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Possums and possum , while both marsupials , are unlike animals . While opossums ( with an “ o ” ) are native to North America , the tidings is often bowdlerise topossum , though these animals arenot the same tool .
A uncouth fear is , “ Are opossums grave ? ” They ’re pretty helpful creature who clear out refuse and provender on insects . You may question , “ So , why do I need to get rid of them ? ” These rat - like animalsare often nuisance , especially when eating or trample plant . Opossums can rummage through crank cans and slip deary ’ food , too . It ’s trickyto shoo off them awayto protect pets and flora , so keep reading to instruct how to get rid of opossums .
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metre need : A few day or weeksDifficulty : BeginnerEstimated cost:$250 to $ 500
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Before You Begin…
Before you seek to pin or remove an pesky opossum from your yard , the first step is right identification . Many gray possum are often confused with cats . To help you key out the correct animate being , most grownup opossums are between 24 and 40 inches prospicient with a 10- to 12 - inch - long tail and count between 4 and 12 pounds . you’re able to also identify opossum by their droppings . What does opossum poop look like ? It ’s about 1 to 2 inches in distance , tranquil on the sides , brown in color , and covered in livid or xanthous mold growing .
Once you ’ve made trusted that you are dealing with an opossum , there are several ways to blarney it out , including using a hole or hiring a pest management professional . take out an opossum can be challenging , and the skilful agency to control this population is through preventive measure .
Tips for Getting Rid of Possums
Safety Considerations
STEP 1: Remove possum attractants such as food and water and potential homes.
Getting free of or sealing food materials , water sources , and potential opossum dwelling house effectively prevents these critters from pose around . If pet food or trash are outdoors overnight , it ’s an undefended invitation for a feast . If fruit - bearing plant are on your belongings , ensure harvest are n’t left on the ground . apply sealable folderol bags when removing these items to keep opossums from rooting through the applesauce can .
Where do opossums live ? They favour forested or bushy homes and will use leftover and destroyed scope as a household , so the railyard will be less hospitable if there are no skirmish piles , dilapidated building , or holes under concrete slab .
STEP 2: Secure outside entry points to your home; block access to chimneys, vents, or any other holes or gaps.
heart-to-heart gob supply well-situated admission . Once opossums are inside home , barns , or chicken coops , that ’s where most harm occurs . To circumscribe admittance , trim offshoot , tight entrances , and fix broken vents or foundation cracks . Opossums now and then enter homes through favorite doors , so those doorway should be sealed , too . Since opossums are expert climbers , they can easily climb a tree onto a retentive branch and leap to land on the roof near a chimney . Trimming tree branches nominate them harder to climb up .
STEP 3: Apply a chemical repellent to your garden.
Chemical repellents from your local home advance or hardware store can be apply to garden , heyday beds , and social organization bases to discourage opossums . While repellents vary by marque and eccentric , most are powder and include piranha piddle . They have a powerful smell and are relatively expensive to purchase . They typically provide little relief unless hold frequently and in gamey assiduousness and are best used in conjunction with other methods . Chili powder can also be used in a emergency , although it needs to be reapplied frequently .
STEP 3: Use electronic repellents to scare possums away.
Electronic repellents , like motion - aerate sprinklers , can galvanise opossums and scare away them away . These repellent are eco - favorable and deliver more coherent results . They can be used on lawns , Gallus gallus coops , entry , pools , barn , compost bins , tree diagram , and other areas around the railway yard . Lawn brightness level and wind instrument gong can also assist make a backyard a less welcoming place .
STEP 4: Install special fencing.
While possum are skilled climbers , a wire or electrical fence can keep them forth from a garden . To deter these critters , fencing should be at least 4 feet high , with the top understructure facing outward to create an overhang . you could add an electric fence , too , congeal at an outward angle , approximately 3 to 4 inch over the top . Any other region , including underneath porch , staircase , and crawl spaces should be blocked off . pass over these orifice with steel conducting wire mesh or tack metal .
STEP 5: Trap possums using a cage and bait.
If an phalanger has found its fashion into the abode , a live trap can entice the critter out . With these nocturnal animals , it ’s helpful to set up the sand trap at nighttime and rag them . What do opossum eat ? AstudyinThe Journal of Wildlife Managementshowed the belly contents of wild opossums depart , but they generally prefer yield , cereal , or worm . solid food item like jam or monkey nut butter on clams or overripe yield will appeal to them . The trap should be place up along unwashed travel route in the theatre , so it ’ll be unlikely for the critter to miss the bait . It ’s best to employ a trap in the tardy capitulation or early wintertime before the breeding time of year begins .
STEP 6: Install a nesting box in nearby trees to provide possums with an alternative home.
While a house or backyard is n’t an ideal home for opossums , you’re able to make or buy anesting boxto give these creature their own space if they keep showing up around the pace . opossum like stringent , secure blank space with small entrance that can protect them from larger predator . For instance , an sure-enough dog carrier crate without its front door works nicely , as do homemade shelters made from old cooler or plastic bathing tub . A nesting box is an promiscuous way to make space for wildlife in a yard that does n’t disrupt or damage the home .
Opossums can be a nuisance around the house and , if they get at bottom , can cause severe price . While getting rid of them can be tricky , it ’s easier to take preventive measures to opossum - proof your yard . If you have n’t had succeeder with these remedies or feel unquiet about it , you’re able to lease a pest direction pro . The inspection and repair technician will off the animal and make grow a customized architectural plan to keep future pests off .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
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We ’ll help you specify up your first garden — whether that ’s a few mickle on your patio , a raised bed , or an in - primer plot out back — and choose the right plant life for your dirt and region .
Photo: depositphotos.com
Photo: depositphotos.com
Photo: depositphotos.com
