Vicks can be used for a home-made remedy. Mix equal quantities of Vaseline and Vicks VapoRub on a plastic container. Use a knife to spread the mixture along any known possum routes eg along fences. Spotlights trained onto trees can often be effective in reducing possum attacks.
Story possum problems
They hate the smell of the Vicks, and the only reason you mix it with the vaseline is to make it spread easier and further!
What will keep possum away? Rodent repellent spray, peppermint oil, ammonia and cayenne pepper have all proven effective at warding off possums.
Bleach - Spray a solution of bleach (one part) and water (10 parts) around areas you want to keep possums away from. Mothballs - Spread mothballs around to keep them away, or even to flush them out of areas they like to hide in. Molasses - Mix one part molasses with four parts of water in a spray bottle.
Possums like to sleep in the dark, so placing a light in the roof cavity and keeping it switched on for several days and nights may stop them from returning. There are also motion activated ultrasonic devices available that are triggered once a possum crosses the sensor, which may frighten possums away.
Use a natural repellent to deter possums from coming onto your deck. Natural repellents such as peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and vinegar can work a treat. Spray lightly around the deck area. Possums are sensitive to light, so installing some motion-activated lights can keep possums away from your entertaining areas.
Plants to deter possums
But, if you discover some plants that they ignore that grow well, plant more of them! Plants that aren't touched in my garden include acanthus, agapanthus, box and lavender. One handy technique is to include some sacrificial plants in the garden.
Installing motion-activated sprinklers or lights can get expensive. However, it can be effective if you can't seem to keep them away. The sudden light or water will scare the opossums away and deter them from coming back. Predator Guard's Solar LED Deterrent Lights work well for nocturnal predators and pest animals.
Mothballs and bleach effectively deter possums because of their unpleasant smells. Mothballs and bleach both effectively scare away possums. The reason these repellants work is simple: possums can't stand the smell. Their sense of smell is extremely keen, keener than any of their other senses.
There are protective sprays that can help deter possums from browsing on your plants. Yates Possum Repellent Spray is a patented formulation and contains ingredients that repel possums and help reduce feeding damage. You can use it on both edible and ornamental plants.
Main predators include dogs, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, large hawks, and great horned owls. The chance of rabies in opossums is extremely rare. When frightened, opossums bare their 50 sharp teeth and hiss or growl. However, they would rather avoid confrontation and be left alone.
Tea-based deterrent (T): boil two litres of water; add four heaped tablespoons of Lapsang Souchong tea; leave to cool, strain off liquid and apply from plastic spray bottle directly onto affected plants. Reapply every two weeks and always after rain.
Antifreeze is a very dangerous substance, that will not only kill the opossum that you are trying to get rid of it, but could also kill household pets such as cats and dogs, other forms of wildlife that you might actively be trying to encourage in your garden, and even your children if you are not careful!
Possum Deterrence Using Strong Odours
Menthol rubs, perfumed detergents, and even mothballs can deter them when spread around their regular haunts. However, adding chemical substances to your garden may go against the grain for organic gardeners - and it's not necessarily good for the possums either.
Possums are naturally skittish creatures who spend much of their time avoiding predators. Potential predators include domesticated dogs and cats. If you want to scare away a possum, you might want to try keeping a dog or cat around the house. The larger, the better!
“Opossums are shy, harmless animals who are the size of an average housecat,” says Lynsey White, director of humane wildlife conflict resolution for The Humane Society of the United States. “They do not pose any danger to people or pets and [they] want to avoid [us] if they can.”
Possums are repelled by the stench of garlic, ammonia and mothballs. So go ahead and scatter those around where you think possums might hang out. Garlic works best when it's crushed. If you decide to use ammonia, be careful!
Many people believe that moth balls will keep possums away, but this is not the case. Moth balls are actually poisonous to possums, and can kill them if they ingest them. If you're having problems with possums, the best thing to do is to contact a wildlife control specialist.
Possums are nocturnal and mainly feed between dusk and dawn. Brushtail Possums are generally lone creatures, choosing a company when they want to breed.
Animal deterrent.
Deter possums with the unpleasant taste of Epsom salts. Sprinkle it around fence lines and entry points to your house and garden.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection in humans caused by the Leptospira bacterium. Possum feces and urine have a high concentration of these bacteria. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic illness that infects people when they come into contact with possum excrement or urine via a cut or open wound.
Motion sensor lights on your roof are a great way to keep possums away from your home.