Effective Solutions to Keep Possums Away from Your Home
A possum may look like a cute and cuddly creature. However, in reality it can wreak havoc on your home. Unfortunately for property owners, possums are plentiful in and around the Melbourne area, making it necessary for people to possum-proof their buildings to keep out these nocturnal creatures.
Even if possums pose no real physical danger to you or your family, it can tear up your residence and office and cause an overall nuisance that could disturb the quality your life. These possum removal tips can help you keep possums off your property and away from your garden and trees in your yards.
But first, here’s an important piece of information you should take into consideration. As native animals, the Australian law protects possums. So now matter how much of a nuisance they are to you, there is a very detailed and thorough way of ridding your property of them that only the professionals would know
We strongly urge you to have possum control done at the hands of a professional to avoid any legal issues or getting clamped down with a fine of $5.000.
Having said that, let’s clear the air around a common confusion that most home-owners have. Not all noises in the roof indicate a possum invasion. Often it may just be a rodent or wildcat situation. The key to discerning whether you have a possum problem at hand is realizing the exact time of the noise. Being nocturnal they’re generally quiet while heading out.
Tips for Removing Possums from Your Property
Possums are not the most dangerous and destructive creature you’ll spot in your yard, but that doesn’t make them any less annoying. Possums are typically 4-15 lbs. in size and play “possum,” or, mimic a dead animal, when they feel threatened. This makes them particularly distressing for homeowners, who can’t tell whether or not a possum is actually sick or just trying to be left alone. If you have possums on your property you want to get rid of, here’s where you should start.
Remove Enticing Elements
Like raccoons, possums are looking for a quick meal and shelter. They are very resourceful and not picky eaters, so they will eat any plant or animal matter that is readily available. Possums will also find shelter wherever possible, whether that means an attic or a brush pile. It can take humane animal control services to get them out sometimes!
Remove Entrances
Most of the damage caused by possums happens when they can get inside of your home or barn. Once they take up residence, they will excrete waste, destroy insulation, eat whatever food is available, and be bad house guests. Taking away any potential entrances to your home is essential. Trim any tree branches that hang within 10 feet of your roof, as possums are excellent tree climbers. Close off any entrances to basements, garages, barns, etc. Fix any broken screens or vents that could be used by possums to gain access to your home
Pick the Right Removal Method
If there is a possum inside of your home that shouldn’t be there, you need to choose the right control method for the job
Strategies To Sort Out Pest Possums
Know Your Enemy: The Possum
While it is technically possible for any mammal to get rabies, it’s extremely rare for a possum to have rabies. This is largely due to the possum’s low body temperature, which makes it difficult for the rabies virus to survive. This doesn’t mean getting bit by a possum is necessarily a positive experience, and if you are bitten you should still consult medical attention.
Seal The Entry Points
If you are hearing little foot steps and clawing in your attic, garage, shed, or crawl space underneath your house, chances are you’ve got some sort of animal that’s made it it’s home. No matter what type of critter it is, this preventative measure works for all. Low decks are especially susceptible to be breached by possums if not adequately sealed. Thoroughly inspect your home to identify any possible entry points and close them off to prevent any re-entry.
Get Rid of Any Possible Meals
While you may be excellent company to hang around with, possums are likely only after your food and garbage. Getting rid of any potential food sources won’t give them a reason to hang around your backyard. If they’ve found comfort in your home, however, they are likely searching for food elsewhere and relying on your home or shed for a dwelling.
Rage in the Cage
Since possums are fairly slow, they are very easy to trap in a cage. One must be wary of their tendency to get aggressive when cornered (like any animal), and it’s best to leave this to a professional who can humanely capture and transport the possums.
Scare Them Away
This is one of the most basic pest control tips out there because it works. The vast majority of possums are incredibly aversive to human interaction, so if you see one of them waddling around your backyard, simply making your presence known and warding them off with a stick is enough to get rid of them. If they’ve settled in your home, however, that’s a different story.
