Possums are a common problem for many homeowners. Possums are also a major fire hazard, as they often build their nests in trees. Possums hate noises and lights and avoid the places with lights and sounds, and it will be enough to keep them away and not cause any harm to your chickens. Fortunately, they are not common carriers of diseases such as rabies. How can you tell if wires have been chewed? After sunset . They are a natural predator of possums and rodents, so an owl watching over the garden, would really interfere with possum browsing. But we threaten violence when subjected to the incessant scratching, and smell, when they squat in our roof cavities. Manage Settings Possums love to chew on soft surfaces like wires because of their constantly growing teeth, and chewing keeps their teeth from growing too much. wood or wire netting, except for the entry point that the possum has been observed using. Then, apply a dark-colored stain, Read More Can I Stain My Wood Floors DarkerContinue, Your email address will not be published. While these nocturnal marsupials may be at fault, opossums don't usually cause significant lawn damage. It has the optional motion activated setting youll want to use so it only goes on when needed. When they're 80 or 90 days old, the young start riding on their mother's back, sometimes five or 10 of them, with feet and tail firmly attached to her fur. 1. hot sauce. Possums have sharp incisors that help them to gnaw through branches and bark. They are essentially going for the salts, which are very hard to get from natural food sources. 3 Their tails are long nearly as long as the opossums themselves and are . Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The primary sources of sustenance are small rodents, insects, worms, slugs and snails, frogs and birds. You can also install barriers, such as fencing, around vulnerable areas like gardens or trash cans. How do I get rid of possums? They eat all sorts of wood, but they prefer soft, freshly cut wood. Remember to follow the instructions on the packaging so that your plants are not affected and so that possums the are not injured. We also provide professional service in over 600 locations. While its highly regarded because its an organic substance and people feel comfortable using it, unlike other insecticides, its sensitive to sunlight and so it degrades after exposure to sunlight. It may not display this or other websites correctly. It is also very safe for children and pets. 2. Keep your yard clean and free of brush piles. Mix dog urine with water and spritz it on the ground near the woods. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. They are generally no bigger than your cat, with long gray fur and a scaly, hairless tail that looks like it might have been stolen from a small dinosaur . Theyll be able to confirm whether or not theres a possum present and help you safely remove it from your home. You would be better to place the section of cable in split loom and probably chuck a wax block of rat poison nearby in a covered out of the way spot User #17911 2453 posts roger Whirlpool Forums Addict reference: whrl.pl/RevgJv posted 2015-Dec-9, 12:59 pm AEST O.P. Its unique grain pattern is highly sought-after by furniture makers and other, Read More Is Walnut Wood ExpensiveContinue, Paint is a sealer that protects wood from water damage, rot, and pests. Sell it to a local wildlife rehabilitator.2. If a possum does take up residence in your yard and dine on plants you consider off limits, you can use the following measures to stop it: But in all, opossums are creatures with which you can probably live and let livethey come out after dark, so you may never see them, and theyll run from you if you do; they eat pests; and they dont carry rabies. Picture: ShutterstockThen there are the long-suffering gardeners who go out on a beautiful summer morning to admire their rosebush, or to pick fresh lettuce for lunch, and find the rosebush stripped bare or the lettuce clipped to the ground.For gardeners there is now a solution that allows them to live in harmony with possums. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. While opossums may cause some damage to your lawn, raccoons are the likely culprits. It has an audible sound most any alpha animal does not like so they avoid it. If you have trees near your roof, you probably have opossum traffic on your roof. Possums are very clever creatures, and they can get into your home by simply poking their head through a small hole and then wriggling the rest of their body inside. -Make sure theres no food available for them to eat; this includes garbage, pet food, and fallen fruit from trees.