How to Get Rid of Possums Under House?
Possums are very good at surviving, they are omnivores and will eat just about anything. They are quick to adapt to new surroundings, so you can expect them to find a home under your house in no time. They will get into your garbage cans and make a mess of your lawn. You may even find that they have taken up residence in your attic or under your deck.
If you have possums in your backyard, you need to take some serious measures to get rid of them. In fact, getting rid of possums is not as easy as it sounds.
If you notice that there are possums living under the house or deck, you will first want to make sure that there are no babies. If there are babies, wait for about a month until the babies can venture out on their own before starting trapping or repelling adult possums.
Once the babies leave or if there were no babies, to begin with, you can start with one of these 10 ways to get rid of possums under the house
7 Ways to Get Rid of Possums Under House
Possums are excellent climbers. They will climb into your home from trees and other structures. If you have possums under your house, it is important to remove them before they do damage to the structure of your home. Possums can cause damage to insulation and electrical wires if left unchecked.
There are several ways that you can get rid of possums under the house. Some are more successful than others.
1. Check for holes in the foundation
The first thing you should do when trying to get rid of possums under your house is to check for holes in the foundation. Make sure there are no cracks or holes in the foundation that will allow a possum to enter your home. If you find any, fill them in as soon as possible to keep possums out.
2. Remove debris from around the foundation
Possums often make their homes under houses by making nests out of leaves, sticks, and other debris you may have around the foundation of your home. Remove all debris from around the house so they do not have a place to hide or live. This will make it harder for them to get under your house.
3. Block Entry Ways
Prevent them from entering the house by blocking off any entryways with mesh screens or metal sheathing. Make sure there are no holes or openings for them to enter through.
Look for a burrow under your house.
Possums typically dig their burrows under a building or structure that is elevated off the ground. Often, the burrow will be located in an area where the ground is soft enough to dig into, such as a mulch bed or compost pile.
Mark the location of the burrow with stakes and string.
Once you have found where the possum’s den is located, use stakes and string to mark off the area so it’s easy to find later on when you return with supplies to block off the entrance hole.
Block off the entrance hole to the possum’s den using wire mesh fencing or hardware cloth.
Use wire mesh fencing or hardware cloth to cover up the entrance hole to keep any possums from entering or exiting their den under your house or other structure.
4. Install a Live Possum Trap
The most effective way to get rid of possums under a house or deck is by purchasing a live-trap cage. These traps are specifically made for trapping animals like possums and raccoons.
This is an effective way to get rid of possums that have wandered onto your property without injuring them or using inhumane methods. Make sure you check with your local government before using live traps, so you know the regulations in your area.
They work by baiting the animal inside with food or fruit and once it walks inside the trap it triggers a door that shuts behind it. Once this happens, all you have to do is pick up the trap (with the animal inside) and transport it at least 5 to 10 miles away from your house so they don’t come right back home.
5. Eliminate Food Sources
If you eliminate the food sources for possums, they will leave on their own accord. Get rid of any pet food left outside overnight, bring in all bird feeders, and keep your trash in sealed bins instead of bags on the curb.
Until the possums realize there’s nothing for them here anymore, it’s hard to get them off your property permanently.
6. Scare Them Away
Install motion-sensor lights and sprinklers to scare them away when they come close to your house at night.
Motion sensors are a great way to make sure that you are covering all the bases when it comes to keeping possums off your property. It can be hard to determine where they are entering and exiting but motion sensors can help you pinpoint the exact spot.
Motion sensors can detect things like heat and movement. Once they sense change, they will set off lights or sound alarms. This startles possums enough that they leave your property and never come back.
7. Use a Repellent
Spray a predator scent repellent around the perimeter of your home to keep them from getting close. Examples of repellents include wolf urine and ammonia-soaked rags.
- Place ammonia-soaked rags in the area where you’ve seen possums enter the crawl space of your house. Replace the rags every few days. Possums dislike the smell of ammonia and will stay away.
- Mix 1 tbsp. of castor oil and 1 tsp. of liquid dish soap with 1 gallon of water in a bucket to create an all-purpose repellent for possums and other small animals. Spray this solution around areas where possums have been entering your homes, such as vents, windows, and foundations. Reapply it after heavy rains.
- Combine dry red pepper flakes with water in a spray bottle, and spray it around areas where you’ve seen possums entering your home or around their burrows outside if they’re digging up your yard or garden.
- Spray peppermint oil around the house on walls, window sills, and any other area where possums may enter. Possums don’t like the smell of peppermint oil and will avoid this area as a result.
- Sprinkle tea tree oil around any area where you think a possum might be entering your home. Tea tree oil isn’t pleasant for possums either, so they’ll steer clear of it when possible.
In summary, Possums are a relatively common pest both in urban and rural areas. They may appear cute, but they can actually be quite a nuisance if they take up residence under your house or in your attic.
If you have possums under your house, it is important to get rid of them as soon as possible. The longer they stay, the worse the damage will be.
You may also be interested in… 8 Ways To Get Rid of Rabbits
Allan Wilson who in the offline world has an extensive background working in research, analyzing statistics, improving work processes, team leading, and implementing training to improve results and now thanks to more than 3 years dedicated to this site is now also a highly regarded researcher of brands.
Allan has a long history of developing brands online way back before blogging existed creating websites using HTML code in Notepad. Allan established brands in the Info Product Marketing arena such as infoproductmarketing, ebookresellerkit, reprintrightsmarketing, along with many other successful websites (and a few failures along the way). Allan has also authored numerous ebooks, owned and operated membership sites, created eLearning courses, and more.
