Opossum Prevention - How to Keep Opossums Away
How To Keep Opossums Away - There are a number of
different ways that you can use to try and deal with an animal
problem, and although they may be cute, opossums are definitely
a problem animal when they find out how to get into your
garbage, or even into a part of your home. These can range from
changing the layout of your yard or garden to removing any food
sources that the opossum would use, and while they are practical
measures, they are also things you may not necessarily think
about. By taking certain steps around your home and garden, you
can reduce the chances that opossums will be causing more
problems for you in the future.
What Attracts Opossums To The Area Around Your Home
Primarily, opossums will go wherever they can find a source of food,
and when it comes to places where they have been successful in
finding food once, they will often return to the same location to
see if they can find more food. Opossums are not necessarily scared
or cautious around domestic pets too, so unless you have a dog that
is likely to try and chase the opossum away, you may even find it
eating and drinking from your pet's water bowl and food bowl. As
well as food sources, during the mating season they can also be
looking for somewhere safe, dark and warm to raise their young, so
may look for cavities in cellars or attics, along with spaces under
a porch, decking or under a shed.
Securing Garbage
This is one of the main ways that the opossum will have when it
comes to scavenging food, and there is no doubt that leaving garbage
sacks somewhere that the opossum can smell the contents will draw
the animal. The best steps to take when it comes to deal with
garbage sacks is to place them within a secured container which
won't allow the scent to escape will help to reduce the chance that
it will attract the animals. If you do keep your garbage sacks in a
garage or shed, ensuring that they are in good condition with no
holes or weak points that would allow the opossum access is another
good move.
Removing Any Fallen Fruit From Your Garden
If you do have fruit trees in the garden, any fruit that drops to
the floor is a potential food source for the opossum, and many
people will not necessarily think to check for fallen fruit
regularly. Try to do this as often as possible, as the quicker the
fruit is removed then the less likely it is to become an attractive
meal for the opossum. Reducing access to or removing plants that
have ground level fruits such as strawberries and raspberries can
also help to keep opossums away.
Keeping Pet Food In A Secure Container
Pet food is a very attractive food source for opossums, and the fact
that it is often left outside for pets, or stored in sacks that are
easy to cut open make it an easy food source for an opossum. Make
sure that the pet food is stored securely, and where possible look
to transfer the food from a sack to a sealed container, especially
if you are planning on keeping it in a shed or garage.
Property Maintenance
There are several areas around the home where opossums can take
advantage to either gain access to food or to find a new place to
nest, and to raise their young if they locate it during the mating
season. A very important area to focus on is the maintenance of the
fence around the property, and checking the material is in good
condition, or that the mesh is small enough to keep out the opossum
in a metal fence, is very important.
Opossums are known for being able to climb trees, so making sure
that the masonry of your property is in good condition both around
ground level and around the roof line is very important. Equally,
make sure that any spaces under sheds, decking or porches are
protected by a steel mesh, to ensure that the opossums don't find a
comfortable home on your territory.
Problems Caused By Opossums
There are some very good reasons to try and keep opossums away from
your property, as they can be a real pest when it comes to digging
in the garbage, even if you're just putting it out on the street on
the morning it is due to be collected. They are also known for
carrying diseases, and while they don't have as many as other
species such as rats, they do still carry some zoonotic diseases. If
they do find their way into the attic, they can make a lot of mess
as they create their den, which is another reason why you don't want
these animals living around your property.
You can also read about
Do Opossums Make
Good Pets? Go back to the main
Opossum
Removal page for more information about opossum prevention,
and more information about how to keep opossums away.
Read more articles about opossums based on my years of experience as a professional. Learn all
About opossums, and see what kind of
damage they can cause. Find out if you should feed a found
baby opossum, what to do if you find an
orphaned baby opossum, and learn if
opossum feces are dangerous to touch or breathe. Learn what
equipment is needed to trap an opossum, the
best bait to catch the critter, and what to do with it
after you catch it, including some humane ways to
kill an opossum in a cage. Read about the
diseases opossums carry, if it's safe to handle an opossum with
bare hands, and if an opossum that is active in the daytime
sick or rabid.
I can walk you through how to
find and remove a dead opossum, and show you ways to keep oposums
away from your property, and get them
out of your attic. Find out, too, what
attracts opossums to your property so you can take preventitive measures to keep them away.