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 not a natural or wild backyard. It's in a suburban area and it has a fence.

I've only seen possums in my area. I haven't seen any raccoons

NO I do not have a dog or cat and i can't because someone in my hosue has allergies. I think the possums choose my backyard because my neighbors all have dogs or cats.

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

Answer 1

the only thing i can think of is possums don't like the light...you could try strong lighting during the night for a while...or even motion sensor lights strong one...i don't know if it's true but i have hear ed that if you spread naphthalene flakes the smell burns there noses and the should stay away....good luck

Answer 2

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 3

Possum Traps Lowes

Answer 4

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 5

You can get that mesh fence to cover your pond, the kind people use for chickens. Also, be sure you tightly store any garbage and make the compost pile is not accessible. Also, if you have cats, do NOT leave the food outside. I can't tell you how many times I've got up and found them eating the cat food. I wonder if that stuff called "Critter Rid" you can get from Lowe's would help. It stops cats and dog, rabbits and stuff, so I wonder if it would work on them? I hate those nasty looking little things!

Answer 6

First of all, talk to your doctor. Most people are highly allergic to cats, and rarely are also allergic to dogs. A dog would be your best deterrent and you might find you could tolerate dogs, or maybe one breed can be found that you're not allergic to.

You can use live capture traps. I bought several at Tractor Supply Co. and they're not overly expensive. You might want to get more than one of those, however. Then you have to have a way to get rid of the animals. I have a neighbor who does this when my husband is not home.

There are kill traps and poisons you can use, but that depends on your situation... children, etc.

Answer 7

Do you have a dog?? Usually having a dog (who stays out at night in the warm season) should be all you need. They will bark and scare the possoms to the point where they will decide that someone ELSES back yard looks more "fun" and accessible! (Cats CAN work too but usually they just end up "fighting" w/ the possom and getting hurt themselves b/c possoms can be QUITE aggressive!)


I see from your added details that you cant have cats or dogs which stinks. You are probably right though... they have CHOSEN you b/c of your lack of animals! I wish I could help more but the animal thing was all I had! LOL

Answer 8

Take wire mesh 24" wide ( size will vary depending on your fence) and fold it in to a 90 degree angle (an L shape). Now, bury one the bottom of the L and attach the vertical leg to your fence. This may not work as they can climb. Good luck you're in for the fight of your life.

Answer 9

You don't want death traps, but have you gotten ahold of a local animal conservationist about catch and release traps?
They can easily, (and often freely) set traps to catch the possums and then take them to game lands far away from your home.

Answer 10

The only way to solve this is to live trap and relocate them. A suitable live trap should be available for about $25. If you don't have the heart to trap them, commercial trappers can be found in your area to take care of trapping and relocating animals.