Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Scare possums
• Method 2 of 4: Remove food sources
• Method 3 of 4: Catch and drop possums
• Method 4 of 4: Keep possums out
• Expert tips
• Necessities
• Scare possums
• Remove food sources
• Catch and dispose of possums
• Keep possums out

Opossums, also known as oppossums, are not normally aggressive animals, but they can carry disease. Plus, if they're not completely healthy, they're more likely to become aggressive, so you may want to get rid of them. That can be done in different ways. For starters, you can simply try to make your environment as unattractive as possible to possums. And if they keep popping up, set an animal-friendly trap and release the intruders at a safe distance from your home.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Scare possums

1. Place lamps or sprinklers that have motion sensors. Place devices with motion sensors around your house, at the entrance to your garden, around fruit trees and other places that the possums love to visit.
   • Devices with motion sensors respond as soon as a possum activates the sensor, but they are also activated by other animals or things that pass the sensor.
   • Sprinklers with motion sensors are slightly more effective than lights with motion sensors. Light is enough to deter possums who fear humans, but water sprays are more effective when dealing with older possums who are less afraid of humans.
2. Sprinkle some dog or cat hair over the areas where the possums will be. After brushing your dog or cat, collect some of the hair. Tuck the hair into small nets or old socks and hang them up or put them in areas where you know possums are frequent.
   • The scent of a potential predator is sometimes enough to discourage many of the possums from coming over.

   Note: don't let your dog or cat loose in the yard for the purpose of scaring away the possums. Your pet could get into a fight with aggressive possums or other dangerous animals, and you should try to avoid that.

   
   
3. Spread something in the garden with a strong scent. Ammonia and garlic, for example, contain scents that will scare the possums. Pour a little bit of ammonia into a coffee tin with a lid. Put a cloth in the ammonia and pass one end of the cloth through the hole in the lid. The end of the cloth functions as a kind of wick and will spread the strong scent of the ammonia. Place such a can wherever possums gather regularly.
   • Place a clove of garlic wherever you don't want possums. A crushed clove of garlic works better than a whole clove, because crushed garlic gives off a much stronger scent.
4. Try to scare the possums with a chemical. You can use chemical repellants in the garden, in flower beds and at the base of buildings. Ask about it at a garden center or DIY store. Follow the instructions on the package to make sure you are using it safely. Most repellants consist of a powder that you have to sprinkle on the desired places.
   • Repellents can contain various ingredients, but they usually contain predator urine, among other things.

Method 2 of 4: Remove food sources

1. Do not intentionally feed the possums. Gardens and homes with an abundance of food act like a magnet on possums, and if you keep feeding them crumbs, they will stick around. Eliminating all food sources will make both your home and garden a lot less attractive to the bugs.
   • Feeding them may seem like a good deed, but possums eventually lose their fear of humans when fed. It is then increasingly likely that they will become aggressive if they suddenly no longer get food.
   EXPERT TIP

   Don't let possums climb into your trash or bio bins. Secure the lids of the bins or containers using elastic, rope, lashing straps or place a weight on the lid. You could also buy special waste bins that have a lid with clamps so it can't fall off.

   • To prevent the bins or containers from falling over, you can attach the handles to a post made of wood or metal that you stick deep into the ground.
2. Feed pets indoors. Even if your pets eat their food quickly, the scent of any leftover food can attract possums to your yard. If you cannot feed your pets indoors, feed them late in the morning or mid-afternoon so that no food can be found in the early morning or in the middle of the night. That's when possums are the most active.
   • Remove all food sources (e.g. food bowls) and all water before dusk and keep pet food away from pet hatches and other openings that might allow uninvited guests to enter your home.

   This also applies to feeding the animals you keep outside, such as chickens. Possums are often attracted to chicken feed, and if they get into the coop, they can kill your chickens. It is therefore preferable to feed your chickens in the afternoon.

   
   
3. Remove or seal all other possible food sources. There are many possible food sources for possums. For example, keep compost in closable bins or buckets, or in special covered boxes for worms, instead of open compost piles. Other food sources to avoid include:
   • Barbecue grills: thoroughly clean the barbecue grate and the area that collects the fat after use.
   • Fruit: Always pick up fruit that has fallen from trees or bushes.
   • Birdseed: Don't just scatter birdseed around. If you still want to feed the birds, preferably sprinkle the food at the end of the morning or mid-afternoon and limit it to small amounts, so that it is just enough for one day. Another option is to put some food in a special bowl or feeding house and then bring it in before it gets dark.

