Opossums are some of the most common home and garden intruders out there. Like most other wild animals, they’re just looking for some food and shelter and aren’t overly dangerous to be around. If anything, the threat is more in the diseases they carry (and the physical damage they can do to your home) than in the animal itself.
Nevertheless, many of our clients ask us how to keep opossums away from the garden, which is how we came to be writing this. Below, you’ll find some of our favorite possum prevention tips to keep your home free from the marsupial (because, yes, although the opossum seems the spitting image of a rodent, it is, in fact, a marsupial!).
Opossums are omnivores and are considered beneficial to have around by some people since they’ll eat up a lot of harmful insects, slugs, and other undesirables. On top of that, possums aren’t aggressive, so you don’t have much to fear on that count, though they will bite if they feel threatened.
Opossums are becoming such a problem for homeowners because the trees whose hollows once served as possum nesting spaces are slowly dying away, which means the little animals are forced to look for new homes.
So how can you ensure that it’s not your yard?
Protect your garden.
First, you want to consider the main attraction to your garden for the possum, and that’s typically anything that might count as food. Protecting nuisance wildlife is the main reason homeowners will fence up their garden patch (ideally, install a protective wire mesh over the garden). This will block access to your crops without actually harming the opossums.
If you’re starting your garden patch, consider its location on your property, as keeping all of your crops in one place will make them easier to protect.
Educate yourself
It doesn’t hurt to learn some possum basics, mainly if they are rife in your area. So read up a bit on the common types of possum (and wildlife, in general) and other facts like how to tell if an opossum is male or female. You might want to know this since males tend to become quite territorial during mating. Knowing stuff like that can save you from an unwanted confrontation with a territorial opossum, so do your research.
Try DIY repellents
A big favorite in the wildlife prevention world is the DIY repellent. Generally, products with a strong, unpleasant scent (ammonia, camphor, bleach, garlic, molasses) will work well in deterring a wildlife infestation. The good news about these repellents is that they will work on other wild animals, so it’s not a possum-only solution.
How this works is that you either grow the plant or product in your yard to keep a steady supply of the detested scent or, as is the case with ammonia, you soak rags or cotton balls in the stuff and then scatter them strategically. While this is somewhat effective, you must reapply regularly to maintain efficiency.
Or maybe a deterrent
If you like, you could also invest in a store-bought opossums deterrent. These are typically motion-activated devices that give off an unpleasant bright light or sound when activated.
Since most of the wild animals that cause trouble are nocturnal and very sensitive to light and sound, these can work quite well, particularly if you place them strategically near your crops. However, remember that these devices may cause some trouble with your neighbors, so make sure you clear it with them first.
Hire a professional
Professional wildlife removal services aren’t just for when you’re dealing with an active infestation. We advise you to ask a professional at Nashville-wildlife.com about the best possum prevention practices before encountering an opossum.
Remember, while it may seem early, taking measures to prevent an infestation will be much cheaper and more efficient than dealing with an actual opossum in your yard. Not only that, but professionals can also spot early warning signs and help you prevent infestations by repairing and addressing weak spots of your property.
