--- title: "How To Get Rid of Possums or Opossums in Your Home or Yard" description: "Possums can be tricky to catch and getting rid of them is anything but easy. Here is the Bob Vila guide on how to get rid of possums safely and humanely." date: "2021-04-15" modified: "2023-01-26" authors: - name: "Miranda Siwak" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/miranda-siwak/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-possums/" categories: - "Garden Pests" - "Gardening" - "Interior" - "Lawn & Garden" - "Pests" tags: - "contractors" - "Homeadvisor" - "How To" --- # How To Get Rid of Possums or Opossums in Your Home or Yard ![How to Get Rid of Possums]() *Photo: depositphotos.com* Possums and opossums, while both marsupials, are different animals. While opossums (with an “o”) are native to North America, the word is often shortened to *possum*, though these animals are [not the same creature.]() A common fear is, “Are opossums dangerous?” They’re pretty helpful creatures who clear out garbage and feed on insects. You may wonder, “So, why do I need to get rid of them?” These rat-like animals [are often nuisances](), especially when eating or trampling plants. Opossums can rummage through trash cans and steal pets’ food, too. It’s tricky [to shoo them away]() to protect pets and plants, so keep reading to learn how to get rid of opossums. **Time required:** A few days or weeks **Difficulty:** Beginner **Estimated cost:** $250 to $500 ### Tools & Materials Bobvila.com may earn a commission from purchases made through these links. - [Pet doors that can be secured]() - [Pruning shears]() - [Electronic repellents (like a motion-activated sprinkler)]() - [Lawn lights]() - [Wind chimes]() - [Fencing]() - [Box, cage, or other live-catch trap]() - [Sealable trash bags]() - [Chemical repellents]() - [Chili powder]() - [Steel wire mesh]() - [Sheet metal]() - [Canned cat food or other trap bait (like jam or peanut butter on bread or overripe fruit)]() ## Before You Begin... ![How to Get Rid of Possums Tips]() *Photo: depositphotos.com* Before you attempt to trap or remove an annoying opossum from your yard, the first step is proper identification. Many gray opossums are often confused with cats. To help you identify the right animal, most adult opossums are between 24 and 40 inches long with a 10- to 12-inch-long tail and weigh between 4 and 12 pounds. You can also identify opossums by their droppings. What does opossum poop look like? It’s about 1 to 2 inches in length, smooth on the sides, brown in color, and covered in white or yellowish mold growth. Once you’ve made sure that you are dealing with an opossum, there are several ways to coax it out, including using a trap or hiring a pest management professional. Removing an opossum can be challenging, and the best way to control this population is through preventive measures. ### Tips for Getting Rid of Possums - While there are many chemical repellents available, they generally don’t have much impact on their own. Other opossum control methods are more successful, including motion-activated sprinklers or trapping cages. - To help keep opossums away from a garden, many homeowners put up fences. Fencing should be at least 4 feet high. - Make the yard less appealing by pruning trees and shrubs, removing brush piles and other debris, and cleaning up fallen tree fruit. - Garbage cans should have tight-fitting lids; pet food should be put away at night. - Close off or block entrances or openings around the house, including porches, decks, and buildings. ### Safety Considerations - Opossums can carry diseases including leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. But before you start Googling, “can opossums have rabies,” they’re generally resistant to the disease. - Opossums may carry ticks, mites, lice, and fleas. - Killing these creatures should always be a last resort with the focus on humanely trapping them and releasing them back into the wild. One of the [best pest control companies]() with wildlife removal services, such as [Orkin]() or [Terminix](), may be of service depending on your area. ![How to Get Rid of Possums Remove Possum Attractants]() *Photo: depositphotos.com* ## STEP 1: Remove possum attractants such as food and water and potential homes. Getting rid of or sealing food materials, water sources, and potential opossum homes effectively prevents these critters from sticking around. If pet food or trash are outside overnight, it’s an open invitation for a feast. If fruit-bearing plants are on your property, ensure crops aren’t left on the ground. Use sealable trash bags when removing these items to keep opossums from rooting through the trash can. Where do opossums live? They prefer forested or bushy homes and will use leftover and destroyed settings as a house, so the yard will be less hospitable if there are no brush piles, dilapidated buildings, or holes under concrete slabs. ## STEP 