Best Ways to Keep Away Opossums

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Opossums are in the habit of raiding garbage cans in search of food. And when they do find a property where the food supply is constant in cities and suburban areas, they are quick to relocate their den site to the neighborhood. They substitute their hollow tree dens for chimneys, attics, wall voids or cracks through which they can gain access onto properties so they can be around the food. To make matters worse for homeowners, opossums are known for their messy nests anywhere they den.



Here are a few things to do if you will keep opossums away from your property:

Keep all food out of sight
The main attractant for opossums and other foraging wildlife is food.

- Keep your yard clean. No eat-out leftovers or litter.
- Don’t leave trashcans and recycling bins outdoors, or if you must, ensure to use animal-proof lids. If possible, keep them indoors or in sealed areas such as a locked shed or outhouse.
- Bring pet food dishes inside at night to avoid attracting wildlife. As long as there is something to eat, they’ll keep visiting.
- Remove spilled bird seed.
- Pick fruits from trees just before they get ripe and let them ripen inside; this will deny opossums, who are natural climbers of an easy meal

Exclusion and Fencing
Erect a strong fence around your property. Wire mesh fences are preferable for this purpose. The fence should be about 1 foot below the ground level so that the critter does not burrow under it. It should also be about 2-3 feet high above the ground to prevent them from climbing or jumping over it.

You should also block all of the opossum’s possible access points to den in your yard. It habitually seeks dark and enclosed shelter-like spaces in which to locate its den; places like small garden sheds, and spaces underneath decks or porches.

Habitat Modification
Inspect your property and decide if you need to make any of these modifications:

- Install rings on trees within your yard to discourage possums from climbing them.
- Get rid of brush or trash piles in your yard
- Store firewood away from buildings or fences and keep the wood at least a foot off of the ground.
- Get a dog! Possums feign fierceness, but in actual fact are not. The presence of a dog on your property will sure keep them away.
- Inspect the outside of your home for holes or access points, such as broken vent covers and open chimneys.

Repellents
There are several types of opossum repellents that are available commercially for the purpose of chasing the rat-like mammal away from your yard, but none is proven or even registered for that purpose. Neither are they effective.

Go back to the Opossum Removal page.

Best Ways to Prevent Opossums

Opossums regularly raid garbage cans in search of food. When they do find a property where the food supply is constant in cities and suburban areas, they do not hesitate to relocate their den site to the neighborhood. They substitute their hollow tree dens for chimneys, attics, wall voids or cracks through which they can gain access onto properties so they can be around the food. Wherever it is that opossums den, they usually make a messy nest.



If opossums gain access to your property, they can wreak havoc on your garden and sod. The rat-tailed mammals may also cause considerable damage to your house as they try to gain entry. Some of the time, opossums don’t cause so much damage, but they can startle people when they take shelter in woodpiles, sheds, under decks and porches, or in other unexpected places.

A lot of home owners wish they didn’t have to deal with opossum problems, and there are actually some natural ways to deter them from your property

Remove Food Sources

- Keep your yard clean. No eat-out leftovers or litter.
- Don’t leave trashcans and recycling bins outdoors, or if you must, ensure to use animal-proof lids. If possible, keep them indoors or in sealed areas such as a locked shed or outhouse.
- Bring pet food dishes inside at night to avoid attracting wildlife. As long as there is something to eat, they’ll keep visiting.
- Remove or block sources of food and shelter from your property.
- Remove spilled bird seed.
- Pick fruits from trees just before they gets rips and let them ripen inside; this will deny opossums, who are natural climbers of an easy meal

Habitat Modification

- Install rings on trees within your yard to discourage possums from climbing them.
- Get rid of brush or trash piles in your yard
- Store firewood away from buildings or fences and keep the wood at least a foot off of the ground.
- Get a dog! Possums feign fierceness, but in actual fact are not. The presence of a dog on your property will sure keep them away.
- Inspect the outside of your home for holes or access points, such as broken vent covers and open chimneys.

Exclusion
Blocking all of the opossum’s possible access points into your property may be the best bet to keeping it out. It habitually seeks dark and enclosed shelter-like spaces in which to locate its den; places like small garden sheds, and spaces underneath decks or porches.

If your deck or porch is built within two feet of the ground for instance, dig a trench at least 10 inches deep around the deck's perimeter. Attach mesh hardware cloth or welded wire from the top to the bottom of the trench. Leave six to eight inches of wire at the bottom and bend it out at a 90° angle. Fill the trench with soil or rocks. Add lattice or other cover for aesthetics. Another option is to install steel exclusion barriers to keep them out of chimneys, vents, and any opening at all.

Repellents
There are several types of opossum repellents that are available commercially for the purpose of chasing the rat-like mammal away from your yard, but none is proven or even registered for that purpose. Likewise, homemade repellants with preparation methods readily available for any do-it-yourself home owner. Opossum repellants basically aim to drive raccoons away from your yard by using its sharp sense of smell against it.

In a sense, opossums are beneficial to have around because they would get rid of most other pests like mice, cockroaches, insects, snails, slugs, and even snakes. However, just like other wildlife pests, they are scavengers who carry parasites that bear diseases like leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia and spotted fever. Because of this, human habitations are better off without them.

Perhaps you have missed out on the chance to prevent opossums from accessing your yard, or they managed to find a way through your laid barriers, like they often do. Your best bet in this regard is to trap and remove them from the property. You may need to call in wildlife professionals to do this.

Go back to the Opossum Removal page.