The North American Opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is a solitary, nocturnal marsupial that has adapted to suburban and urban environments. These opportunistic animals are drawn to residential properties by the promise of easy food, water, and secure den sites. Although generally non-aggressive, their presence can lead to sanitation issues and damage to structures like sheds, decks, and attics. Addressing the factors that attract them is the most effective strategy for long-term exclusion. This guide focuses on practical methods to keep opossums away from your home.
Eliminating Food and Water Sources
Opossums are omnivorous scavengers whose survival depends heavily on accessible human food waste. Securing garbage is the most effective first step, requiring heavy-duty bins with locking mechanisms or lids secured tightly with bungee cords. Keeping garbage cans in a locked shed or garage until collection day further removes this primary attractant.
Pet food left outside overnight is another significant draw, as opossums are active between dusk and dawn. All outdoor food and water bowls should be brought inside before sunset, removing the nightly feeding opportunity. Additionally, any fallen fruit or berries in the yard should be cleared daily, as this provides a natural food source.
Compost piles must be managed carefully to prevent them from becoming an opossum buffet. Using enclosed, tumbler-style composters or covering traditional piles with heavy wire mesh blocks access to decaying organic matter. Removing standing water sources, such as leaky spigots or accessible pet bowls, eliminates a convenient water supply that encourages them to linger.
Structural Sealing and Physical Exclusion
Preventing access to sheltered den sites is a highly effective long-term strategy. Opossums prefer dark, secluded spaces like crawl spaces, attics, and voids underneath porches or sheds for nesting. A thorough exterior inspection is necessary to identify any gaps or openings larger than three inches, which an adult opossum can squeeze through.
Sealing foundation gaps and vents with durable materials like quarter-inch galvanized hardware cloth is recommended, as this mesh is too rigid for the animal to chew through. To secure the perimeter of decks or sheds, installing an “L-footer” barrier prevents burrowing. This involves burying the hardware cloth vertically for at least six inches and then bending the bottom outward in an L-shape for another 12 inches.
It is necessary to confirm that no opossum is inside the structure before permanent sealing is undertaken. Trapping an animal inside will lead to a severe problem, especially during birthing season when young may be present. Installing a temporary one-way exclusion door over a suspected entry point allows any existing occupant to exit naturally without re-entry.
Using Sensory Deterrents
Deterrents work by making the yard environment uncomfortable for the nocturnal opossum, encouraging it to move elsewhere. Motion-activated devices, particularly bright lights or sudden bursts of water from sprinklers, are highly effective because they exploit the animal’s preference for dark, quiet conditions. Setting these devices to cover areas where activity is suspected quickly discourages repeat visits.
Some commercially available repellents use scents or tastes unpleasant to wildlife, such as capsaicin-based sprays or predator urine formulas. These products can be applied to non-food items like garbage cans or perimeter entry points to create a sensory barrier. However, the effectiveness of odor-based repellents is often short-lived and requires frequent reapplication, especially after rain.
Less effective methods include ultrasonic sound devices, which often fail to produce enough consistent discomfort to alter foraging behavior. When using any repellent, focus the application on specific items or areas rather than broadcasting the product widely. Deterrents should be used as a secondary measure to support the primary strategies of food removal and physical exclusion.
Safe Eviction and Legal Considerations
If an opossum is discovered nesting in a hard-to-reach area like an attic, humane eviction techniques should encourage it to leave on its own. Opossums seek dark, quiet spaces, so disrupting this environment with continuous bright lights and a loud radio prompts the animal to relocate. This process should start in the evening to allow the nocturnal animal to leave during its active period.
Once the animal has departed, wait several hours, or even a full night, to ensure it has not simply moved to a nearby hiding spot before sealing the entry point. During late winter and spring, homeowners must be vigilant for signs of young, as sealing the entry with babies inside will result in their death and attract other pests. If young are suspected, professional wildlife assistance is necessary.
Attempting to trap and relocate an opossum without professional licensing is often restricted or illegal under state and local regulations. Relocation causes undue stress and may simply move the problem to another neighborhood. For an established den, or if the animal appears sick or injured, contacting a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator is the safest and most legally compliant course of action.