The best fruits to catch a possum are often sweet and strong-smelling, with apples, bananas, and citrus peels (like orange or lemon) being very effective, especially when paired with a sprinkle of cinnamon or some peanut butter to enhance their appeal and make them irresistible, but don't discount feijoas if available; use them as bait in a humane live trap placed near their activity.
Australian possums are big fans of apples, pears, and grapes; they have also been known to devour citrus, including lemons.
Canned cat food: Strong smell, soft texture, and high fat/protein make it consistently the most effective bait. Use a spoonful pressed to the trap floor or in a shallow dish. Canned tuna or sardines: Very aromatic oils attract opossums at a distance; good when cat food is unavailable.
Poultry/eggs(you don't need to crush up egg shells, it is possible to over calcify an opossums diet), lots of vegetables and bugs(farmed not wild), such as nightcrawlers and crickets, and fruit in small doses(too much sugar is bad), sometimes with unflavored yogurt. I use a lot of spinach for the calcium content.
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.
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.
Their food can be supplemented with small amounts of fruits and vegetables. Do not feed possums almonds, cheese, onions, dairy products, green potatoes or junk food.
Opossums are nomadic and tend to not den in the same area for consecutive nights. They den in abandoned burrows, tree cavities, hollow logs, and brush piles.
While possums rely more on their sense of smell and environmental cues, they can remember familiar individuals, including humans, over time. Their memory plays a significant role in navigating their surroundings and identifying potential threats or food sources.
What's the best lure? We generally recommend starting with peanut butter, but people have had success with all sorts of things. As ever, if you're not catching and think there are possums about, try something different.
Because there is likely a plethora of food options in your yard, Havahart® recommends using a bait that will stand out - opossums tend to be attracted to fruit and strong-smelling foods like meats and oils.
Where possible, get inside your roof and locate the possum's nest. The nest, which has the scent of the possum, should be placed in the new possum house to encourage the possum to move to its new home. Encourage the possum to investigate their new home by putting pieces of fresh fruit in or near the nesting box.
Opossums are notorious for their sweet tooth and tend to love apples. Other fruits will work in a pinch, especially peaches and pears. They'll even take the canned variety, just make sure they're in water or juice and not syrup. They'll often take fruit instead of going in for the dog or cat food.
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.
What is the best bait to use to attract possums into the trap? We have found the best bait to lure possums inside the trap is an apple cut in half. However there are many other suitable lures including pet food, other fruit and vegetables, etc.
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.
Koalas are thickset arboreal marsupials with a thick grey fur. Found only living in Australia, they mainly live in the eucalyptus trees and spend around 22 hours of their time sleeping (90%).
DO NOT TRAP. Opossums are transient animals, staying only 2-3 days in an area before moving on. Removal is neither necessary nor desirable.
For those curious about spiritual meaning, some believe a possum encounter symbolizes adaptability, resourcefulness, or a warning to pay attention to your surroundings.
Rats and mice feed on a variety of fruits including oranges, avocados, peaches, lemon, and figs. They are fond of walnuts, almonds, and peanut butter. All fallen fruit and nuts should be regularly removed and discarded in the trash.
Main predators include dogs, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, large hawks, and great horned owls. The chance of rabies in opossums is extremely rare. When frightened, opossums bare their 50 sharp teeth and hiss or growl. However, they would rather avoid confrontation and be left alone.
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.
Peanut butter has long been used as a bait for rat traps. Possums have a fondness for the scent of cinnamon.
Planting bushes, trees and vines next to your fence will give the opossum ample ability to climb down into your yard for a visit. Once your trees mature, allow some branches with leaves to hang down upon the fence, which will become the opossum's highway along its nightly route visiting different yards.