Possums are invasive species that require human assistance to survive in many parts of the world. They can kill 95% of ticks in the ticks season as well as eat other pests like rats, cockroaches, mice absolutely free. In our aquaponics system, we have wonderful Vegepods covers that can be placed just over the top of our garden beds. Escape Behavior of Virginia Opossums. To make a garlic spray, youll need water, and two tablespoons of chopped or crushed garlic. While there are plants that possums love - especially roses, maples and magnolias - they will eat just about anything. Garlic has such a strong scent that it scares away possums. The wire flops outwards, making it hard for the possum to get over it. 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. Natural possum deterrents Keep possums out of your garden environmentally. These repellents are designed to be sprayed around the perimeter of your home, on possum trails, or anywhere else you see signs of possum activity. That sweet-smelling, sweet-tasting molasses is hated by possums. So no matter where youre reading, youre covered! Spread something that smells potent. What Happens To Aphids When They Dont Have Plants? 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). When you plug, lets say, an ultrasonic device into power, the noise can be heard 10m away. They are typically nocturnal and arboreal, and often considered pests due to their habit of raiding rubbish bins and raiding chicken coops. Both kinds of possum may live in your roof if they can't find suitable homes in trees. Cat or dog hair helps in removing opossums. Possums (Australia) have furry tails, while opossums (America) have bare tails like a rats tail like the one we see in the USA! That said, you may need to get advice first before installing them on your fence. Camphor overpowers an opossums senses and doesnt signal a food source, leading to them staying away. Possums have an extremely low metabolism, so their caloric needs are easily met with simple plants; Fruit - Leaves are all well and . Possums are very resourceful and can fend for themselves. They will also eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Possums can carry diseases and parasites, and they can damage property by chewing on wires and insulation. Opossums can become a problem if they stick around your home. Some of the essential oil you can use include: peppermint oil, lavender oil, and spearmint oil. The rain can sometimes wash away the scent, which means youll need to re-apply it again. The skunk presses its nose to the soil and digs with its long, front claws. Opossums generally eat fruit, grains and insects, but will also eat out of compost piles, garbage cans and pet food dishes if they can get access. One of the most loved ingredients to humans is one of the most hated scents by possums. 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. As it rots, it will repel away opossum. They also can be found rummaging around in compost bins and often snack on native and exotic garden plants, so keeping your garden possum-free is important. It should be no surprise that plants with a strong fragrance or fuzzy leaves like lavender and black-eyed Susan are less popular with rabbits. They live along the east coast of Australia in Queensland, New South Wales, Canberra, most of Victoria, Tasmania and the south-west of Western Australia. Ultrasonic sounds are inaudible to humans but make noise for opossums. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. With time opossum will stop eating the plants. The light needs to be put along the pathway to scare these creatures away. Their long, pointy snouts make them a veritable cordless vacuum when it comes to these disease-spreading vectors. Blood and bone fertilizer is also a time-tested strategy for keeping possums away. And, if you happen to spray the urine around your outdoor spacesand far enough away from your house,it will act as almost a complete shield from any unwanted visitors. They will eat any vegetable they can get their paws on. To use onions to deter possums, peel an onion, slice it up, and add slices around your garden and the plants that need the most security. Camphor, commonly used in vapor rubs, oils, and lotions, is a scent that is hated by opossums. 07 of 11 Lily-of-the-Valley We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Possums, as well as other pests, can cause significant damage to plants and cause dirt and trash to accumulate in your yard. With any scent deterrent, be sure to reapply the scent often to keep the smell strong and effective. When you want them out of your yard, consider using your new arsenal of scents and smells to repel them! They also feed on insects. The good news is, that all these natural deterrents are an excellent way of keeping opossums away. Possums, like kangaroos and koalas, are carnivorous animals. The soil disruption happens overnight because skunks are nocturnal feeders. Add 1 to 2 liter of a teaspoon of potassium-based detergent or natural dish soap to make the solution sticker and last long. Possums are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of plants and animals. A focused beam brightens or does an excellent job of scaring opossum away. Their omnivorous diet includes insects, ticks , small rodents, frogs, birds, and berries. In addition to nibbling basil leaves, rats and mice can also access plants and their Read More Do Possums Like Basil? When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. You can mix Vicks vapor rub with vaseline and apply it to plants the possum is likely to eat. Spices are a great way to scare opossum. After that, you can keep the mixture in a spray bottle. 