How To Get Rid of Possums
How to get rid of possums , often referred to as opossums, are nocturnal creatures that scavenge for insects, small rodents, and plants. However, they are also attracted to large compost heaps, trash bins, and garden plants.
If you’re interested in learning how to get rid of possums from your backyard, this guide will help you detect opossums and suggest tips to keep them away. Additionally, you’ll discover tips for preventing opossum infestations.
Possum vs. Opossum
The words “possum” and “opossum” are often used interchangeably to refer to the North American opossum (Didelphimorphia), a marsupial identified by its pointed snout, grayish-brown fur, and large, hairless tail.
However, “possum” refers to marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby regions. While possums and opossums are omnivorous scavengers, Australian possums (Phalangeridae) are smaller, with bushy tails and rounded noses.
How to Identify Possums
| Type of Possum | Color | Size and Shape | Region |
| Common Opossum | Black and yellow face, pale peach body | 20 inches long, 3 pounds | Northeastern Mexico to Bolivia, including Trinidad and Tobago and Peru |
| Virginia Opossum | Grayish-brown, white face | 13-37 inches, 1-14 pounds | Central and North America |
What Do Possum Droppings Look Like?
Possum droppings can be found anywhere from one to two inches long, with a diameter of around three quarters of an inch. The droppings are soft and brown. Sometimes, they have the appearance of yellow or white mold on them.
Where Are Possums Usually Found?
Possums can be found throughout North and Central America and the northernmost regions of South America. They are typically found in mangroves, forests, mangrove meadows, swamps, and flatlands.
Types of Possums
There are two main types of possums: the Common Opossum and the Virginia Opossum. The Common Opossum is found in the southern United States, while the Virginia Opossum is more prevalent in northwestern regions. Both species are marsupials, which means they carry their young in pouches.
- Common Opossum: Known for its long, hairless, prehensile tail, pointed snout, and brownish or grayish fur. It’s famous for “playing dead” as a defense mechanism.
- Virginia Opossum: Native to North America, the Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial in the U.S. and Canada. It has dark gray fur, a smooth, long tail, and a tapered snout. Like the Common Opossum, it can also “play dead” when threatened.
Are Possums Dangerous?
Generally, no. If cornered, a possum might hiss, growl, or show its teeth (with an impressive 50 teeth, the most of any land mammal). However, opossums are usually docile and prefer to flee rather than fight. They aren’t as “dirty” as people think—they may have fleas, but they’re resistant to many viruses, including rabies.
Research also shows they help control tick populations, consuming about 5,000 ticks per season due to their meticulous grooming.
Tips for Preventing Possums Infestations
To keep possums away from your home, follow these tips:
Eliminate Food and Shelter Sources
Opossums are attracted to food and quiet, dark shelters. Block access to your home by sealing openings in attics, garages, and under decks.
Make Them Feel Threatened
Since opossums are afraid of predators like coyotes, dogs, and bobcats, letting your pets roam the yard, especially at night, may deter them.
Aim for Exclusion
Opossums may enter through gaps and holes. Seal off these entry points to prevent access to attics, crawl spaces, or decks. If they’ve already entered, consult a professional to humanely remove and prevent them from returning.
How to Get Rid of Possums and Prevent
Although opossums help control pests in the garden, you may still want to keep them away. Here are ways for how to get rid of possums and prevent the need for pest control services:
Remove Food Sources
Opossums are drawn to areas with ample food. To prevent them from foraging in your yard, take these measures:
- Rake fallen fruits: Clean up fruit that has fallen under trees.
- Use sealed compost bins: Keep compost in containers with tight lids.
- Secure trash cans: Use sturdy containers with locking lids.
Store their food in secure containers if you feed pets or livestock outside. Remove bird feeders temporarily, cover garden rows, and use wire or mesh over chicken coops.
Reduce Sheltering Spots
Opossums prefer cozy hiding spots. Trim tall grass, cut back overgrown plants, clear brush piles, and secure minor entry points with expandable spray foam. For decks or patios, cover gaps with hardware cloth or chicken wire. Before sealing, make sure no animals are trapped inside.
Install Fencing
A solid fence around your garden or lawn comprises hardware cloth, chicken wire, cement, or wood you can keep possums away and help protect your garden. To get the perfect results, install the fencing to submerge at least four feet above the soil line and one foot of fencing under that line. A slanting of the top one foot of fence away from the garden may make it harder for opossums.
Try Repellents
Some repellents work better, but options like cayenne powder, vinegar, garlic oil, or predator urine sprays can be effective. You might also scatter pet fur, use wind chimes, or install a motion-activated sprinkler to scare possums away. Regularly rotate repellents so opossums don’t adapt to a single one.
Avoid using mothballs, camphor, or ammonia outdoors, as these substances are toxic to animals, pollute soil, and can leach into water supplies.
Trap and Relocate the Opossum
How to get rid of possums The relocation of opossums is optional because they generally quit the area after you remove the food sources and the sheltering regions that draw them. Trapping is only sometimes successful because new opossums typically come in after the first opossum is gone.
If you plan to eliminate the opossums in your yard, you should research local laws and regulations before beginning. Pick a well-sized live trap, and add peanut butter or cat food to bait the trap in an area where you are sure that opossums will be active, and then check frequently to ensure an opossum won’t be trapped for too long.
It is not appropriate to trap possums between February and June since moms will likely care for infants during this time of year.
Once you have secured an opossum inside your trap, let the animal go at least five miles from its habitat. Although opossums are generally not aggressive, they can be aggressive when they feel threatened. Therefore, you must be careful when handling the trap; strong gloves are required. If the opossums aren’t “falling for your trap,” concealing the trap with leaves or sticks may be helpful.
If they are scared, opossums may pretend to be dead and “play possum” as a defense mechanism. As a result, they cannot move, and their mouths might be open, emitting an unpleasant odor. If this happens, keep the opossum in a quiet place, and it will be able to recover within a few minutes to a couple of hours.
How to Keep Possums Away
There aren’t any effective repellents for the opossum.
Eliminating the food source attracted to them and keeping the area from them is the most effective way to keep them from your property. However, you can also try to make your property less appealing to them by following these suggestions from Owen Mengak and Owen Mengak:
- When you notice lawn damage, ensure it’s not an opossum. They’re not known for massive damage to turf. Most likely to be the culprit are animals such as birds or skunks. Set up a camera for games in case you need clarification on the cause.
- Keep garbage can lids secured.
- Utilize compost bins that are sealed and have lids.
- Do not leave bowls of pet food outside.
- Remove fallen fruit from the ground, but opossums may also climb.
- Eliminate the brush or firewood piles or stacks of stones that prepare shelter from elements and predators.
- Keep bird food in metal containers with lids.
- Eliminate possums from areas like under decks and crawl spaces using hardware cloth. It should be buried several inches below the ground.
FAQs
What is the best way to keep possums away?
Repellents like peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, and ammonia can be effective deterrents.
What scents do possums dislike?
The smell of pepper, ammonia, garlic, and naphthalene deters possums.
What are some home remedies to keep possums away?
Mixing peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, ammonia garlic, hot sauce, and water into a bottle and spraying it on areas prone to possums are effective home remedies.
What attracts possums to your yard?
Food sources attract possums, including pet food, fallen fruit, and unsecured trash. Food items you store for your pet outside will attract possums, and so will fallen fruits from a tree and even food waste in an unsealed trash container. How to get rid of possums.
