Although we cant completely get rid of them, we can use the 18 natural deterrents to deter them. This ingredient can be used to make a possum deterrent spray by combining hot sauce, detergent, and water. Smaller plants can benefit from being protected by their own covers that have been specifically designed for them. Grabbing molasses or any syrup in your pantry, mixing it with water until it dissolves, and then spraying it onto plants and garden spaces is an easy way to deter those uninvited possums. While their natural diet is gumtree leaves, possums are known to consume fruit on fruit trees and many flowers such as roses, gardenias, and fuchsias. A baby possum is only slightly longer than half an inch at birth. There are numerous ways for a home to manage its population, but not every method is right for it. Arguably maybe the easiest and quickest way to deter possums, molasses is something we all have in our pantries and can be used right now. Quassia concoction works so well and is used to make most commercial organic repellents and products. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Thats why they recommended it. The Virginia opossum is the only member of the genus that stores body fat, and older males may exceed 6 kg (13.2 pounds) in the . Opossums are repelled away by the essential oil. Natural Deterrents For Opossum#2: Ammonia. The Power Of Lavender: Could This Aromatic Herb Help Alleviate Cold Symptoms? This method wont last because when the animal notices that the danger is the only light, it may come back. She has a passion for lavender and has been growing and studying the plant for many years. Dont spray on pets or any other things you may want to eat. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. It is best to sprinkler when it is first noticed that there is a possum problem. They buzz around, sting people, and whats up with those dangling legs?, Read More 7 Sounds And Noises That Wasps Make (How To Identify Them)Continue, Aphids are a common pest found in the garden and yard. To use onions to deter possums, peel an onion, slice it up, and add slices around your garden and the plants that need the most security. Keep possums out of your garden environmentally. They do so to scare away their prey. The quassin is taken from the tree because it is never bothered by pests. Please wait for the mixture to dissolve, then put it into a spray bottle. To do so, some easy and effective ways to deter possums is by using the scents they hate. They are omnivores, which means they eat both vegetation and meat, and they aren't picky. Locate the nest the possum has built in your roof, remove it (when the possum is out and foraging) and place this inside the nest box. If it always seems to be when youre asleep, and it seems to be happening every night what could be going on? Natural possum deterrents Keep possums out of your garden environmentally. While they typically prefer fruits and vegetables, they will also munch on flowers if they are available. It is possible to deter them from leaving by using scents such as camphor, garlic, onion, hot peppers, molasses, wolfs urine, ammonia, and pet fur around where they frequent, allowing you to control them. Hot pepper is one of the most potent scents that you can use to drive them away because it irritates their sense of smell. Because opossums pose little threat and frequently leave on their own, you can effectively manage the steps to keep them away without spending a lot of money. Opossums hate the smell of Vicks. If you are confident that you will be able to rely on a dependable company in the event of an emergency, you will be more at ease. Here are the instructions you need to follow: Precaution needs to be taken because ammonia is harmful to humans and other living things like pets. That said, the stronger the smell, the better. Possums will also eat insects, moths, grubs, snails, birds' eggs and baby birds. If you have pets like dogs around, youll need to be considerate because some of them are usually disturbed. Although birds can provide, Read More 11 Easy Tips To Keep Birds Out Of Your Swimming PoolContinue, Chipmunks can be cute little animals that scamper about and stuff acorns, peanuts, sunflowers seeds, and whatever else in their cheeks. When you do this a few times, an opossum may be repelled, or they may choose to ignore it. Predators have been known to mark their territory with urine. The average possum weighs 5 pounds, where the average opossum weighs. Conclusion about what do possums eat. Possums love to feed on fruits all day long particularly in summer or autumn. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Molasses can work wonders to scare opossums when used in the right way. Despite the fact that oysters are almost certainly harmless, there are a few reasons why they should not be handled or handled in a direct manner. To add pet fur to your outdoor spaces, collect the hair that your pet has shed, or use the hair that is in the brush after you brush your pet and place it around the perimeter of your outdoor spaces. Though they generally prefer food sources that don't fight back, they do occasionally go after animals of various kinds. Opossums have a round face and round body with brown or golden fur, and opossums have gray to white coarse fur with a pointed face. They live along the east coast of Australia in Queensland, New South Wales, Canberra, most of Victoria, Tasmania and the south-west of Western Australia. While their diet consists mostly of plants, they are known to eat small animals, such as rodents, on occasion. Opossums are attracted to their dirty smell, which is any strong smell besides what the creature is used to. Because of the dry, sheltered, and safe environment they prefer to live in, many opossums are discovered living in attics and crawlspaces, or beneath sheds and decks of both residential and commercial buildings. They also can be found rummaging around in compost bins and often snack on native and exotic garden plants, so keeping your garden possum-free is important. Their opposable thumbs allow them to climb trees, feed on insects, and dig up bugs and insects. The smell of hair will trick the opossum into thinking that theres a big predator in the area. This website primarily references personal learning experiences. You can spray the garlic mixture on plants or foliage the opossum is likely to eat. But the truth is they are the furthest from it and not considered rodents at all. Possums eat chicken, eggs, and chicks although that does not make up the largest portion of their diet. Manage Settings Furthermore, opossums dislike the smell of garlic and chili powder, so place some of these in different places around your yard to keep them away. The best opossum repellent is based on the predators urine. Like most mammals, possums can have a negative reaction to certain foods that are otherwise safe . "The best thing to use is blood and bone," Mr Kerin said. They will scent an area to let other possums know they're not welcome. Like other marsupials, the young spend . Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. Your email address will not be published. Although there are more than 60 species of possums in the world, there is only one type of opossum found in the United States, and its called theVirginia Opossum. Dogs or any other pet shouldnt be let roam around when the opossum is around because they may attack the pet when cornered. Some data indicate opossums eat thousands of deer ticks per season, reducing . Both kinds of possum may live in your roof if they can't find suitable homes in trees. Possums are omnivorous animals and will eat just about anything, including flowers. Motion-activated sprinklers can also be used to deter possums from entering areas where they are not welcome. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Remember, possums arent out to ruin your day. Possums (Australia) have furry tails, while opossums (America) have bare tails like a rats tail like the one we see in the USA! Opossums only stay where they feel safe, and if there is pet fur present they most likely will feel threatened due to another species in the area. They will eat anything that they're able to, so if a smaller chicken is within reach, they won't say no. After that, you can keep the mixture in a spray bottle. Opossums like to feel safe, and if they see a coyote, even if its fake, they will do a quick180 and get out of there! A. The hole is approximately the size of a skunk nose. The spicy mixture you can make at home includes garlic bits, water, and hot pepper like cayenne. Fox urine works wonders in getting rid of and preventing possums from entering your backyards. Possums are a suborder of 70 tree-living marsupial species native . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. There are relentless pests whose taste of foliage, flowers, and fruits leaves your backyard or garden messy. Since using the product, I havent seen a opossum in my yard. Neither is living with this creature easy. They Have Impressive Tails. Ammonia smells horrible, and you can use it to remove opossums from your backyard. Bird netting can deter possums too as they cannot climb it, but be aware netting is easy for them to break through. Spices are a great way to scare opossum. Making sure the debris from outdoor projects or indoor projects is cleaned up and placed upright in a position that nothing can get underneath it is the first step in making sure that possums dont move into your outdoor spaces. In the wild, they eat young shoots, leaves, flowers, nectar and fruit of a variety of trees and shrubs. Alternatively, you can use naphthalene crystals to do the same thing. You can either buy predators urine from the shop, or you can collect it. Possums' Eating Habits Possums make a beeline for fresh, juicy young growth, favouring everything from flower buds to vegetable seedlings. Some people also recommend using motion-activated sprinklers or ultrasonic sound devices to deter possums from entering your yard. Therefore limiting opossum from reaching within that area. That means youll have to re-apply each week to keep opossums away. When dealing with these types of urgent issues, it is usually best to consult with a licensed and insured wildlife expert. Occasionally they hunt small animals like rodents, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and birds. It can be as simple as a bucket thats been outside too long, woodpiles, wheel barrels upside down, or any type of debris that makes for a dry, sheltered space. I know how are you getting this? Cleaning up bird debris and droppings from nests is typically done by a wildlife control company. Opossums have a strong sense of smell that they use to locate food. Its leaves are evergreen and are able to tolerate low winter temperatures. Although you can catch possums in a trap and relocate them, it's But rather than always scavenging, possums will remain in their dens for longer periods. All you have to do is get peppermint oil and apply it to the paths or entry point opossum used to get to your home. This is when they can cause the most damage, and if you happen to have them in your attic or on your roof they can keep you up all night because they will be moving around a lot! My interests are photographing animals and plants, vacationing with my family, enjoying my grandchildren, dancing, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, gardening, winter activities, leading nature walks, writing notes on nature, and home improvements (we are renovating our retirement home). More so for the taste, onions will deter possums if theyre growing in a garden. Monitoring your property after youve implemented these strategies will assist you in determining what else you need to do. Possums are small to medium-sized marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, Sulawesi, and Indonesia. You can safely use this type of wildlife control by pouring some ammonia or scattering some mothballs in a coffee can around your yard. Once they have a safe place to stay, the eating begins. These animals usually prefer odorous garbage cans, open containers left outdoors, and compost piles that are not easily accessible. And, if you happen to spray the urine around your outdoor spacesand far enough away from your house,it will act as almost a complete shield from any unwanted visitors. The presence of opossums can be both a nuisance and a source of concern, especially if they are raiding gardens or eating bird eggs. Possums are very resourceful and can fend for themselves. But you dont have to look for the tree because you can buy quassia chips from a nursery. And while it can be heartbreaking to see the local possum has feasted on your hard labours before you got a look in, dealing with wildlife is just a part of gardening. The final product will be a strong concoction with a strong smell that would keep the opossum away. Planting agapanthus, citronella varieties, lavender and rosemary bushes around your veggie patch may help keep the wallabies away. 1 cup molasses and 1 litre of water have to be mixed in a mixing bowl. If you are still unable, you may call a local pest control company to help you eliminate the animal. Male Virginia opossums may grow to 100 cm (40 inches) but average about 76 cm (30 inches) in total length (including the tail); females average about 72 cm (28 inches). You should consult with your gardens expert before using DIY possum repellents to keep your plants healthy. And this depends on the opossum. Once they find their way in your garden, possums will eat potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, peas, beans, herbs like coriander, basil or parsley, chards, broccoli, and many more. If you live near a pond, a drainage ditch, or a sewer, you are more likely to see a opossum in your neighborhood. Alternatively, you may need to use it with a net if you want to protect the vegetable patch. 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