Common Brushtail Possum The Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is about the size of a cat. After that, strain it and pour it in a spray bottle. Male Virginia opossums may grow to 100 cm (40 inches) but average about 76 cm (30 inches) in total length (including the tail); females average about 72 cm (28 inches). That's my buddy, Vito. When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. In the wild, the opossums diet consists primarily of plants and small animals, with a few exceptions. Possums are known to consume more than 50 chicks in one night whether dead or alive. In fact, the scent of cats or dogs is . Opossums only stay where they feel safe, and if there is pet fur present they most likely will feel threatened due to another species in the area. 5. What do Opossums Eat? Natural possum deterrents Keep possums out of your garden environmentally. This is the time of year when you find opossums under your decks or in your attics because they will find warmth in those spots and will hang out for a few days at a time until they have to leave to get more food. Possums are nocturnal animals that are native to Australia. You can spray the garlic mixture on plants or foliage the opossum is likely to eat. Besides that, opossums attract other animals, and if you can avoid having a possum situation at all its best to prevent them. 11 Easy Tips To Keep Birds Out Of Your Swimming Pool, Why Vinegar Repels Chipmunks (And How To use It), 11 Natural Predators That Eat Flies: In-Depth Look, Why Scale Can Spread To Other Plants (And What To Do). Possums eat the leaves, flowers and fruits of a wide variety of native and exotic trees and shrubs. Possums eat chicken, eggs, and chicks although that does not make up the largest portion of their diet. For the latest information, searchABC Emergency, For the latestweather warnings in the Northern Territory, search onABC Emergency, Follow the action from the third Test between India and Australia in Delhi in our live blog. Blood and bone fertilizer is also a time-tested strategy for keeping possums away. The smell of hair will trick the opossum into thinking that theres a big predator in the area. Contrary to myth, opossums do not hang upside down by their tails when sleeping. Your email address will not be published. In fact, no one should ever be close enough to the scent to breathe in the fumes of it, and if you are using it, ammonia should always be handled with extreme caution. Hot Pepper Keeps Raccoons Away. Opossums also love to eat ticks up to 5,000 in a single season! They are one of the oldest living mammal species. The stink bomb will block the path and the smell deter opossums from gaining entry. It is best to use the same batch every two weeks or every time the weather changes. Vegetables, berries, nuts, and fruits are their . Purchasing motion lights or animal deterrent lights like theseThanos Nighttime Animal Deterrent Lightswill scare nocturnal animals away. These have been beneficial not only to possums, but also to white cabbage moth caterpillars. Believe it or not,opossums do not hibernateand are out and about during the colder months. Although both marsupials possums are classified as Diprotodontia and opossums are classified as Didelphimorphia. Fox urine works wonders in getting rid of and preventing possums from entering your backyards. A. If you want to keep possums at bay in your garden, use a garlic spray made from crushed garlic that has been left in hot water overnight. Bear in mind that sprinklers work well when opossums are within their circumstances or range. William Krause. The only things that didnt work were high-beam sensor lighting or alternative food (fruit scraps). Its best to use garlic oil to repel opossums as the scent will be stronger and, thus, more effective. Possums also prey on reptiles like snakes, especially venomous snakes like the rattlesnake and the pit viper, as they are immune to their venom as well. Quassia chips come from a South American tree bark called picrasma excelsa. What youll need is two liters of water, and four tablespoons of Lapsang Souchong tea. Predators have been known to mark their territory with urine. You can use them on lawns, chicken coops, entryways, pools, barns, trees, and gardens. Garlic has such a strong scent that it scares away possums. In the wild, they will munch on nuts, grass and fruit.. The good news is, that all these natural deterrents are an excellent way of keeping opossums away. These powders work on the opossums sense of smell and taste. Possums will eat practically any food source they can find and gain access to. Just to add when you shop using links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. 07 of 11 Lily-of-the-Valley As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Plum Tree This is another plant that is supposed to be toxic to rabbits but they were hungry enough to eat the leaves from low hanging branches. If you live in New Zealand, you should humanely trap them and call animal control to have them removed. Possums are used to eating insects, small rodents, and road kill. With a smell that almost burns the senses, opossums tend to stay away from onions. Thus, you will need to find creative ways to discourage them from getting into your garden, eating specific plants, or blocking them from your yard altogether. If this doesnt seem to help, placing minced garlic on small plates in your gardens can do the trick. Non-toxic tips to keep animals from eating your garden, There is an emergency bushfire warning in place for Maintongoonin Victoria. Finally, spray the plants, leaves, veggies, or fruits that you think opossums might eat. Opossums wont stand a strong smell. However, it's not common since chickens are much larger than what possums usually eat. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Bird netting can deter possums too as they cannot climb it, but be aware netting is easy for them to break through. Accessibility to food is most often not a problem because of their anatomical makeup and feeding habits. Place a piece of fruit inside the nest box. "They like climbing on quite rigid structures, so if it does wobble they'll fall off," he said. