources of standing water, as possums need hydration too.
Consistency is key here. Even a single night of easy access can convince a possum your property is worth sticking around for.
Possum-Proofing the Perimeter of Your Home
After finding food, the possum's next priority is finding safe, dry shelter. Attics, crawlspaces, under porches, and shed foundations are prime real estate for them, particularly during nesting season.
To block entry, you need to conduct a thorough exterior inspection. Look for holes, gaps, and easy access points:
- Seal all holes, cracks, and gaps in foundations, particularly those wider than three inches. Use heavy-gauge wire mesh or concrete to block access.
- Secure the perimeter of decks and sheds by installing wire mesh or lattice that extends at least six inches underground (to prevent digging).
- Ensure attic vents, soffits, and chimneys are properly covered with durable mesh screening.
- Trim back any tree branches that hang near the roofline, as possums are excellent climbers and use these branches as access bridges.
If you suspect a possum is already inside an area like a shed or under a porch, do not seal the entrance immediately. Wait until nightfall when they have left to forage, or use the "flour trick" to confirm they are out before blocking the hole.
Safe and Humane Removal Tactics
What if prevention failed, and you currently have a possum squatting in your home? Your goal now shifts to safe and humane eviction. Remember, possums are generally timid and non-aggressive. We want to encourage them to leave, not harm them.
These tactics help answer the direct question of Possum How To Get Rid Of them without conflict.
Considerations for Live Trapping
Live trapping is generally considered a last resort and often requires checking local laws, as relocation rules vary widely. If you choose this method, use a medium to large cage trap.
Bait the trap with something appealing but not attractive to domestic animals, such as canned cat food, fruit slices, or peanut butter spread on bread. Place the trap near the suspected den entrance.
A crucial warning: never relocate a trapped possum more than a few miles away. Many wildlife experts recommend against trapping unless absolutely necessary because relocation is stressful for the animal and often illegal. Furthermore, if you trap a female possum, you risk leaving her vulnerable young behind to starve in your attic or wall space.
Utilizing Effective Humane Deterrents
Instead of trapping, using deterrents to make the area uncomfortable is highly effective. Possums are sensitive to strong smells, bright lights, and loud noises. If they believe the shelter is no longer safe or quiet, they will seek alternative accommodation.
Try these methods:
- Bright Lights: Install motion-activated floodlights near their entry point. Since possums are nocturnal, a sudden flash of light usually frightens them away.
- Strong Smells: Apply ammonia-soaked rags near the den entrance. Possums dislike the smell of strong chemicals or predators. Cayenne pepper sprinkled in garden areas can also discourage them.
- Radios/Noise: If they are in an enclosed space (like an attic), placing a small radio tuned to an all-talk station can make the area seem populated and dangerous.
- Physical Eviction: If you know the den location, gently place crumpled newspaper or rags soaked with deterrent smells into the area during the day. This encourages them to leave at night.
Once you are absolutely certain the possum has vacated the premises, immediately seal the entrance point to prevent re-entry.
When to Call a Wildlife Professional
Sometimes, the possum situation is too complex for DIY methods. Knowing when to step back and call for assistance is essential for both your safety and the humane treatment of the animal.
You should contact a licensed professional pest control or wildlife removal service if any of the following situations apply:
- The possum is trapped inside a wall or chimney flue, requiring structural knowledge to remove.
- You find a deceased possum on your property (proper disposal is necessary).
- You discover an injured or visibly sick possum. Never handle a sick animal yourself.
- You suspect a large family or nesting activity, especially if young possums are involved, as special care must be taken.
- The possum exhibits unusual behavior, suggesting illness or injury.
Professionals are equipped to handle removal according to state regulations and can also provide guaranteed exclusion services, ensuring the problem doesn't return immediately.
Conclusion
Dealing with a possum problem requires patience and a humane approach. The most effective way to address the question of Possum How To Get Rid Of them involves proactive measures: securing your food sources and thoroughly possum-proofing your home's perimeter.
By removing the incentive—easy meals and secure shelter—you encourage them to find a safer place to live naturally. If you must evict a current resident, utilize bright lights and loud noises before considering trapping. Stay consistent with your preventative maintenance, and soon, your yard will be possum-free.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Possum Removal
- Can I use mothballs to deter possums?
- While some people use mothballs, they are generally ineffective and can be toxic to pets and children. Strong, natural deterrents like vinegar or ammonia are safer options, though preventing access is always best.
- Are possums dangerous to my pets?
- Opossums are very docile. When threatened, their main defense mechanism is "playing possum" (feigning death). They rarely attack pets, but they may steal pet food and can potentially carry parasites, so vigilance is needed.
- What time of day do possums usually leave their dens?
- Possums are primarily nocturnal. They usually start leaving their dens shortly after sunset and return before sunrise. This is the ideal window to seal up entry points once you confirm they are gone.
- Will an opossum stay in my yard if I scare it away?
- Opossums are transient animals unless they find a steady food source and secure shelter. If you scare it away and eliminate the attractants, it is highly unlikely to linger in the area.
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