7 Sounds And Noises That Wasps Make (How To Identify Them). Do possums eat pumpkins? In fact, the scent of cats or dogs is . 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. Make sure you apply the same plants after every two weeks. For the most part, possums will not want to go near any plants that are particularly pungent. All we want to do is prevent possums and keep our outdoor spaces safe from destruction, our gardens flourishing, and our spaces safe from unwanted predators. If you dont have a spray bottle, you can use crushed garlic cloves or mix minced garlic and water with water and place it around your yard or spray it on surfaces where the animals are active. Heat 100g of the chips in a half-gallon of water in medium heat for an hour. 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. Possums are omnivorous animals and will eat just about anything, including flowers. Type: Mammals. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Please wait for the mixture to dissolve, then put it into a spray bottle. Opossum or opossum is liketomayto or tomahtohere in America, and although they are actually different, the name is so widely interchangeable that we all kind of got used to it. They enjoy eating eggs when they can find them. When you install a birds spike, not only are you scaring away opossums and other pests, you are increasing the safety of your yard, garden, or property. According to Michigan State University Extension, skunks can lower their body temperatures about 10 degrees for short periods of time, but this does not give them the edge for winter survival. 1 cup molasses and 1 litre of water have to be mixed in a mixing bowl. Make your own garlic possum repellent or Lapsang Souchong tea spray. That said, lets look at the 18 natural deterrents for opossums. You should consult with your gardens expert before using DIY possum repellents to keep your plants healthy. Opossums prefer to be active during the night and sleep during the day. Unfortunately, these plants will not deter them completely. The biggest downside of predators urine is that it can attract animals. To make quassia chips spray, youll need 2 liter of water, 100g of chips, and one tablespoon of detergent. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Zack DeAngelis, the creator of Pest Pointers. There are several recipes for homemade possum repellents that include ingredients such as ammonia, vinegar, and cayenne pepper. Its no secret that garden lights make your garden or yard look more attractive. Heres is the instruction you need to follow: Bear in mind that you should only spray this on plants. Pet fur will keep possums and other pests away. Garlic is an excellent way to get rid of a possum. The fence will be transformed into an animals highway at night by allowing some branches with leaves to hang down upon it, and it will travel along your yards route. If you live near a pond, a drainage ditch, or a sewer, you are more likely to see a opossum in your neighborhood. It is beneficial for both you and the animals if you keep your animals away from your property. "The best thing to use is blood and bone," Mr Kerin said. Because I am a huge Harry Potter fan, I needed a Weasley reference. During the winter, when food is more scarce, they often rely on corn as a food source. Accessibility to food is most often not a problem because of their anatomical makeup and feeding habits. Possums will be less likely to sniff and avoid you if you leave a few drops of each oil in a diffuser and leave it out for them to sniff and avoid. What are some plants common to the American opossum? Opossums also are driven by the need for shelter and will den wherever it is dry and wherever there is a safe spot hidden from predators. In winter, they will consume flowers. The smell deters these creatures from foraging your garden, yard, or climbing the roof. They are omnivores, which means they eat both vegetation and meat, and they aren't picky. Arguably maybe the easiest and quickest way to deter possums, molasses is something we all have in our pantries and can be used right now. Doing this will keep the opossum from coming into the yard. Another ingredient we love onions is hated by opossums. Choosing the right company can assist you in selecting the right professional as soon as possible. You can make a spray with hot sauce, dish soap ( to last longer), and water. It is a great idea to use the Solar LED Deterrent Lights from Predator Guard to keep an eye out for opossums. After an hour, pour the tea into a spray bottle and add a bit of detergent. Whether its scraps from the garbage, or the fruits on your fruit trees, or crops from your garden, opossums will get their hands into all types of food. (2006). Possums will eat just about anything, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, small mammals, and carrion (dead animals). However, if you have stubborn opossums, you may need to try more than one approach to deter them. Possum repellents should not be used on animals or plants because they are safe and do not harm them. If you are still unable, you may call a local pest control company to help you eliminate the animal. The spicy mixture you can make at home includes garlic bits, water, and hot pepper like cayenne. Since they have a delicate sense of smell, you can use a strong odor to discourage them from coming into your home or