2: Secure outside entry points to your home; block access to chimneys, vents, or any other holes or gaps. Open holes provide easy access. Once opossums are inside homes, barns, or chicken coops, that’s where most damage occurs. To limit access, trim branches, close entrances, and fix broken vents or foundation cracks. Opossums occasionally enter homes through pet doors, so those doors should be sealed, too. Since opossums are expert climbers, they can easily climb a tree onto a long branch and jump to land on the roof near a chimney. Trimming tree branches makes them harder to climb. ![How to Get Rid of Possums: Apply a Chemical Repellent]() *Photo: depositphotos.com* ## STEP 3: Apply a chemical repellent to your garden. Chemical repellents from your local home improvement or hardware store can be applied to gardens, flower beds, and structure bases to discourage opossums. While repellents vary by brand and type, most are powder and include predator urine. They have a powerful odor and are relatively expensive to purchase. They typically offer little relief unless applied frequently and in high concentrations and are best used in conjunction with other methods. Chili powder can also be used in a pinch, although it needs to be reapplied frequently. ## STEP 3: Use electronic repellents to scare possums away. Electronic repellents, like motion-activated sprinklers, can startle opossums and scare them away. These repellents are eco-friendly and deliver more consistent results. They can be used on lawns, chicken coops, entryways, pools, barns, compost bins, trees, and other areas around the yard. Lawn lights and wind chimes can also help make a backyard a less welcoming place. Possums in your yard? Maybe it's time to call in a pro. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from pest control services near you. [Find Pros Now]() [+]() ## STEP 4: Install special fencing. While opossums are skilled climbers, a wire or electric fence can keep them away from a garden. To deter these critters, fencing should be at least 4 feet high, with the top foot facing outward to create an overhang. You can add an electric fence, too, set at an outward angle, approximately 3 to 4 inches over the top. Any other area, including underneath porches, stairways, and crawl spaces should be blocked off. Cover these openings with steel wire mesh or sheet metal. ![How to Get Rid of Possums Setting a Cage Trap]() *Photo: depositphotos.com* ## STEP 5: Trap possums using a cage and bait. If an opossum has found its way into the home, a live trap can lure the critter out. With these nocturnal animals, it’s helpful to set up the trap at night and bait them. What do opossums eat? A [study]() in *The Journal of Wildlife Management* showed the stomach contents of wild opossums varied, but they generally prefer fruit, grain, or insects. Food items like jam or peanut butter on bread or overripe fruit will appeal to them. The trap should be set up along common travel routes in the house, so it'll be unlikely for the critter to miss the bait. It’s best to use a trap in the late fall or early winter before the breeding season begins. ## STEP 6: Install a nesting box in nearby trees to provide possums with an alternative home. While a house or backyard isn’t an ideal home for opossums, you can create or purchase a [nesting box]() to give these creatures their own space if they keep showing up around the yard. Opossums like tight, secure spaces with small entrances that can protect them from larger predators. For instance, an old dog carrier crate without its front door works nicely, as do homemade shelters made from old coolers or plastic tubs. A nesting box is an easy way to make space for wildlife in a yard that doesn’t disrupt or damage the home. Opossums can be a nuisance around the house and, if they get inside, can cause severe damage. While getting rid of them can be tricky, it’s easier to take preventive measures to opossum-proof your yard. If you haven't had success with these remedies or feel anxious about it, you can hire a pest management professional. The service technician will remove the animal and develop a customized plan to keep future pests away. ## Author Miranda Siwak is a former Associate Editor with BobVila.com. After graduating with a degree in journalism, Miranda pursued a career as a [lifestyle writer and editor](), covering news and features for several publications, including [Moms.com](), [Dr. Oz The Good Life](), Zimbio, [The Toy Insider](), and [The Pop Insider](). Additionally, she loved fusing her professional editorial experience with her personal interest in all things interiors and DIY, writing for [Good Housekeeping]() and [Interior Design]() magazines. When she’s not covering the latest news and trends, Miranda can usually be found reading a good book, searching for her next DIY project, or reorganizing her apartment to make the small space more efficient.