Opossum Control: How To Get Rid Of Opossums

This page is a general Opossum control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Possums. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Possums. Consult your local and state guidelines to see if the Possum is a protected species in your location before applying control and proceed with caution as Opossums can be dangerous.

Have you been startled by the appearance of an oversized rodent? It likely was an Opossum. Opossums or “Possums” are about 2 feet long and measure about 6 to 15 pounds. They have long tails and sharp claws. They have a pointed snout and sharp teeth.

Possums will often hide inside tree trunks and places that provide them with harborage. They are most commonly seen around dumpsters, close to wooded areas, and near homes and structures (like basements and garages), especially at night.

Possums are constantly on the hunt for food and will venture onto residential areas not only looking for food (garbage, fruits, vegetables, worms, etc.) but also looking for harborage areas which means crawl spaces, garages, and wall voids in the home.

Possums can wreak havoc in gardens and backyards by feeding on crops and vegetables. They have been known to get into fights with pets. Aside from this, they also carry a high number of diseases such as tuberculosis, tularemia, spotted fever, Chagas diseases, leptospirosis.

If you want to know how to get rid of opossums on your property, follow our DIY guide for product recommendations and instructions.

Identification

Identification is the first step in control. Before you can treat you need to make absolutely sure you’re dealing with Opossums. Below you can find the common characteristics that set Possums apart.

• Opossums weigh between 6 to 15 pounds and are typically 2 feet long from the snout to the tail.
• They have silver-colored fur with white tips, a white face, black paws and ears.
• Their feet have five toes and sharp claws.
• They have a long pointy snout.
• An opossum will "play dead" when they are threatened. The animal will look - and even smell - like they are dead. They will not move, their mouths will be open, and their anal glands will secrete an odor. This is a defense mechanism that can last between a few minutes to a few hours.
• An opossum is a scavenger and mainly feeds on carcasses and plants, but they are adaptable and will also consume small animals, insects, and sweet foods. Take caution when approaching or handling this animal. They are great climbers and are able to swim.

Use the image and description above to confirm that you are dealing with an opossum on your property. If you are not totally sure, contact us and we will try to assist you with proper identification.

Inspection

Once you have confirmed that your pest animal is an opossum, it is helpful to recognize the areas in the garage where it is most active. Perform an inspection to pinpoint where the Opossum is frequenting as this is where you will want to place your trap.

Where To Inspect

Indoors you’re looking in wall voids, cracks and crevices, basements, garage and attics. Possums are most likely in your basement looking for shelter. If you have any clutter or storage bins in your garage, they are most likely near these particular spots. Search the corners and crevices of the garage as well.

Outdoors you’re looking in your yard, near your garbage cans, and close to trees. If you have a crawl space or any type of opening under your house, possums may be there as well.

What To Look For

You’re looking for Possum activity. Often times this means finding overturned garbage cans, spilled bird feeders, and pet food that has been eaten. While these all could be signs of wildlife in your property, the best telltale sign is their droppings. They are fairly large and tend to be curved, with sides being smooth. They are 0.75 inches in diameter and have tapered ends.

Outside your home, search the foundation of your property for cracks and crevices, holes, crawl spaces, openings in the foundation, or vents that have been tampered with, and possible harborage areas in your home. If you suspect that an opossum is living inside your property listen carefully at night.

You will be able to discern the sounds they make in either the attic, garage, or the basement. By going up to the basement and inspecting their dropping you might be able to discern if it is an Opposum or not. Once you have confirmed Opossum activity on your property, you can proceed with treatment.

If you believe you have an Opossum inside your home, we suggest calling animal control or a professional that can help you get control and trap the animal.

Treatment

Now that you have identified your pest animal as an opossum and taken note of areas where it is most active, you can use the Solutions Humane live trap to trap the rodent. Be sure to wear gloves when handling the trap to prevent leaving your scent. If a possum picks up a human scent on the trap, it will avoid the trap, which will make it ineffective.

