If you’ve ever taken out the trash at night and seen a possum, you know how terrifying it can be to come across one of these marsupials in the middle of the night. They see something from a nightmare. Their teeth, of course, but also their angular faces and sinister whistles. But are they really something to fear, or are they just scary to watch? This article is all about removing possums from your home and knowing what they can do. If you do not know about Possum Removal Services but want to get a possum out of your house, then this article is for you. But before that, you must read what possums do. Let’s begin.
What Do Possums Do?
Fortunately, possums do us a lot more good than harm. One reason is that they harbour ticks, a species we want to see less of in our gardens. However, it’s not just that. Possums have the ability to eat up to 5,000 ticks in one season, reducing our risk of developing Lyme disease. They also consume insects and pests such as rodents, bugs, carrion, rotten fruit, and other organisms.
The National Opossum Society also calls them “nature’s little sanitary engineers.” It turns out that this tributary species has been unfairly criticised and doesn’t deserve its bad image. Even the widespread rumours of rabies are exaggerated.
In reality, possums are rarely mad. Possums have a lower body temperature than most other mammals (between 94 and 97 o F), which can make it difficult for the rabies virus to survive in their bodies. Rabies can infect any mammal, and marsupials are a type of mammal.
Still, it’s understandable if you prefer to avoid coming into contact with wild possums. It’s probably not much to do inside your home, although they can do wonders for the number of ticks and other insects in your yard.
Luckily, There Are Some Things You Can Do To Get Rid Of The Fear Of Possums
Use Lighting to Startle Them
Possums don’t like bright lights, so any motion-sensing lights you install in your home will definitely scare people who are too close to venture outside. If you have a pet, like a dog or a cat, you can collect its fur and put it outside your home to hunt it with the scent. Possums will move away because they think they smell a predator. Use other scents to scare them away, like a little ammonia in the coffee to act as a wick with a piece of cloth inserted through the lid. There will also be garlic powder.
Use a commercial repellent to repel them.
Commercial products often contain animal urine and animal hair, which tricks possums into thinking a predator is nearby. Not only do you want to force them to turn around when they arrive at your door, but you also want to get rid of whatever was attracting them in the first place. You want them to eat ticks and other pest control in your yard, so don’t make their food on purpose. Keep your garbage cans closed and covered with lids to prevent access to a possum. Finally, feed your pets indoors to prevent pet food from being inadvertently left outside.
Species Of Possums
Two of the 23 species in Australia are most likely to roam your roof at night.
Rough-legged possums
These are nocturnal inhabitants of semi-trees. They are from Australia and have the second-highest number there. They are the size of a domestic cat. The brushtail possum has a pointed face, a bushy black tail, large oval ears, and a pink nose. The three colour varieties seen in Tasmania are silver, grey, black, and gold. Possums are darker in thick, moist forests.
Possum with tail
It is a marsupial native to Australia. They are about the size of a small cat, primarily brown in colour, with white fur on their bellies, behind their eyes, and on the tip of their tails. Its tail and limbs are orange-brown in colour. They eat various plants, flowers, and fruits and live in different environments. Its colour varies from light brown to dark brown, and its legs and abdomen have reddish or orange hues. It has fur on its curled tail but is bare on the underside.
How To Get A Possum Out Of Your House
- Entry points to your property should be blocked or covered, especially roofs, vents, chimneys, damaged shingles, eaves, etc.
- Garden areas should be treated with chemicals to deter odours, such as Pos Off or De-Ter.
- Install an ultrasonic constipation repellent to scare the animal away from a specific location.
- Use a humane capture trap to capture the possum. Please note that possums are a protected species. A permit or licence may be required. Contact your local government for more information on possum-trapping licences and laws.
- To prevent possums from crossing fences and entering your garden, install spikes.
- Install nesting boxes in a nearby tree to provide a new place to live.
Conclusion
Possums may seem scary but you can get rid of them easily by using the above-given tricks. We consider the installation of possum boxes as the main way to keep possums out of your house. Also, you can trap them in a cage humanely and relocate them. However, sometimes you may feel the need for professionals, in such cases, you can get help from our company.