The pitter patter of little feet in the night, strange noises coming from the attic, and a funky smell you just can’t place. These are all signs that uninvited possum guests may have made themselves at home in your house or yard. While possums can be beneficial for the environment, having them on your property can be a nuisance, or even downright scary. In this post, we’ll explore four effective ways to get rid of possums humanely and safely.
Australia is home to many unique and fascinating creatures, but perhaps one of the most intriguing is the possum. They are opportunistic pests who can eat your pet’s food and also that any bird seed that you may have placed in your yard. If they get a chance to enter inside, they also damage electrical wiring, wooden structures and foundation of your home. Mentioned ahead are some steps you can use to get rid of possums and keep them off from your home or yard.
Always opt for humane possum removal methods, and be sure to take preventative steps so the possums don’t return. With the right approach, you can have your yard back to yourself and keep possums where they belong – in nature.
Signs of possums in your house or yard:
These are some signs that you need to look out for
- Sighting active possums indicates an infestation.
- Disappearing pet food may also be a sign of a possum infestation.
- Scratch marks on the trash cans or anywhere on the outdoors of your home. Overturned trash cans with garbage strewn outside is a sign of a possum/s in your yard.
- Finding materials used for nesting inside logs of woods, holes, cracks etc. also points towards an infestation.
- Experiencing an unpleasant smell without any reason could be a possibility of a possum colony.
- The paw prints of possum are similar to that of a baby’s hands. Coming across them in your yard is a possibility of a possum infestation.
How To Get Rid Of Possums From Your House or Yard:
Possums are nocturnal creatures that will sleep the whole day and leave their holes at night in search of food. They carry a lot of germs and bacteria responsible for outspread of disease in your surroundings. That is why you need to carry out measures and tricks to get rid of possums from your premises:
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Seal Any Holes In Roofs
Inspect the areas on your roofs. Any holes or openings in there may help possums to get through into the house. Seal any holes that you see with metal or caulk. This will shut off any possible outlets for the possums to gain entry into the house.
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Possum Deterrent Devices
Motion detector lights, water sprinklers and ultrasonic animal repellent devices can do a great job in shutting off possums from your premises. Motion detector lights and water sprinklers are made to go off when possums go anywhere near them. They are designed to startle off the animal and make it rush out of your home. Likewise, animal repellent devices can give out buzzing and rattling sounds that will definitely scare of these pests from your garden or yard. You also can opt to keep a bright light always on in the premises for the same purpose.
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Eliminate Food Sources From Your Premises
Food sources like garbage cans, compost pile, fallen or rotting fruit, and vegetable produce are sources of food for pests including possums. Keep the garden or yard clean by getting rid of the trash, decaying fruit and other garbage that maybe feeding the possums. Avoid keeping pet food in the open at night. Close your compost bins and trash cans with heavy metallic lids or covers. Get rid of the leaf litter, hollow logs and prune your bushes and grass on the regular.
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Scents That Repel Possums
Getting rid of possum food sources may not be sufficient at times. Using scents that repel possums may also do the trick of keeping off possums from your yard. Planting onion or garlic in your yard can keep possums at bay. Likewise, sprinkling urine of their predators such as coyotes, fox or wolf can scare them off mistaking them to think that the place has these predators. Mix bleach and water together and then sprinkle it in the house as well as the indoors. Pet fur also can be used effectively to scare off possums. These scents will fend off the possums and help homeowners get rid of them.
Make sure to call a professional whenever you find signs of a possum infestation or hear sounds typical to that of possums. A professional possum-catcher or pest exterminator is an appropriate person to carry out the whole task. This will save you a lot of time and money because professionals are well-versed with the exact products and techniques to resolve the issue without delay.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this blog post has been diligently fact-checked and written by Nicholas Willmore, an esteemed Australian expert in the pest control industry
