The opossum, often called a possum, is a nocturnal marsupial commonly found across North and South America. While generally solitary and harmless, their foraging habits can lead to garden damage, property disturbance, and potential disease transmission in residential areas. Long-term control requires understanding what attracts them and implementing layered, non-lethal strategies for permanent exclusion. Effective methods focus on removing attractants, creating physical barriers, and utilizing sensory deterrents to make the yard unappealing.
Eliminating Food and Water Sources
The foundation of any successful exclusion strategy is the complete removal of accessible food and water, the primary invitation to the yard. Household garbage is the most common attractant and should be secured in containers using latches or bungee cords. Storing trash cans inside a shed or garage until collection day is the most effective way to eliminate this nighttime food source.
Pet food left outdoors, especially kibble, must be brought inside before dusk. If pets are fed outside, establish a strict schedule and immediately clean up any uneaten portions. Fallen ripe fruit or nuts from trees and gardens must also be cleaned up daily to prevent possums from finding an easy meal.
Compost piles require careful management, as decomposing organic matter is a rich food source. Avoid open compost heaps; instead, use enclosed, rodent-proof bins or tumblers that seal the contents. If using an open system, avoid adding meat, dairy, or fatty scraps, which are strong attractants.
Water sources also draw possums, particularly during dry periods. Eliminate easy access to standing water by removing pet water bowls overnight and fixing leaking outdoor faucets or hoses. Bird baths can be emptied before sunset, and small ornamental ponds can be protected with netting or steep sides.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion Methods
After addressing food sources, implement structural modifications to physically block access to shelters and specific yard areas. Since possums are skilled climbers and diggers, standard fencing is usually insufficient unless modified. For garden protection, install a wire mesh fence at least four feet high to deter climbing.
To prevent scaling, the top 18 inches of the fence should be left unattached or floppy, causing the material to fold back when the animal attempts to climb. To stop digging, install an apron (L-footer) by bending the bottom of the mesh 90 degrees to lay flat on the ground, extending 12 to 24 inches outward. Bury this apron or cover it with rocks.
Blocking access to sheltered den sites, such as under decks, porches, sheds, and crawl spaces, is essential. Seal all holes or gaps larger than three inches with durable material like heavy-gauge hardware cloth or sheet metal. Sink this material into the ground at the perimeter to prevent digging entry.
Protecting individual trees, especially fruit trees or those providing roof access, requires installing a smooth, wide band around the trunk. Wrap a smooth sheet metal or polycarbonate band, about two feet wide, securely around the trunk at least four feet above the ground. The slippery surface prevents the possum’s claws from gaining purchase, blocking their climbing route.
Using Sensory Deterrents and Repellents
Sensory deterrents discourage possum activity but are generally less effective for long-term exclusion than sanitation and physical barriers. One effective non-harmful deterrent is the motion-activated sprinkler. It uses a sudden burst of water to startle the nocturnal visitor, encouraging the possum to seek safer foraging grounds without causing injury.
Repellents exploit the possum’s sensitive sense of smell and taste using intensely unpleasant ingredients. Commercial products often contain bittering agents like Bitrex or concentrated predator urine scents, such as fox or coyote, which signal danger. Home remedies often rely on pungent compounds like garlic, hot sauce containing capsaicin, or Quassia chips, known for their bitter taste.
Repellents must be reapplied frequently to maintain efficacy, especially after rainfall or watering, which quickly washes away active ingredients. Another simple sensory deterrent is bright, sudden outdoor lighting, as possums prefer the cover of darkness. Installing motion-sensitive floodlights can disrupt their activities and cause them to flee the illuminated area.
Avoid nuisance trapping and relocation as a primary strategy, as this approach is often regulated by local laws and rarely provides a permanent solution. Removing one possum creates a vacant territory and food source that another animal will quickly exploit. Focusing on exclusion and habitat modification offers a more humane and sustainable approach to long-term control.