It is illegal to harm, poison, or kill possums (which are native marsupials, not pests, in Australia and New Zealand) without a specific permit from the relevant wildlife authority. Poisons can cause inhumane deaths and often lead to secondary poisoning of non-target animals, including pets and native predators.
Cyanide poison provides an effective means of controlling possums whilst minimising the potential risk to the environment, birds and other non- target species. Cyanide paste and pellets used by possum hunters is coloured green, so that it should not be mistaken for other non-toxic substances.
To get rid of possums fast, eliminate their food and water sources (trash, pet food, fallen fruit), secure entry points to your home (roof, vents, under decks) with mesh, and use strong deterrents like motion-activated lights/sprinklers, ammonia-soaked rags, or predator urine, while also trimming tree branches near your house to block access. For persistent issues, humane trapping and professional removal are options, but always check local wildlife laws first.
Feeding possums may seem like a kind gesture, but offering the wrong foods can have serious, even fatal consequences. Chocolate, avocado, onions, garlic, citrus, processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine are all dangerous and should never be left accessible to these native marsupials.
Use non-toxic or natural deterrents
Spray your garden with a non-toxic natural deterrent such as vinegar (or check your local hardware store for options). While hungry possums are known to ignore lots of these products, it's still worth a shot. Just make sure whatever you try won't harm the possum or your garden.
Possums hate strong, pungent smells (like garlic, onion, peppermint, eucalyptus, mothballs, and ammonia), sudden disturbances (like motion-activated lights or sprinklers), and perceived predator threats, finding these elements unpleasant and unsafe, so they avoid areas with these strong deterrents, though they can get used to them if not moved.
Small mammals including possums and bandicoots often consume poisons such as snail bait, or rat bait that has been laid out to attract and kill rats, mice, and rabbits. Poisons such as pindone are often added to oats or carrots, and lead to a slow, painful death of internal bleeding.
garlic spray Tabasco sauce® hot English mustard Indonesian fish sauce White King® camphor naphthalene flakes quassia chips Blood and Bone Keep Off® Stay Off® D-Ter® Scat® Bitrex®. These products are readily available either at the supermarket or at a plant nursery with the exception of Bitrex.
Chocolate is toxic to opossums. Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant that opossums cannot metabolize effectively. This can lead to symptoms such as Vomiting, Diarrhea, Seizures, Hyperactivity, and Heart arrhythmias. In severe cases, chocolate poisoning can be fatal to opossums.
Possums come around houses seeking easy food, water, and safe shelter, drawn by unsecured trash, pet food, fallen fruit, compost, and cozy spots like roof cavities or woodpiles for warmth and protection from predators. They're opportunistic, so your yard becomes an appealing buffet and hotel, especially when natural food sources are scarce or your home offers ideal nesting.
Do not feed possums almonds, cheese, onions, dairy products, green potatoes or junk food. Put food in containers in high, sheltered areas. Spread the food throughout the enclosure to promote natural foraging. Possums need fresh water daily.
Possums are opportunistic feeders, which means they'll keep returning to places where food is easy to find. Open garbage cans, fallen fruit in the yard, bird feeders, or leftover pet food are irresistible to them. Once they discover these resources, they often return night after night until the supply runs out.
Possums hate strong, pungent smells (like garlic, onion, peppermint, eucalyptus, mothballs, and ammonia), sudden disturbances (like motion-activated lights or sprinklers), and perceived predator threats, finding these elements unpleasant and unsafe, so they avoid areas with these strong deterrents, though they can get used to them if not moved.
Easy methods to get rid of possums include:
You can start with these deterrents.
Possums are nocturnal and highly vocal — especially in urban areas where space is limited. They use sounds to: Defend their territory. Attract a mate.
What foods are bad for possums? Foods high in sodium or sugar can be harmful to opossums. Chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol are toxic. Avocados and onions can cause digestive issues.
Brodifacoum can be useful for controlling low numbers of possums and is suitable for use on private property. Also effective on rats. Pellets are dyed blue. It's a second-generation toxin with a high risk of secondary poisoning.
Salty and Fried Foods – Chips, pretzels, and salted nuts can lead to dehydration and other health issues. Dairy Products – Squirrels have difficulty digesting dairy, which can cause stomach discomfort. Avocado and Onion – These foods contain substances that can be toxic to squirrels.
They don't like vinegar or ammonia. You could set a catch and release trap maybe on the other side of the fence where he's crawling over. We've caught them using honey buns. We let them go about 10 miles or so away in the woods.
While active, possums can cause a lot of disturbance to pets and make a lot of noise while foraging through garbage cans. But, what attracts them to a yard? They are attracted to your yard whenever food is plentiful, so leaving food scraps in your garbage will definitely keep them around.
Possums' strong senses of smell help them find food. You can turn this against them by placing scent-based repellents around the perimeter of your yard. Ammonia, bleach, and camphor can effectively ward them off. Natural ingredients like garlic and onions also give off a smell that opossums avoid.
This is because rats and mice are nocturnal animals and tend to come out around 12am – 3am looking for food. If you do see rats or mice in the daytime then you have a much larger problem.
A rifle of almost any caliber (. 22-caliber is most common) or a shotgun loaded with No. 6 shot or larger will kill opossums.
Possums are mostly herbivorous animals, which means the bulk (no pun intended) of their diet is plant-based. Australian possums eat: Leaves - Just like koalas, possums are suckers for eucalyptus leaves. If there is no eucalyptus around, they settle for other plants, such as green plum, acacia, red bush apple, and more.