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Tips for Keeping Opossums Off Your Property
They are marsupials native to North America.
At full adulthood, opossums can weigh on average around 15 pounds and measure up to two feet in length.
This is about the same size of a small dog.
This alone can alarm anyone who crosses paths with an opossum since many assume they are the size of rats or rabbits.
Although not an animal known for viciousness, it can attack and bite in self-defense if it feels threatened.
This is a bad scenario since possums can be carriers of infectious diseases.
It is never a good sign to spot a possum on your property for a number of reasons.
Not only are they known carriers of infectious diseases, they cause landscaping and property damages too.
Gardens, lawns, gutters, roofs, trash cans, and more are all common areas of a property damaged by opossums and other nuisance wildlife.
Also, opossums do not like to travel far, which means if you see one, its den is most likely somewhere close by.
For this reason and more, it is wise to implement some methods to keep opossum off your property.
Get Rid of Opossums The first step to keeping possums off your property is to remove all sources of food, water, and shelter.
To accomplish this, remove all pet food, bird seed, squirrel feeders, water bowls, trash cans, and any other types of food and water.
Since opossums are nocturnal, be sure to only take your trash cans out to the curb on the morning of pickup day.
Opossums will dig through garbage bags and rummage through all the trash in search of food scraps.
Eliminating this common possum attraction and others can reduce the frequency at which they visit your property.
You may also install motion sensor lighting and sound machines to scare nocturnal wildlife away.
Since you don't want to remove the fruits and vegetables in your garden, install a fence around it instead.
This will thwart various types of wildlife from entering and eating all the crops.
Try sprinkling clove oil or cinnamon around the perimeter of your garden for a natural wildlife repellant.
As for shelter, opossums like to make their dens in hidden places, safe from predators.
When it comes to residential properties, common areas to inspect are underneath decks and porches.
If there are animals living beneath certain areas of your home, they need to be drawn out with bait, and then the opening of that area needs sealed.
This will make opossums move on and find new shelter elsewhere since they are unable to return to their spot.
Use marshmallows, boiled eggs, or canned tuna fish to lure them out of hiding, then use that time to seal up their access points.
Opossums are great climbers and will also use trees for shelter and protection.
They can climb trees and access rooftops if tree limbs can reach the top of the house.
Once nuisance wildlife has access to your roof, they can find access inside attics or cause major shingle damage.
Trim tree limbs that are close or against your house.
This will eliminate access to your roof and remove a likely hang-out spot for possums.
Contact a local wildlife control company for professional help getting rid of pesky opossums.
They retain the proper tools, training, and resources to exclude nuisance wildlife and prevent their return.
Some companies even offer minor attic and crawl space restorations and other repairs caused by animal damage.
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