You're outside at night and hear rustling near the trash cans. When you shine your flashlight, two beady eyes glare back at you from a pointy white face. That moment when you realize you've got opossums in your yard? Yeah, I've been there too. Last spring, they tore through my chicken wire and ate all my garden strawberries. Not fun.
Why Opossums Move Into Your Property
Before we get into how to get rid of opossum, you should know what attracts them. These guys aren't picky eaters. During my first encounter, I learned they'll eat anything from pet food left outdoors to fallen fruit. Here's what they're after:
| Attractant | Why It Works | Real-Life Example |
|---|---|---|
| Unsecured trash | Easy buffet access | They tore through my neighbor's plastic bin lids |
| Pet food bowls | Free meals with zero effort | My cat's dinner disappeared nightly until I brought it in |
| Fruit trees | Natural sugar source | They demolished my persimmons before they ripened |
| Compost piles | Insect buffet | Found 3 juveniles feasting in my vegetable scraps |
| Shelter spots | Safe nesting areas | They nested under my deck for 2 weeks |
Signs You Have Opossums (Not Raccoons)
At first I thought raccoons were stealing my vegetables. But the droppings looked different - smaller and more pointed. Here's how to tell if it's actually opossums:
- Tracks show opposable thumbs on back feet (looks like tiny handprints)
- Distinctive droppings: 1-2 inches long, tapered ends
- Damage to low-hanging fruits/vegetables
- Nests under decks/sheds made of shredded materials
- Pet food disappearing overnight
Funny story - I once set up a wildlife camera only to catch an opossum casually strolling past at 3 AM, completely ignoring my expensive "raccoon-proof" trash can.
Humane Removal Methods That Work
When it comes to getting rid of opossum, cruelty-free methods are best. I've tried nearly everything over the years. Some worked great, others were total failures.
Immediate Removal Tactics
| Method | Cost Range | Effectiveness | My Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live trapping | $35-$150 (trap) | High when done correctly | Caught 3 in one week - use cat food as bait |
| Bright motion lights | $20-$80 | Medium for deterrence | Worked better near dens than feeding areas |
| Ammonia-soaked rags | <$10 | Low-medium | Only worked when placed directly in den entrances |
| Predator urine granules | $15-$30 | Variable | Coyote urine worked best but needs frequent reapplication |
Important note: Check your local laws! Many states require permits or have restrictions on trapping and relocating wildlife. When I relocated my first opossum, I didn't know California requires release within 150 yards of capture point.
Natural Repellents Worth Trying
After wasting money on commercial sprays that did nothing, I experimented with homemade solutions:
- Garlic spray: Blend 2 bulbs with 1 quart water, strain, spray perimeter
- Pepper solution: 1 tbsp cayenne + 1 quart water (shake well)
- Vinegar barrier: Soak rags in white vinegar near entry points
Downside? You'll smell like a pickle factory after application. But it kept them off my berry bushes for almost three weeks before needing reapplication. Much cheaper than commercial repellents that cost $25+ per bottle.
Prevention: Keeping Them Out Long-Term
Getting rid of opossums is only half the battle. Here's how I made my property permanently less inviting:
Landscape Modifications
- Installed 4-foot metal flashing around deck base ($85 for materials)
- Trimmed tree branches 5+ feet from roof
- Removed brush piles within 50 feet of house
- Planted mint around garden perimeter (they hate the smell)
Food Source Elimination
| Problem Area | Solution | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Trash cans | Bungee cords + weight on lid | $10-15 |
| Compost pile | Animal-proof bin with locking lid | $90-150 |
| Pet food | Feed indoors only | Free |
| Fruit trees | Harvest promptly + install tree collars | $25-50 per tree |
| Bird feeders | Use pole baffles + clean fallen seed | $20-40 |
That compost bin hurt my wallet initially, but it paid for itself when I stopped losing vegetables. Cheaper than replacing plants every season.
When to Call Professional Wildlife Control
Sometimes DIY isn't enough. How to get rid of opossum professionally? Here's when it's worth the cost:
Situation Assessment Guide
| Situation | DIY Possible? | Professional Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Single opossum in yard | Yes | N/A |
| Nesting in attic/walls | No | $300-$600 |
| Aggressive behavior | No | $250-$400 |
| Multiple animals present | Maybe | $175-$350 |
| Sick/injured animal | No | Often free (animal control) |
Last year I paid $375 for professional exclusion services after finding a family in my attic. Worth every penny - they sealed 7 entry points I'd missed and guaranteed no re-entry for a year.
Choosing a Wildlife Service
Ask these questions before hiring:
- "What's your live-release policy?" (avoid companies that euthanize)
- "Can you show me entry points after inspection?"
- "Do you offer prevention guarantees?"
- "Are you licensed for wildlife work?"
Opossum Behavior Myths vs Facts
Before you panic about how to get rid of opossum, let's clear up misconceptions:
| Myth | Reality | Source |
|---|---|---|
| They're aggressive carriers of rabies | Extremely low rabies risk due to low body temperature (CDC data) | CDC research |
| "Playing dead" is voluntary | Involuntary stress response (lasts 1min-4hrs) | Wildlife biology studies |
| They attack pets | Extremely rare - will usually flee | ASPCA reports |
| Destroy property like raccoons | Cause minimal structural damage | Wildlife damage surveys |
Honestly, after learning they eat thousands of ticks weekly, I tolerate the occasional garden raid. Better than Lyme disease!
Essential Safety Precautions
Dealing with wildlife requires caution. When I tried getting rid of opossum myself, I learned:
Protective Gear Essentials
- Heavy leather gloves (not cloth - their teeth are sharp)
- Eye protection when cleaning dens/feces
- N95 mask for droppings cleanup
- Long-sleeve shirt even in summer
Disease Risks Overview
| Disease | Transmission Risk | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Leptospirosis | Medium (urine contamination) | Wear gloves, disinfect areas |
| Fleas/ticks | High during handling | Wear protective clothing |
| Salmonella | Low (fecal contact) | Wash hands thoroughly |
| Parasites | Low without direct contact | Keep pets dewormed |
Seasonal Considerations
Timing matters for how to get rid of opossum:
- Spring: Avoid removal during baby season (Feb-May)
- Summer: Focus on water source elimination
- Fall: Secure structures before winter denning
- Winter: Trapping less effective - they move less
I learned this the hard way when I trapped a mother in May, not realizing she had babies hidden nearby. Had to call rehabbers for the orphans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kills opossums naturally?
Honestly, not much besides cars and larger predators. They have few natural enemies. Prevention works better than lethal methods which are often illegal anyway.
Will lights keep opossums away?
Motion-activated floodlights help somewhat, but they adapt quickly. I found combining lights with noise works better. Radio tuned to talk stations under decks sometimes works.
Do mothballs repel opossums?
Not effectively and they're toxic. Waste of money in my experience. The smell dissipates too fast outdoors.
How fast do they reproduce?
Females have 2 litters/year with 8-20 babies, but less than 30% survive. Still, one pregnant female can start a colony quickly if you have good habitat.
What time are they most active?
Peak activity between 11 PM - 2 AM based on my trail cameras. They usually return to dens by 4 AM.
Can they climb fences?
Surprisingly poorly compared to raccoons. A 4-foot smooth fence usually stops them if there's no leaning objects nearby. Chicken wire is useless though - they tear right through it.
Final thought? Persistence pays off. It took me three months to fully opossum-proof my property, but now I rarely see them. The key is eliminating WHY they came, not just removing the animals. Good luck!
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