How can you tell if you have a possum?

Should your infestation be a group of opossums, you may notice any combination of the following five signs.

  1. Opossum Damage: Damage to the Building Exterior.
  2. Disappearing Pet Food.
  3. Frequent Animal Vocalizations.
  4. Loud Scratching Noises.
  5. Pervasive Unpleasant Smells.

How do you tell if you have a possum in your yard?

Look for openings in a fence that are at least 3 inches in diameter. Trees that overhang into the yard can provide opossums with access. Look for scratch marks in the bark. If it looks like an animal dug its way into the yard, it is likely not an opossum.

Why is a possum in my backyard?

If there is an opossum in the backyard, don’t worry. They aren’t a threat, and more than likely they will be moving on in a short while. But far from being a nuisance, opossums can be beneficial for your garden, eating snails, slugs, insects and sometimes even small rodents.

Is it bad to have possums around your house?

Do not make your place inviting to opossums! Opossums eat tons of bugs and ticks, are immune to most snake venom, and not susceptible to rabies, so having them around are not a bad thing. They just need to be controlled. Watch the outside of your house at night to see if you catch an opossum leaving.

What attracts possums to your house?

They are attracted to overflowing or odorous trash cans, uncovered compost heaps or other containers that you may have outside. They like to set up their habitat near water or moist areas. If you live near a pond, drainage ditch or sewer, you’re more likely to see opossums on your property.

Do possums chew through walls?

Dealing with an opossum problem is similar to dealing with a rodent infestation. If an opossum enters your attic and finds itself stuck, it may try to chew through the wall, air ducts, or insulation to get out. Opossums make a huge mess while they are foraging for food.

What do you do if there is a possum in your house?

Opossum in the House

  1. Use a tool, such as a snare pole as seen below, to grab the animal and bring it outside, or in a trap.
  2. Grab the animal by the tail.
  3. Open all the doors and wait for it to walk out, or usher it along with a push broom.

What is so bad about opossums?

Opossums become dangerous with their ability to transmit diseases to pets and people. Known to carry leptospirosis, tuberculosis, coccidiosis, spotted fever, tularemia, and other diseases, the pesky creatures pose serious health threats when they invade urban environments.

What do possums hate?

Did you know possums hate the smell of garlic? That’s right! So, you could consider crushing garlic pods and spreading them around the area. Although they hate the smell of ammonia too, we advise you to stay away from it to avoid any health-hazards caused due to exposure.

What do you do if you have a possum in your yard?

Leave the opossum alone and enjoy watching wildlife in your own backyard. However, if the opossum is injured or an orphan (less than 7 inches from nose to rump) then contact the Opossum Society of the United States, a local wildlife rehabilitator, a veterinarian, or your local animal shelter for help.

What smell do possums hate?

Ammonia and garlic are scents that possums tend to flee from. If using ammonia, pour a small amount of ammonia into a coffee can with a lid. Place a rag inside the ammonia and bring one end up through a hole cut into the lid. The rag will act as a wick to disperse the fumes.