Possums can seem cute and harmless from a distance, but when they invade your garden or house, the situation changes. Many homeowners have expressed frustration at the persistent presence of these marsupials due to their annoying habits and the difficulty of eradicating them. Fortunately, there are various methods available for permanently eliminating possums from your home.
In this article, I’ll go over some of the best ways to get rid of possums for good, so you can return to a pest-free home and garden. You may rest assured that we have provided you with all the information you’ll need, from natural deterrents to humane traps, to get rid of possums for good.
Possums: What Are They?
The marsupials that make up the possum group are mostly found in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. They are known for their unique adaptations, such as a tail that can be grasped, thumbs that can move in opposite directions on their back feet, and a pouch for carrying their young.
When people in North America say “possum,” they usually mean the Virginia opossum, which is the only marsupial that lives in the United States and Canada. Virginia opossums are known for looking like rats and being able to “play dead” when they feel threatened. This means they fall over and stay still for a few minutes to scare away predators.
Possums eat a wide range of things, including plants, insects, small animals, and dead animals. Most of the time, they are most active at night, when it is dark. Possums are known for being flexible and tough, which can make them hard to control in some situations.
How Do You Get Rid Of Possums Permanently?
There are several options for long-term possum extermination, and the success of those options may vary based on the circumstances. Here are a few possibilities:
Remove Food Sources
To discourage possums from frequenting your property, it is important to eliminate any sources of food they could find enticing. Locking up your trash cans is the first step in eliminating potential food sources. Possums, being scavengers, frequently forage in garbage cans. Trash cans should have safe lids and be kept in a locked area, like a shed or garage.
Clean up any fallen fruit or nuts from trees in your yard and lock up your trash cans. Apples, pears, and berries are just some of the foods that possums enjoy munching on. Ensure that any ripe fruit from any trees in your yard is picked and properly disposed of.
Possums might be attracted to pet food left outside, so always clean up after your pets have done eating. Bring your pets’ bowls inside once they’ve finished eating if you feed them outside.
You can deter possums from sticking about your property and lessen the risk that they will cause damage or be a nuisance by removing their food sources.
Seal Off Entry Points
Possums can squeeze through very small openings, so you must take measures to prevent them from gaining access to your home or property. First, you should check the exterior of your house or other property for any holes or cracks that could be exploited. Possums frequently gain access to homes through broken windows, doors, and walls.
Caulk or expanding foam can be used to fill in any cracks around windows and walls. Wire mesh or hardware cloth can be used to cover larger apertures and block possums from entering. Possums can do significant structural damage by burrowing under your home, so it’s important to inspect the area around your foundation for any gaps or openings.
Possums can come into your home through vents and chimneys, therefore it’s necessary to cover these with netting or another barrier. Always keep an eye on these spots and fix the barriers if they get damaged.
Possums can be kept out of your house and yard, where they can do damage and be a nuisance if you take the time to seal off any potential entry sites.
Use Natural Deterrents
Keeping possums away from your property can be accomplished compassionately and efficiently with the help of natural deterrents. Possums are highly sensitive to smell, and they might be repulsed by strong odours. You can keep possums away with the use of several natural deterrents, such as:
Mothballs
Possums dislike the strong odour of mothballs, so placing them around the perimeter of your property or near areas where possums have been seen can deter them from coming back.
Ammonia
Soaking rags or cloths in ammonia and placing them around the perimeter of your property or near areas where possums have been seen can be effective in keeping possums away.
Pepper Spray
The active ingredient in pepper spray, capsaicin, can irritate a possum’s eyes and nose, causing them to avoid the area. Spraying pepper spray around the perimeter of your property or near areas where possums have been seen can help deter them from coming back.
Certain Plants
Possums do not like the smell of certain plants, such as lavender or eucalyptus. Planting these plants around the perimeter of your property or near areas where possums have been seen can help deter them from coming back.
Install Motion-Activated Sprinklers
One more successful method is to use motion-activated sprinklers to keep possums away from your yard. An infrared motion detector is wired into the sprinkler system to activate the system when people walk through the area.
The sprinklers’ sudden spray of water, activated by the motion detector, scares away the possums and discourages them from returning. Possums dislike being soaked, therefore spraying water in locations where they have been seen in the past deters them.
Sprinklers activated by motion sensors can be set up around the perimeter of your property or in specific locations where possums have been spotted. Not only does this technique not cause any harm to the possums, but it also encourages them to leave the area.
Use Humane Traps
Possum control can also be accomplished with the help of humane traps. Humane traps can help you securely remove the possums from your property without killing them in the process. See how they function below:
Choose A Location For The Trap
Choose an area where you have seen possum activity or where they are likely to pass through. This could be near their entry points, food sources, or in areas where they have left droppings or tracks.
Set Up The Trap
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to set up the trap. Generally, this involves placing bait inside the trap and setting the trap trigger.
Monitor The Trap
Check the trap regularly to see if you have caught a possum. If you do catch a possum, use gloves to carefully pick up the trap and relocate the possum to a suitable area, such as a wooded area away from residential areas.
It’s important to note that possums are protected in some areas, so check with your local authorities before trapping and relocating them. Additionally, it’s important to release possums at least 5 miles away from your property to prevent them from returning.
Conclusion
There are compassionate and practical methods for possum deterrence if they are a problem on your property. Possums can be deterred in several ways, including by removing potential food and water sources, blocking off access points, employing natural deterrents, setting up motion-activated sprinklers, and deploying humane traps.
Carefully consider your options and be patient if it takes some time before you see benefits from the strategy you chose. To keep things harmonious between you and the possums, it’s best to be proactive in keeping them away.
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