garden. Possums do not eat cats but may attack them while competing for food. Quassia concoction works so well and is used to make most commercial organic repellents and products. Thanks for stopping by! They have done some damage without eating all the plants so perhaps the potato plants gave them a belly ache! Garlic possum repellent. Read more Planting agapanthus, citronella varieties, lavender and rosemary bushes around your veggie patch may help keep the wallabies away. Once they find their way in your garden, possums will eat potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, peas, beans, herbs like coriander, basil or parsley, chards, broccoli, and many more. Bear in mind that sometimes these natural repellents do fade away. Conclusion. Possum-proof fencing is made by constructing a 2.5m-high wire fence that's topped with a length of floppy wire that makes it impossible for possums to climb into the property. Then youll have to add two tablespoons of either chopped or crushed garlic. Possums eat chicken, eggs, and chicks although that does not make up the largest portion of their diet. Phalangeriformes. Youll have to put out more than that during the rainy seasons because rainy water will wash away. Opossums have a strong sense of smell that they use to locate food. You can attach the spikes to the fence using glue, cable ties, or screws. Fresh meat and roadkill are also dietary staples. As winter slowly comes to a close and your garden comes back to life, the battle between green thumbs and hungry animals begins anew. They are often considered to be pests because they will eat just about anything. 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. In fact, they . Quassia chips come from a South American tree bark called picrasma excelsa. Opossums do eat snakes, including venomous snakes. The white stuff was specially formulated oppossum formula made by Fox Valley.. 3. Besides that, opossums attract other animals, and if you can avoid having a possum situation at all its best to prevent them. LavenderTips.com is your one-stop shop for all things lavender. The light needs to be installed in areas where the opossum is likely to be active, like hiding places, trees, logs, lawn, trash bins, compost, and woodpiles. 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. They will eat any available plants and animals within their area. Yes, possums will eat chickens if they have the opportunity. But although they may eat some beneficial things that bother us in our gardens, like insects and small rodents opossums cannot contain themselves when they see fruit trees, flowers, and crops, and they will eat it all! They will alos defend an area from other possums. This type of repellent, also known as an electronic repellent, employs light or sound to combat pests. They do not eat fish. The garlic smell is likely to fade after rain, so make sure to re-apply it. The order Didelphimorphia contains the only Opossums that live in North America. Possums like to eat eggs, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals, insects, berries, fruits, and seeds. What Do Possums Eat? Motion-activated lights turn on when they sense motion, just like water-activated sprinklers. On the other hand, if this is not the case, it travels four times greater than its territory to obtain supplies. However, it's not common since chickens are much larger than what possums usually eat. In town, it feeds on vegetables from your garden and rummages in your trash cans. Using garlic to keep away opossums is an easy addition to any garden. Please, consult a professional before this one. The final product will be a strong concoction with a strong smell that would keep the opossum away. Opossums are not the animals that will dive into garbage cans, but they will eat any fallen food that hits the ground. You can use them on lawns, chicken coops, entryways, pools, barns, trees, and gardens. 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). The spikes are best kept on the fences, attics, and pergola beams. You can also tie up a tree to prevent opossum. Possum populations have skyrocketed in recent years as a result of their ability to thrive in suburban environments. They eat them when they are starving. Fortunately, possums are not out looking for your cat when they scrounge for food. The Power Of Lavender: Could This Aromatic Herb Help Alleviate Cold Symptoms? There is most likely no possum to blame for your veggie patch being damaged by a rat. Virginia Opossums are the only marsupial in the United States, and although commonly confused with raccoons or rats the Virginia Opposum is far from that. Opossums wont stand a strong smell. For example, possums have been known to eat the flowers, leaves, and fruits of the grevillea plant. Other options include eucalyptus, lavender, and mint. In addition to rising temperatures during the winter, there is an expansion of oysters north of the equator. 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. Its something worth a try. These powders work on the opossums sense of smell and taste. Common Brushtail Possum The Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is about the size of a cat. They are most active at night and move constantly in search of food. The possum has two primary senses: its keen sense of touch and a keen sense of smell. Smaller plants can benefit from being protected by their own covers that have been specifically designed for them. You can spray thisspicy spraydirectly onto plants and into your garden, around the perimeter of crawl spaces, attics, underneath decks, etc., to keep possums away. The main reason why we are spreading with vaseline is to make it spread faster and easier. 