How do you keep possums away naturally?

Mixing fresh garlic bits in water and spraying around a garden area helps keep possums away. Hot peppers or hot sauce -- the hotter the better -- mixed with a little water and dish soap and applied to plants the possum finds tasty also repels the possum.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on homeguides.sfgate.com


What smells do possums hate?

Smells that possums hate
  • Mothballs.
  • Camphor.
  • Garlic.
  • Onion.
  • Animal-derived fertilisers*
  • Fish smell.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on fantasticservicesgroup.com.au


What will scare a possum away?

Tie helium balloons around your yard to sway in the wind and startle the possums away. Place pinwheels, found in party supply stores, in the soil around your plants. The pinwheels will spin in the wind. Set up an oscillating fan in your garden with an extension cord.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hunker.com


What is the best deterrent for possums?

How to deter possums the easy way
  1. Molasses. Otherwise known as black treacle, a simple cup of molasses can work wonders on a bunch of pesky possums that is munching on your delicious garden wonders every night. ...
  2. Spicy Mix. If molasses didn't work, try some spicier stuff! ...
  3. Quassia Chips. ...
  4. Mothballs. ...
  5. Sprinkler.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cannonpestmanagement.com.au


How do you get rid of possums naturally?

  1. STEP 1: Remove possum attractants such as food and water and potential homes. ...
  2. STEP 2: Secure outside entry points to your home; block access to chimneys, vents, or any other holes or gaps. ...
  3. STEP 3: Apply a chemical repellent to your garden. ...
  4. STEP 3: Use electronic repellents to scare possums away.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bobvila.com


How Do You Keep Opossums Away? | Pest Support



Do moth balls keep possums away?

Mothballs, designed to keep moths from chewing fabric that has been stored away, are also unappealing to possums. Fragrant mothballs or naphthalene crystals are best for encouraging possums to evacuate an enclosed area, such as underneath a porch or in a crawlspace.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on homeguides.sfgate.com


Why does a possum keep coming back?

One form of keeping opossums away is to make your property less appealing for them to come scavenge for food. Unfortunately, opossums won't remember that they were previously frightened away from your yard, and they may return if you aren't using other methods in conjunction with these.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pests.org


Do flashing lights keep possums away?

Light. Possums like to operate under the cover of darkness, so anything that you can put in your garden that mimics the reflective eyes of a potential predator or lights up when they enter the garden should help scare them off.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on abc.net.au


Where do possums live during the day?

They are generally nocturnal and they spend the day in hollow tree trunks, rock crevices, under brush piles, or in burrows. They are excellent climbers and good swimmers. Opossums also spend a lot of time slowly ambling about on the ground, and as a result they are frequently struck by cars.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on paws.org


Do possums bite?

Just like any scared animal, it's possible for opossums to bite in defense. If they feel cornered or threatened, opossums will use several escape strategies ranging from playing dead to hissing. Biting is rare, but people should avoid contact with all wild animals to eliminate the risk.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on terminix.com


What does it mean when a possum comes to your house?

A possum encounter may be a sign that you need to protect yourself and your family against bad energy or bad people who want to take advantage of you in some way. Spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation can sometimes provide significant protection.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on californiapsychics.com


Are possums scared of dogs?

However, you'll be glad to know that opossums are generally not confrontational. Are possums afraid of dogs? Yes, when opossums see a dog, they prefer to run away. Their small size and submissive and docile manners mean they are usually of no threat if the dogs leave them alone.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on dogleashpro.com


Are possums afraid of cats?

Adult opossums and cats seem to have a mutual respect and leave each other alone. In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to escape and avoid confrontations, if possible.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on opossumsocietyus.org


What plants keep possums away?

Strong-smelling herbs such as sage, rosemary, or oregano may deter possums, especially when mixed with spicy chili pepper. Blend to a paste and spread around affected plants.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wikihow.com


Are possums scared of humans?

Opossums are much more afraid of humans than we are of them. There are two lines of defense for an opossum when confronted by a human. They will rarely attack, or they will play dead to avoid confrontation. The opossum has an instinct to act dead when standing against humans or other animals.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on northamericannature.com


Are possums aggressive?

Opossum are not aggressive: their open-mouth, defensive hissing is merely a bluff to look vicious. And if that doesn't work they play dead when really scared! If there is an opossum in the backyard, don't worry. They aren't a threat, and more than likely they will be moving on in a short while.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on humanesociety.org


How long do possums stay in one area?

Opossums are transient animals, staying only 2-3 days in an area before moving on. Removal is neither necessary nor desirable. Wildlife experts agree that if opossums were eliminated from an area, the population of roof rats and other pests would proliferate.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on opossumsocietyus.org


Do possums sleep in the same place every night?

Possums sleep in nests in hollow trees or dens inside caves, attics, and abandoned buildings on the ground. They don't like the light, so they usually find places that are well covered during the day to sleep. Typically, any place well-covered, safe from predators, and free will be perfect for a possum to sleep in.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on a-z-animals.com


Do possums sleep in the same place every day?

It's best to bring cat or dog food into the house before dark, so the opossums, skunks, raccoons and foxes of the world won't find it. Opossums, being nocturnal, sleep the day away just about anyplace — except in a “Dogloo” with an African spurred tortoise. Opossums prefer to sleep alone.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mercurynews.com


Will a possum hurt a dog?

Solution: In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to avoid confrontations. If escape is not possible then the threatened opossum may “play 'possum”, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on opossumsocietyus.org


Do LED lights deter possums?

Add LED lights to your garden

Not only do LED lights make your garden look attractive at night, but they're also used by some homeowners to deter possums from entering their yard. Switch on a few fixtures in strategic places in your garden and you won't be seeing possums anywhere near them.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on lawn.com.au


Can possums climb up brick walls?

Possums are incredibly agile! They can climb vertical walls and have been known to jump from a tree to roof up to 4 metres away!
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on birdgard.com.au


What is a possums favorite food?

They particularly like berries and fruits such as apples and persimmons. Possums will also eat nuts and seeds, although with less frequency than other foods.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on a-z-animals.com


What poison kills possums?

Any type of poison might harm a non-target animal such as a pet dog or cat. There are no known, registered poisons to kill opossums.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wildlife-removal.com


What does it mean when you see a possum during the day?

Searching for food

While most of their foraging happens at night, opossums can occasionally be seen in the daylight. If food is scarce, they will spend as much time as necessary to locate it, scavenging at all hours.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on crittercontrol.com
Next question
What is the best strain ever?