Getting Rid of Opossums Humanely

In order to understand how to effectively get rid of opossums, we must first understand their habits and characteristics.

Nocturnal

Opossums are typically nocturnal creatures and tend to be much more active at night than during the day. Although nocturnal, they do not hibernate during the winter season, but they are less active during that time of year.

Solitary

Opossums tend to live alone in solitude, especially when they are not breeding.

Shelter

Because they do not build their own dens, opossums often find shelter in abandoned spaces like attics, woodpiles, basements, tree logs, other animal burrows, and man-made shelters.

Food

Opossums are natural scavengers and often raid garbage cans, dumpsters, open foods, and other accessible canisters. They can often be spotted near roadkill feeding off other dead animals’ flesh. Opossums are also hunters of mice, chicken, snakes, and other smaller animals like worms and insects.

Defenses

When threatened, opossums will often hiss, showing their sharp teeth in the hopes to deter a predator. If that doesn’t work, they go into a natural defense mechanism in which they pretend to be dead, falling to their side, curling up, and foaming at the mouth with their tongues sticking out. This is often referred to as “playing possum”. Opossums are typically harmless, unless they feel attacked, which might cause them to get into a defensive mood to attack a potential predator.

Climbing

Due to their pronated gripping abilities, opossums are great tree climbers and have the ability of a precision grip with which they are able to carry and move objects in a similar fashion as primates. This advantage can make them a potential danger if threatened. 

The first and perhaps most important step in deterring opossums is to remove any and all things that might attract them to your area. Without this step, you can have reoccurring problems with opossums and similar animals, because they will keep coming back. Opossums are natural scavengers and therefore tend to seek out easily accessible food and shelter. As a result, areas with open trash and overly filled canisters are at high risk for opossum exposure. In order to reduce your area to exposure you must:

• Properly remove and conceal all trash bins and canisters. Make sure to never leave any containers open or cracked. Timely disposal of garbage also reduces odor which is likely to keep all scavengers away. Be sure to never leave any garbage exposed, and always clean up immediately after all outdoor gatherings. 
• Be sure to maintain proper yard sanitation and hygiene. Remove all debris or areas that might serve as potential shelter for opossums. This includes tree logs, woodpiles, hollow trees, and other accessible hollow man-made structures like attics and basements. Regular outdoor maintenance is a good practice for keeping opossums away. 
• Remove all pet foods. Just like trash and garbage, pet foods are a common attractant for opossums. Since most people have outdoor pets, they tend to feed outside and often do not properly dispose of the remains. It is important to keep all pet foods indoors and sealed immediately after your pet is finished with it. This will also keep your pets from coming in contact with opossums, which can turn into a vicious squabble over food.

Trapping opossums effectively can sometimes be difficult, so we always recommend seeking professional help first. With that said, trapping is a guaranteed way to temporarily rid your space of opossums, and if done in conjecture with the other tips listed, it is the fastest way to physically handle the issue. 

1. Get a trap.  There are a variety of opossum traps found over the internet and in trusted pest control shops. These traps are available in different forms and sizes; however, the most effective traps are usually spring-loaded cages with one-way doors.
2. Set a bait.  Cage trappings are effective because they use a bait that lures the opossum inside. In order to effectively set your bait, consider disguising the trap cage with some brush, leaves, and grass. Be sure to place the bait inside the trap where it is visible enough to attract the scavenger. Choosing the appropriate bait to use should be fairly easy because opossums are not very picky. Some of the most effective baits include raw eggs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cooked meats, and fresh fruits.

While the trap is set, be sure to keep all pets inside to avoid the risk of capturing them instead. It is also important to check the trap daily, in case you make a catch. Even more importantly, you must be sure to dispose of the opossum quickly and safely without harming yourself or the animal.

Setting up barriers like tall fences or walls help deter opossums by making their entry onto your property a little more challenging. Opossums are excellent tree climbers, so additional attachments (like barbed wire) at the top of the barrier will add an extra level of security to avoid opossums entering into your space.

Using repellents is important and highly recommended, especially after you have physically removed the scavenger from your space. There are two kinds of repellents that work well for keeping opossums away– natural and chemical repellents. 

• Chemical Repellents: Many pest control stores sell chemical repellents designed to keep opossums away by spewing a foul stench they cannot bear to be near. These chemical repellents are to be carefully sprayed around the perimeter of your infected space and away from your doors and windows to avoid drafting the smell indoors.  
• Natural Repellents: Larger pets like dogs make a good natural repellent to ward off scavengers like opossums by scaring them. Opossums can sense danger and would likely be reluctant of coming into your space if they sense competition. More humanely though, one should consider using pet fur as opposed to the actual pet themselves. This is just as effective, and avoids risking the safety of your pet in case the opossum gets aggressive and decides to attack.

Our last and final tip is to seek professional help. Using a professional is a guaranteed way to get rid of opossums safely and humanely without any extra hassle. Professionals will often customize a plan for opossum control geared for your specific needs and situation.