Method 3 of 4: Catch and drop possums

1. Use a live trap aka trap cage. If you suffer from possums in small spaces, such as under the roof or under your house, you may need to physically remove them. Go online, at a garden center, at a larger DIY store, or at a shop that sells hunting supplies to look for a so-called live trap. With a trap or live trap, you can catch possums without injuring or killing them. That is why these types of traps are in principle preferable to traps.
   • Keep in mind that many provinces and municipalities prohibit the use of clamps for killing game. On the other hand, placing traps is almost never a problem.
   • Contact the municipality to find out which rules apply in your area regarding setting traps. Depending on where you live, you may need a permit. In some areas, specific requirements apply to where you can release a possum, and who exactly can do it.
2. Place the trap on the opossum's walking route. Provide the trap with bait according to the enclosed instructions for use and have it ready. It's best to place the trap as close to the opossum's den as possible, but basically any other place where possums do damage on a regular basis is fine too.
   • Place the trap on a soft surface or place it on a piece of plywood if you are setting the trap on a hard surface. The trapped possum will likely try to escape by attempting to dig itself out. He will of course not succeed, and that is why it is best to give him a softer surface, so that the animal does not hurt his legs.
   • Possums are nocturnal, so set the trap at dusk to increase the chances of catching one. Close the trap when the sun comes up to avoid accidentally entering an animal that is active during the day.
   • You will likely need to position each cage in a slightly different way, but most cages have a mechanism with a rod or knob that you must pull or turn to open the door. As soon as the animal takes a step into the cage, the mechanism allows the door to close. Follow the specific instructions provided with your trap for more specific directions.
   • Use the correct bait. Fruits, berries, vegetables, raw eggs, peanut butter, and sardines are good options for luring possums.
3. Keep an eye on the trap. Don't forget to keep an eye on the trap to see if you have caught a possum as soon as possible. Once a possum has entered the cage, take the cage to a quiet area and cover the trap with a cloth or blanket until you are ready to release the animal.
   • Wear thick gloves or use a long stick to prevent the possum from scratching you from inside the cage.
4. Release the possum from the trap. Be careful when releasing the creature or enlist the help of the animal ambulance or wildlife rescue center to help you with this. When you are about to release the possum, set the cage with the opening facing the direction you want the animal to go. Stand behind the cage yourself and tap it with a stick or with your foot until the possum leaves the cage.
   • Always be very careful if you are going to release an animal that has been trapped. An animal that is locked up will often scratch or bite out of fear, and if you are not careful you can be scratched or bitten yourself.
   • Make sure you are fully aware of local laws regarding the release of possums and other captive animals. In some regions, there may be little or no regulations in this area. In that case, it is best to release the animal in a wooded area at a distance of several kilometers from your house. In other regions or outside the Netherlands, you may have to release the opossum on your own property, or you may have to hire a professional to release the opossum.

   If you're concerned that the possum might bite you, tie a string around the door so you can open it from a distance.

   
   

Method 4 of 4: Keep possums out

1. Seal the vents in and around your house. One of the easiest ways for a possum to sneak into your home is through a vent or other vent around the foundation. Deny possums access through these openings by covering them with, for example, gauze.
   • These covers are screwed onto the vent. They are so large that steam and smoke can escape through them, but not large enough for possums to slip through.
2. Prune tree branches. Opossums can reach the roof of your house through tree branches or large plants that are close to the facade. Therefore, prune tree branches until they are at least a meter and a half from the roof.
   • Do not place climbing plants near or on the house, especially near the eaves.
3. Screen patio constructions. Opossums are known to like to hide under wooden decking or porches. That is why it is best to shield the spaces under the structures with a metal construction or with mesh. Create a barrier with gauze with openings of about 6 millimeters or metal plates all the way around the bottom:
   • Dig a ditch around the patio structure. The ditch should be at least 12 inches deep. Place the mesh or plates in the trench. The barrier should bridge the space between the bottom of the trench and the bottom of the decking structure.
   • Fill the ditch with soil. Press down firmly on the loose soil so that the shield does not come loose.
   • Attach the top of the guard to the deck construction. Nails or staples, which are suitable for use on wood, usually work best.
4. Create a temporary escape route so that any trapped possums can escape. If you feel that there is another possum trapped under the decking structure, give the creature a chance to escape by giving it this temporary opportunity. Instead of closing off the last part of the grid, use a 7mm grid to form a door or funnel through which the possum can exit but not enter.
   • To make a one-way funnel as an exit, the large end must be large enough for a possum to pass through and you must attach it to the barrier with nails or staples. The narrow end of your house is facing away and the opening should be 4 to 6 inches in diameter. This allows the possums to squeeze out of the tunnel, but not to slip back in through the tunnel.
   • Leave the tunnel with the funnel open for a few days to a week, and only then close the last part of the hole completely.
5. Also close all other openings. Your home may very well have other openings that look inviting to possums looking for shelter or something to eat. You must therefore also shield roof fans and chimneys with mesh with a mesh size of no more than 6 millimeters. You could also put an insect screen over the vents or install a chimney hood.
   • Repair any holes in window and door screens and in the lattice work around the patio or porch.
   • Close cat flaps and other pet entrances at night.

   If you live in a mobile home, completely screen the space under the caravan with mesh. Make sure that the mesh completely seals the space between the ground and the bottom of the caravan. You can also use cement blocks or lattice work made of wood for this.

Expert tips

• Use heavy metal trash cans with metal lids that close completely.
• Make sure you don't have standing water anywhere on your property.
• Keep the shrubs and vegetation around your garden neatly trimmed.
• Block access to your basement as best you can so that nothing or no one can enter from outside.

Necessities

Scare possums

• Lamps or sprinklers with motion sensors
• Dog or cat hair
• Ammonia or garlic
• Chemical repellants

Remove food sources

• Good closable compost bins

Catch and dispose of possums

• Trap cage or live trap
• Food bait, such as berries or other fruits, vegetables, raw egg, peanut butter, or sardines

Keep possums out

• Metal grids
• Chimney cowl
• Grille cover
• Nails and staples
• Pruning tools
• Mesh