In addition to ammonia and mothballs, possums will also steer clear of odors of vinegar, garlic, onion, peppermint, and camphor. These strong scents are often used as natural repellents to keep opossums away from gardens, trash cans, and other areas where they may be unwanted.
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!
What home remedy will get rid of possums? Mixing either peppermint oil, ammonia, cayenne pepper, hot sauce or garlic with water in a spray bottle and misting it in possum-prone areas can be effective home remedies.
Carbon dioxide gas is the most appropriate technique to euthanize opossums. Opossums also can be humanely killed with a gunshot to the head, if legal and safe in your area.
Fencing in or clearing out areas in which opossums can hide will eliminate many problems with these animals. If you know where they are hiding near your house, you can also place some rags soaked in apple cider vinegar near the area you see them- they dislike strong odors.
Spicy Peppers – Like garlic, hot peppers produce a taste and scent opossums dislike. Mix one cup of water, a half cup of dish soap, and a half cup of hot sauce or crushed hot peppers together. Spray this mixture around your yard.
A popular internet how-to site advises a large coffee grounuds can, punctured at the top, with an old rag as a wick, can be a great way to keep possums off the porch.
Main predators include dogs, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, large hawks, and great horned owls. The chance of rabies in opossums is extremely rare.
Suitable foods to offer possums
Other favorites include rolled oats, sunflower seeds, dry dog food, baked beans, peanut butter and am sandwiches!
Opossums eat insects, snails and slugs. Opossums are also partial to overripe, fallen fruit on the ground. Opossums aren't the only animals that will be attracted to your food source, other nocturnal animals will become familiar with the goodies to be found at your place.
Motion sensor lights on your roof are a great way to keep possums away from your home. These bright lights scare off the nocturnal possum, preventing it from checking out your roof as its next home.
Plants to deter possums
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. Coppiced gum trees, for example, provide a constant supply of new foliage for the possums to browse.
Small mammals including possums and bandicoots often consume poisons such as snail bait, or rat bait that has been laid out to attract and kill rats, mice, and rabbits. Poisons such as pindone are often added to oats or carrots, and lead to a slow, painful death of internal bleeding.
Although they aren't particularly finicky eaters, the best possum bait is fish or apples. Baiting opossum traps with canned pet food also works well.
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.
Also put 3or4 drops of eucalyptus on a cotton ball and place in the areas where ants/cockroaches hang out – they will move on quick smart! POSSUM REPELLENT - A rag soaked in Eucy Oil and left in the roof keeps possums from nesting there. Re-soak rag from time to time.
Make sure you use appropriate bait such as fruit, berries, vegetables, peanut butter which will attract the possum into the cage. An apple cut in half is a great lure for possums. Place the lure at the end of the trap so that the possum has to walk all the way in and step of the foot plate.
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.
"Possums are very much like people; they are individuals and will react to different things," he said. "What is found to probably be the most effective is a pungent smell." Mr Smith said onion and garlic seemed to be the most successful in small scientific trials looking for natural deterrents.
Vinegar's active ingredient is Acetic acid and it produces a smell that possums do not like. Sprinkling some drops of vinegar in strategic locations can repel them. Be careful not to use vinegar on your plants as it can damage or kill them.