Compound 1080 is the most widely used poison (in carrot, cereal and paste baits) for situations where possum numbers need to be reduced rapidly over large areas. Carrot baits are screened to remove small pieces so as to reduce the risk of birds eating baits.
Cyanide poison provides an effective means of controlling possums whilst minimising the potential risk to the environment, birds and other non- target species. Cyanide paste and pellets used by possum hunters is coloured green, so that it should not be mistaken for other non-toxic substances.
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.
Bromodialone (in some Ratsak products) and Difenacoum (e.g. Talon, Mortein, Ratsak Fast Action, Pestoff Rodent Bait 20R, Klerat). Some of the most common rat baits (rodenticides) are attractive and lethal not only to their intended target but to our pets and to wildlife such as Quenda and Possums.
Australian possums often consume rat bait such as warfarin, which causes extensive internal bleeding, usually resulting in death. There is a very poor chance of survival. Possums are also known to consume slug bait, which results in a prolonged painful death mainly from neurological effects. There is no treatment.
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.
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.
Just a word of warning – deliberately baiting possums is illegal and leads to prosecution for cruelty to animals, large fines and/or jail time. ‹ Help! Possums are living in my garage!
Rodenticide poisons are designed to smell and taste good to rodents to entice them to eat it, but they can be just as appealing to wild animals, including squirrels, opossums, skunks, raccoons, and foxes.
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.
Aspirin alone was lethal to four out of 12 female possums, at a dose as low as 250 mg kg−1 (Table 2 and Table S2).
Lethal Traps And Poison
The difficulty with using poison is that there is no legal or registered possum poison for sale on the market. Furthermore, a poisoned opossum will often not die, or the opossum will often become unpredictable and dangerous after being poisoned.
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.
Feratox is the trade name for an encapsulated form of cyanide that has been used for possum control in New Zealand since the 1960s. We use cyanide because: It is fast acting – possums become unconscious within one minute and die three to four minutes later. It is effective for use in high possum density areas.
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.
Possums are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. Possums must not be harmed in any way or kept without approval from DELWP. It is illegal to harass or interfere with possums. However, common brushtail possums living within buildings, municipal parks and municipal gardens may be controlled.
Place camphor blocks OR mothballs in the roof space, particularly around the area where the nest site was. DON”T place both! Possums really dislike these smells, and will be reluctant to return.
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.
The outcome. Yates Possum Repellent Spray deters possums from eating plants. The spray can last for up to seven days. Based on natural substances, it can be used on both ornamental and edible plants with only a one-day withholding period.
“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.”
To keep raccoons, possums, skunks, or other critters out of your garbage, regularly spray the side of your cans with a mixture of half ammonia, and half water. They hate the smell (as we all do) and will stay away. (You can also try using an ammonia-based glass cleaner like Windex, but it's not as strong.)
Look for holes under eaves; loose tiles or roofing iron; or access from underneath a house up through wall cavities to the roof. Possums can squeeze through a nine-centimetre gap!