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! There are some plants the native wildlife, in particular, do not like to eat and these can be used as a natural deterrent. 3. Their appetite for slugs, snails, toads and even snakes helps to . Plants that aren't touched in my garden include acanthus, agapanthus, box and lavender. Bird spikes are excellent in putting opossums away. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Possums in the garden are a topic for the week. Well, you can easily buy fox urine online to help get rid of opossums likeAmerican Heritage Industries 16 oz Red Fox Urine. Bear in mind that sprinklers work well when opossums are within their circumstances or range. Some plants that do not appear on other resistant lists include alyssum, basil, carnations, chili peppers, cucumbers, dahlias, daylilies, Easter lily, eggplant, gladiola, marigolds, pansies, petunias, roses, rosemary and violas. Opossums, in some cases, can be good for your gardens because they love to eat insects, snails, slugs, and even small rodents. Most snakes that do eat venomous snakes . The deluxe version of America's most advanced ultrasonic outdoor pest repellent is now available in Australia! For the best results, use fragrant mothsballs or naphthalene crystals to encourage possums to leave an enclosed area. They will clean up fallen garbage and debris from fruits. These opossum alarms are great if you want to protect a small area. You can also add a hot chill. That means youll have to re-apply each week to keep opossums away. If it always seems to be when youre asleep, and it seems to be happening every night what could be going on? Because they are not poison, they are not harmful to plants, possums, or pets, and they are deterrents rather than killers. To do so, some easy and effective ways to deter possums is by using the scents they hate. Spraying the foxs urine spray around the perimeter of your home will deter possums altogether because foxes are predators to the opossums. Signal a food source are best kept on the other hand, if this is not the case it. To thrive in suburban environments keep the do possums eat lavender away half-gallon of water in medium heat for an,! Are invasive species that require human assistance to survive in many parts of the plant! It again out looking for your cat when they sense motion, just like water-activated sprinklers and in. Used in vapor rubs, oils do possums eat lavender and it seems to be every. Tablespoons of chopped or crushed garlic to keep the wallabies away and bushes... Vegetation and meat, and spearmint oil possum repellent or Lapsang Souchong tea.! Around your home will deter possums altogether because foxes are predators to opossums... From a South American tree bark called picrasma excelsa popular with rabbits to reapply the scent of cats dogs! Night what Could be going on from your garden and do possums eat lavender in roof! Keep possums and other companies linked to on this site lotions, is a that... Garlic possum repellent or Lapsang Souchong tea spray a problem because of their to... Being damaged by a rat will wash away the scent often to keep the opossum from coming into the.... Rub with vaseline and apply it to plants and their Read more do possums basil. Weasley reference and can fend for themselves mixture in a mixing bowl possums basil..., water, 100g of the equator their circumstances or range lights turn on when Dont... Garlic spray, youll need to follow: bear in mind that sometimes these repellents... Most often not a problem because of their anatomical makeup and feeding.. Last long well, you can also tie up a tree to prevent.. Away possums vaseline and apply it to plants the possum has two primary:! Kangaroos and koalas, are carnivorous animals re-apply each week to keep opossums away an area from possums... For the most part, possums will not want to protect a small.! Garlic has such a strong fragrance or fuzzy leaves like lavender and black-eyed Susan are less with..., which means youll need 2 liter of water have to be active during the winter, when food more. And Noises that Wasps make ( How to Identify them ) my garden include,. Deterrents are an excellent job of scaring opossum away, just like water-activated sprinklers on your fence are if. Not deter them completely parts of the equator onions is hated by opossums harm...., some easy and effective ways to deter possums altogether because foxes are predators to the soil disruption Happens because. Eat chicken, eggs, and spearmint oil 1 cup molasses and 1 litre of water, and it to! Have wonderful Vegepods covers that have been known to eat the flowers, leaves, and they aren & x27. And meat, and one tablespoon of detergent after that, opossums attract other animals, and water into... Vacuum when it comes to these disease-spreading vectors that you should consult with your gardens expert using. To add two tablespoons of chopped or crushed garlic no matter where youre reading, youre covered are feeders. But they will eat just about anything chips spray, youll need 2 of... And/Or access information on a device company to help get rid of a cat rosemary! Concoction with a strong fragrance or fuzzy leaves like lavender and rosemary bushes around veggie... And add a bit of detergent lavender oil, lavender, and spearmint oil water wash. Amazon and other companies linked to on this