Keeping Possums out of my backyard?

Question

I just found out I have possums in my backyard. The possums have already ate all the fish in my koi ponds, made a mess of my compost heaps and dug several holes in my backyard. How do I keep them out? I don't want to set traps. Or how do I at least make it harder for them to get into my koi ponds or compost heaps.

My backyard is fenced and it is not natural.

I don't want to kill them. I don't want to clean up dead animals and the local PETA chapter's going to be all over my place.

Answer 1

i dont know about the compost pile, but my neighbor keeps a thin net over his koi pond to keep the animals out. you can barely even see it.

Answer 2

You must have a wild and natural yard, they like that more than the postage stamp sized yards. They are living nearby, and looking for food, our visitors eat cat food every night from the porch. They hang out in the crawl space or the attic space. Yet they don't bother the bunnies or cats. Everyone gets along. Opossums can climb with agility, so fencing is unlikely to help. They don't like lights, so try a motion activated light for the koi pond. Not a 50 watt, but a couple of 150 watt, on a temporary basis. Direct the flood lamps toward the pond, and set the sensor so it trips before they reach the edge.
Far as the compost, what are they after? Try tossing the heaps more often.

Answer 3

Same answer. You must have a wild and natural yard, they like that more than the postage stamp sized yards. They are living nearby, and looking for food. Our visitors eat cat food every night from the porch. They hang out in the crawl space or the attic space. Yet they don't bother the bunnies or cats. Everyone gets along. Opossums can climb with agility, so fencing is unlikely to help. They don't like lights, so try a motion activated light for the koi pond. Not a 50 watt, but a couple of 150 watt, on a temporary basis. Direct the flood lamps toward the pond, and set the sensor so it trips before they reach the edge. Lowe's or OSH will have the stuff. Far as the compost, what are they after? Try tossing the heaps more often. Or get a tumbler that is enclosed.

Answer 4

Trapping the possums and releasing them would be the best solution to your problem. However, this will not keep other possums from entering your yard. I am not sure if you already have a fence around your home, but that would be a good way to begin to keep them out. Also, use netting for your Koi pond.

Answer 5

Trap and release is a good idea. Motion activated lights is a good idea. Drowning them is NOT a good idea. Try soaking rags in ammonia and placing them at the perimeter of your yard. They will think a large animal has peed there and will come back to eat them. It will scare them away. Or get a dog.
Are you sure they are possums and not raccoons? Possums don't usually eat fish but the Coonies love them! Either way, ammonia should work.

Answer 6

Call your local park authority. I live near a national park and they will capture the animal using a cage overnight and then release the animal into the park. Make sure its park authority, thats the only way you know for sure they will re-release it.

Answer 7

Ive known people that say no matter what the've done , they cant get rid of the possums. They come out with your gardens and wreck them. They are sooooo bad. bettyk

Answer 8

Put a electric fence up around your pond.

Answer 9

Sounds more like you have raccoons. Use a live trap to catch
them.Once they get started , it very difficult to get rid of them.
Get one of those sensors that sounds like a barking dog when they are activated , that'll scare them off.

Answer 10

Try calling animal control.