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. And special small mesh wire can be bought that will stop mice getting through. Rats are known for their love of eating basil. To make a stink bomb, youll need to suck the blood and bone fertilizer. They can kill 95% of ticks in the ticks season as well as eat other pests like rats, cockroaches, mice absolutely free. 3. Grabbing molasses or any syrup in your pantry, mixing it with water until it dissolves, and then spraying it onto plants and garden spaces is an easy way to deter those uninvited possums. Many herbs have vegetation and/or leaves that smell wonderful to humans but that pests find repellent. Some of these include: roses, daffodils, tulips, and lilies. This method wont last because when the animal notices that the danger is the only light, it may come back. Using fox urine may attract foxes to your yard, so if you have a chicken coop or small pets, just be wary before trying this method. What smells keep possums away? Opossums are known for scavenging though trash. Possums are mainly, plant eaters, favouring eucalyptus and other leaves, ferns, buds, flowers and fruits. Ammonia has a powerful odor due to the presence of a toxic substance. They will eat anything that they're able to, so if a smaller chicken is within reach, they won't say no. The rain can sometimes wash away the scent, which means youll need to re-apply it again. With any scent deterrent, be sure to reapply the scent often to keep the smell strong and effective. It is beneficial for both you and the animals if you keep your animals away from your property. Then youll have to place the old sack to a place where the opossum enters your property. Best of all, opossums have a taste for ticks. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Much like foxs urine, pet fur works to get rid of possums by establishing a predator territory. This makes for an interesting contrast in the breeze and can be used to create dramatic impact if you like playing around with foliage colours in your plantings. The skunk presses its nose to the soil and digs with its long, front claws. Phalangeriformes. There are times when the scent cant work anymore because opossum is used to them. For best results, lavender should be grown in well-draining, neutral to alkaline soil. Their omnivorous diet includes insects, ticks , small rodents, frogs, birds, and berries. Possums, like opportunists, will never pass up an opportunity to get their hands on a tasty meal. Alternatively, you may need to use it with a net if you want to protect the vegetable patch. Weve all seen them around school buildings or in areas with any type of business where land is plentiful;coyote decoys or fox decoys help keep opossums and other pests away. Shallow holes in the ground, surrounded by a ring of loosened soil. Furthermore, opossums dislike the smell of garlic and chili powder, so place some of these in different places around your yard to keep them away. Opossums, in some cases, can be good for your gardens because they love to eat insects, snails, slugs, and even small rodents. While they may not eat the entire plant, they can cause significant damage to a lavender patch if they are not stopped. Among plants, they eat fruits and nuts. Mosquito repellents contain components of predators urine that elicit a fear response in pests. You can reduce the likelihood of unwelcome possum visits in your home by following these tips. You may be able to come up with some ideas. But either way, if you have a possum or opossum problem and scents are not working, there are some other things you can try. Being accomplished climbers, they're particularly fond of dining on tree fruits, feasting in peace up in the branches. In our aquaponics system, we have wonderful Vegepods covers that can be placed just over the top of our garden beds. Bear in mind that essential oils are strong, and you shouldnt apply them in areas where youll be spending lots of time unless you love the smell. They are omnivores, which means they eat both vegetation and meat, and they aren't picky. The smell deters these creatures from foraging your garden, yard, or climbing the roof. Smaller plants can benefit from being protected by their own covers that have been specifically designed for them. As opportunistic scavengers, opossums will feast on a wide variety of foodstuffs. What garden vegetables do possums eat? Because of the dry, sheltered, and safe environment they prefer to live in, many opossums are discovered living in attics and crawlspaces, or beneath sheds and decks of both residential and commercial buildings. Opossums will also den where there is a lot of brush and bushes because the thick branches and leaves will help keep them dry and hidden away. My interests are photographing animals and plants, vacationing with my family, enjoying my grandchildren, dancing, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, gardening, winter activities, leading nature walks, writing notes on nature, and home improvements (we are renovating our retirement home). by Emily Rascoe | Nov 14, 2022 | Lavender Cooking Ideas. The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates the sinus of an opossum when they directly smell it and thus, keeps them away. The quickest way to get rid of an opossum is to wait a few days. 3. A heavy mulch of blood and bone fertilizer can be put on the fence. Most states, on the other hand, do not allow naphthalene and ammonia use because their vapors are poisonous and can penetrate into buildings and even poison the soil if allowed to do so. Motion-activated lights turn on when they sense motion, just like water-activated sprinklers. While possums are generally thought to be generalist feeders they do sometimes turn out to be opportunistic particularly they wish to eat fruits. In town, it feeds on vegetables from your garden and rummages in your trash cans. Living the nocturnal lifestyle, possums are commonly seen at night, and although very cute up close, they may scare you if you werent expecting one! Fortunately, possums are not out looking for your cat when they scrounge for food. And this depends on the opossum. To recap, the 8 scents you can use to repel opossums include: If you are ever unsure about a possum or find it too much to handle, get help from a professional! 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