Possums are common nocturnal animals that often visit residential areas, leading many homeowners to wonder about their behaviors, including whether they dig. These adaptable marsupials do engage in digging, a natural activity tied to their survival instincts. Understanding the reasons behind their digging can help in managing their presence around homes and gardens effectively.
Understanding Possum Digging Behavior
Possums primarily dig holes for foraging, seeking food sources like insects, grubs, and roots. While omnivores, their digging is mainly to uncover these buried items. Possums do not construct extensive burrows for shelter or living; instead, they utilize existing dens created by other animals, such as abandoned burrows, tree hollows, brush piles, or spaces under structures like sheds and decks.
Their small paws and limbs are not designed for deep excavation, so most holes dug by possums are shallow, typically a few inches deep, as they search for food near the surface. Possums use their keen sense of smell to find insects and other edibles underground. This opportunistic feeding behavior drives their digging in residential areas, especially where grubs or other invertebrates are plentiful, leading them to dig in lawns, gardens, and compost piles.
Identifying Signs of Possum Digging
Identifying possum digging involves recognizing the distinct characteristics and locations of their holes. Possum holes are generally shallow and conical, often described as small, easily filled-in disturbances in the soil. These holes might be found in lawns, garden beds, or areas with soft soil, indicating the possum’s search for grubs, insects, or fallen fruits. The damage is usually less extensive than that of other digging animals, appearing as superficial foraging rather than deep burrowing.
While possums dig, they are not typically responsible for large or deep holes, which are more likely caused by animals like skunks, raccoons, moles, or groundhogs. Skunk digging, for example, often leaves holes ringed with loose soil as they search for invertebrates. Possum digging marks are smaller, reflecting their search for surface-level food rather than creating a permanent dwelling. Observing the holes’ size and depth, along with checking for tracks with five toes and an opposable thumb-like structure on the hind foot, can help confirm if a possum is the digger.
Discouraging Possum Digging
To humanely discourage possums from digging, make the property less appealing. Removing accessible food sources is a primary step, including securing trash cans with locking lids, bringing pet food indoors at night, and picking up fallen fruits from trees. Maintaining a tidy yard by removing brush piles, logs, and overgrown vegetation can also reduce potential hiding spots and make the area less attractive for shelter. Eliminating these draws encourages possums to move elsewhere.
Physical barriers effectively deter digging. Install fences around gardens with buried bases, 6-12 inches deep, to prevent possums from digging underneath; fences should be at least four feet high, with an angled top (45 degrees) or floppy wire to make climbing difficult. For specific plants, covers made of wire mesh or netting can be used overnight. Repellents, both commercial and natural, are also effective; strong scents like garlic, ammonia, or predator urine may deter possums, though they often require frequent reapplication, especially after rain. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can startle nocturnal possums, encouraging them to leave.