How to Get Rid of Oppossums?
Possums are excellent to have around the house. They clear out garbage, feed on harmful insects and have charming, rat-like tails. Not impressed? You’re not alone. While many people have an appreciation for wildlife, it’s best for wildlife to stay in the wild. Having possums lurk around your home in the middle of the night is not the most pleasant thought. So how do you get rid of possums that have become all too eager to call you neighbor? There are a few ways to solve this dilemma.
Regions and identification
“The Virginia opossum (Dedeliphis virginiana) is North America’s only marsupial (“pouched”) mammal. It is found often very abundantly throughout the eastern and midwestern United States westward into Colorado and Texas. It is also found in the western coastal states of California, Oregon, and Washington and in the southern regions of British Columbia. It is not typically found in mountainous regions, in extreme deserts, or in the high northern sections of the United States.”
Disease
Your main reason for questioning how to get rid of possums may stem from a concern about disease. Many people fear that possums are rabid creatures. However, while possums do carry certain diseases, they appear to have a certain resistance to rabies.
Benefit to ecosystem
It is important to get rid of possums that are causing havoc in your home, but not all possums are bad. According to the Wildlife Rescue League, “Opossums are excellent at rodent and insect control, and being carrion eaters, they help keep roadways and neighborhoods clean.”
Opossum control
Opossum removal can be a challenging task. The best method for controlling an opossum population is prevention. The Wildlife Rescue League recommends the following:
Do not leave pet food or trash outdoors at night. This is always an invitation to dinner.
Pick fruit and garden crops when they are ripe to discourage opossums, and do not leave rotten fruit or crops on the ground.
Eliminate brush piles, dilapidated buildings, and holes under concrete slabs – you will eliminate opossum hotels. Opossums use the abandoned burrows of other animals rather than digging their own.
Secure pet doors at night, as opossums occasionally enter homes through pet doors. Once inside, they can generally be coaxed outside with a broom. Opossums seldom stay in one area for more than a few nights, so fear of them “taking over” an area should not be a concern. Occasionally a mother with babies might stay longer, but will leave after a brief period as well.
Live Animal Trapping: Opossums
The Opossum is commonly called the Possum. However, it’s proper name is Opossum, and can be pronounced either uh-possum or just possum. The Opossum is the only living Marsupial found in North America naturally. The adult Opossum’s body found in and around Southern California measure around about 20 inches long and their tail adds another 10-20 inches more. They look similar to a very large rat with a long skinny tail. They are typically furry animals with white or beige fur and usually a white face. Their eyes are typically pink and cannot see well during the daylight. They are nocturnal, nighttime, creatures. The Opossum can eat just about anything, and that means they can live among humans quite well. They are typically nocturnal scavengers that eat our trash, dog and cat food, rodents, dead carcasses of dead animals, insects, our fruits and vegetables, and anything else they can find.
Habitat of the Possum in Santa Barbara County
Opossum are commonly found living in and around residential and commercial areas. We find them living beneath crawlspaces, in burrows, but most commonly we find them occupying sheds, garages, attics and other areas around the home.
Opossum Problems
Opossums found in Santa Barbara County commonly have fleas, lice and ticks, but that’s just the start of it. They are also a very smelly animal that can cause some unpleasant odors around your home. They are also common carriers of all sorts of diseases. This can include diseases like Tuberculosis, Salmonella, Spotted and Yellow Fevers. Because they often live quietly among us, they may infect areas around our house that can cause disease to travel to our domesticated animals and even ourselves. Eating contaminated fruits, vegetables and herbs without a good washing can infect us.
Clean up after live animal trapping
Because Opossum can often be found living in and around your home, such as the garage, crawlspace or attic, clean up is needed of the affected areas. Our live animal clean up services get your residential areas free of the diseases and insects that can be found with the Opossum. Our objective is to give you the comfortable feeling of your home back to you.