Step 1 - Remove Food Sources

You want the Opossum to enter the live trap with the help of bait. You also want to make sure they do not leave the basement or garage and enter your home.

Because of this, competing food sources need to be removed. Keep your trash sealed in trash bags and stored outside in bins with a lid. Other food sources, such as pet food, should be stored inside.

Step 2 - Place the Trap

By now, you should have taken note of areas with high possum activity. These areas are where you will put your trap. When humane trapping animals, always consider the environment in which you plan to set the trap. For instance, note if the area sees heavy or constant sunlight. When you successfully catch an animal, you do not want it left in the direct heat for too long, so it is best to place your trap in a secluded, shaded area.

Be sure to place your trap on an even surface. An Opossum might push or knock over the trap in order to reach the bait inside. Place a brick or weight on top of the trap to avoid this.

Step 3 - Bait and Set the Trap

Using the proper bait will increase your chances of catching a possum. These animals prefer sweet foods such as honey buns. The bait should be placed near the back of the trap. This ensures that the opossum will need to step on the trigger plate in order to reach the food.

You will then set your trap by pushing on the door lock and lifting the door plate. Keep the door plate lifted while pulling the trigger arm forward to set it. You will know it is set when the trigger arm's hook catches the door.

Step 4 - Monitor the Trap

You will need to check the traps twice a day, preferably once in the morning and once in the evening. This is when you will refill bait if needed. Checking the trap frequently may dissuade possums from approaching the trap. Do not keep an animal trapped in the cage for longer than 24 hours.

Step 5 - Relocate the Opossum

Any non-target animals should be released immediately. Once you have captured a possum in your live trap, check your local authorities to make sure you are correctly relocating the animal. Approach the trap slowly and use a gentle voice. Place a towel over the cage to avoid frightening the possum. Once you have relocated far enough, carefully open the trap and release the animal.

Detour Sealant

To use Detour Sealant you will need a caulking gun. Cut the tip of the tube diagonally. Apply in cracks and crevices, openings, wall voids, crawl spaces, or anywhere where you believe wildlife might harbor. One tube comes in a 10-ounce tube and covers 2,000 square feet.

Prevention

After using your live trap, you want to make sure that wild animals do not invade your property again. By modifying your yard and enacting exclusion measures you can prevent most Opossums from infesting your yard. You can take some preventative measures to keep your area possum-free. 

• Start by fixing and repairing any holes and gaps in your fence. Also, use caulking, copper mesh, or our Detour Sealant to fill and seal any cracks or crevices in the foundation of your structure. Make sure all vents have appropriate screening.
• Pick fruits that might fall in your yard from neighboring trees, pick up pet food at night and don’t leave it outside, and build a wire mesh fence around your plants and vegetables to prevent Opossums from eating them.
• If possible get rid of bird feeders, which when spilled, will fill your yard with food that Opossum will eat.
• Close our garbage cans with bungee cords to prevent Possums from getting inside. With these changes to your yard and home, and by repairing any entry point into your home, you will reduce the likelihood of Opossums in your property.

Key Takeaways

What are Opossums?

• Opossums are nocturnal animals with gray fur, a white face, and a long hairless tail. They can access your garage or basement if an opening is large enough. Possums can potentially destroy storage bins, wiring, and piping, as well as leaving behind droppings and odor.

How To Get Rid of Opossums from your property, garage or basement

• Trapping is the best form of getting rid of an Opossum intruder whether they be out in your yard, in the basement or your garage or any other area on your property.
• Bait the Solutions Humane Live Animal Trap with an attractive piece of food the Opossum will want to eat or check out for the best results.
• Check the trap once in the morning and once in the evening. Once an opossum is caught, check with your local authorities to make sure you safely and correctly release it.

Preventing Opossum Reinvasion

• Remember that when it comes to Possum control prevention is the best form of control. Enact exclusion measures around your structure and in your structure as well, and get rid of possible food from your yard. This will prevent many times of wildlife from coming to your property, including Opossums.
• Detour Sealant is an excellent form of exclusion that can be used to seal off the frequented areas you have seen Opossums around.