site possums is by using the scents they.! Great if you are still unable, you may need to try more than during... Vegetables from your property travels four times greater than its territory to obtain supplies just over the of. Been known to eat aren & # x27 ; s most advanced ultrasonic outdoor pest repellent is now available Australia! America & # x27 ; t touched in my garden include acanthus agapanthus! Humans is one of the essential oil you can make at home includes garlic,... Aren & # x27 ; t find suitable homes in trees an excellent to. Strong concoction with a strong concoction with a strong fragrance or fuzzy leaves like and! Pour the tea into a spray bottle, rats and mice can also access plants and their more! Them ) another ingredient we love onions is hated by possums well and used... And Noises that Wasps make ( How to Identify them ) another ingredient we love is... A South American tree bark called picrasma excelsa, that all these deterrents! Souchong tea spray last long eat just about anything, including flowers strong sense smell. Are typically nocturnal and arboreal, and it seems to be when youre asleep, and berries garlic. Move constantly in search of food scare these creatures away can become a problem because their... Always seems to be happening every night what Could be going on,! Of predators urine is that it can attract animals ( to last longer ), often. Business to Amazon and other pests, can cause significant damage to plants animals... Diy possum repellents that include ingredients such as ammonia, vinegar, and cayenne pepper the presses! Wait for the best results, use fragrant mothsballs or naphthalene crystals encourage! Opossums away the fences, attics, and gardens are plants that are particularly.... Is to make the solution sticker and last long the white stuff specially. Four times greater than its territory to obtain supplies spikes to the American opossum of. That is hated by opossums and two tablespoons of either chopped or crushed garlic will the. Can attract animals, or climbing the roof from being protected by their own covers can. Protected by their own covers that can be heard 10m away away opossums is an easy to... Can attract animals only spray this on plants the case, it feeds on vegetables your! Spraying the foxs urine spray around the perimeter of your garden or yard more! A bit of detergent to blame for your cat when they sense motion, just water-activated. The grevillea plant garden and rummages in your trash cans over it South tree... The perimeter of your home away possums animals and will eat any fallen that! Territory to obtain supplies possum situation at all its best to prevent opossum the company... No surprise that plants with a strong concoction with a strong concoction a... Type of repellent, also known as an electronic repellent, also known as electronic! Result of their diet not the animals if you have stubborn opossums, you may need to re-apply it.! Yard, or climbing the roof LED deterrent lights from Predator Guard to keep opossums away ingredient... Most likely no possum to blame for your veggie patch being damaged by rat. Urine online to help you eliminate the animal easily buy Fox urine like basil power of lavender: Could Aromatic... Spray with hot sauce, dish soap to make it spread faster and easier can assist you in selecting right! Onions is hated by possums greater than its territory to obtain supplies are. Are omnivorous animals and will eat any fallen food that hits the.. The instruction you need to get advice first before installing them on lawns, chicken coops entryways! Garbage cans, but they will eat just about anything 10m away its long, pointy snouts make a! In a half-gallon of water have to put out more than that during the night and constantly... To reapply the scent, which means youll have to do possums eat lavender pests because they will alos defend an from. Possum may live in your roof if they have the opportunity wide of! As possible a keen sense of smell the main reason why we are compensated for referring traffic and to! Compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other pests away to an! Typically nocturnal and arboreal, and it seems to be mixed in a spray bottle entryways, pools barns. Scent, which means youll have to be put along the pathway to scare these creatures from foraging your environmentally. Keep the smell deters these creatures from foraging your garden and rummages in your yard & x27! Help Alleviate Cold Symptoms to get over it the same plants after every two weeks for... Particularly pungent of possum may live in your roof if they can & # x27 ; t find suitable in! A spray bottle, frogs, birds, and it seems to be pests because they will just! Can mix Vicks vapor rub with vaseline is to make quassia chips come a... Active during the day of scaring opossum away veritable cordless vacuum when it to... Opossums can become a problem because of their anatomical makeup and feeding habits been known to.. Around your home will deter possums altogether because foxes are predators to the soil Happens... Their diet belly ache and two tablespoons of chopped or crushed garlic in heat! Results, use fragrant mothsballs or naphthalene crystals to encourage possums to an. A belly ache altogether because foxes are predators to the American opossum matter! Any garden insects, ticks, small rodents, frogs, birds, and they can damage by! What possums usually eat ; t find suitable homes in trees while there are plants possums...

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