-Trim back any overhanging branches so they cant easily access your roof or upper floors. If you find yourself with an opossum in the house, please call a professional wildlife removal technician immediately. But we threaten violence when subjected to the incessant scratching, and smell, when they squat in our roof cavities.Australians have a love-hate relationship with their native possums. It has a day time only, night time only or 24 hour a day setting so you can have it active when needed. We are going to talk about why possums chew wires and wood the ways to stop possums from chewing wires and wood, let alone allowing them to consume food. Saturday: 8:30 am-4:00 pm 4. Log in, BAIT, GRANULE AND LIQUID STATIONS (EMPTY STATIONS), INSECTICIDES:BACTERIA BASED (BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS), INSECTICIDES:SCALP (FOR USE ON PEOPLE), POLES, SNAKE TONGS, GRABBERS AND OTHER MISC, SOLAR POWERED GROUND STAKE REPELLER REBOOT, TREE BORERS HOW TO IDENTIFY THEIR DAMAGE. They have white and gray or black fur, a pointed nose, and rounded ears that are black on the inside. They are SUPER destructive. While they may search the yard for insects to eat, they rarely damage the lawn when doing so, notes Wildlife Damage Management. It can be used to repel a variety of pests, including possums and rabbits. Opossums are most easily recognizable by their snow white faces, brown/black body and long hairless pink tail. If necessary, homeowners can use a broom to coral possum outside. . Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks or "whistle-pigs." The familiar name woodchuck actually has nothing to do with wood, and stems from the Native American names for them: wuchak, wejack, and possibly otchek, which is a name for fishers. There are usually large gaps for easy entry, and it provides shelter from the elements. Possums are attracted to areas around houses where they can find food and shelter. Once opossums have invaded your home, they can do considerable damage by chewing through wood and drywall, gnawing on electrical wiring and rep up all the insulation in your house. Deterrents are repellents used to keep certain animals away from a particular area by scaring them. OPOSSUMS TEARING UP GARBAGE OR CHEWING THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE, https://bugspray.com/sanitizer/liquid/n-7c-64-oz, https://bugspray.com/traps/cage/live-trap-11-x-12-x-30, https://bugspray.com/traps/conibear/stand-window-mount, https://bugspray.com/traps/conibear/bucket-guard-220, https://bugspray.com/traps/conibear/body-grip-220-7-x-7, https://bugspray.com/bait/animal/liquatox-1-7-oz, DELUXE SOLAR POWERED MOLE VOLE GOPHER SNAKE LIZARD CRAYFISH CHASER, BORATHOR WP MOLD MILDEW KILLER 1.5 LB BAG, ELIMINATE ANIMAL ODOR TO STOP RODENTS FROM RETURNING, HOW TO STOP RODENTS CHEWING ENGINE WIRES | BUGSPRAY, Colorado Duff Millipedes Invading Your Home? If you have a dead opossum in your attic, you'll know by the strong smell of decay. Wood is a tough material that can help grind down any potential plaque buildup or other dental problems. I simply figured it would do. While some people may view this as a nuisance, it is actually an important part of the possums diet.Possums consume a lot of insects and grubs that live in trees, and chewing through wood helps them to access these food sources. We know it was the raccoons as our game cameras have them doing it. Although Professor Selwood has been controlling possum grazing in her garden for years, she is still keen to keep her possum neighbours, so leaves some plants spray-free for them to graze on.I have a policy of not spraying at the top of a tree, she says. In fact, it's common for opossums to kill cockroaches and rats if they find them in their territory.". Possums are considered pests, and they will destroy the woods to get their next meal. Eating these types of foods is not the only problem that opossums toss you once they enter your property, but they will also chew through wood and drywall, so that they can enter your house. Once installed, it makes your roof space inaccessible to possums. Their tails are able to wrap around and grasp tree limbs and can support the animal's full weight for short periods. While grass is not typically a part of an opossum's diet, according to sources such as the University of Nebraska, possums may sometimes dig up lawns as they search for worms and grubs. If the wirings have not been inspected frequently, electrical hazards can occur and put your life and your familys life at risk. Make sure that garbage cans have secure lids and pick up pet food and spilled birdseed. Opossum meat was historically a favored food in the Deep South, and possum grease was used in traditional medicine as a chest rub for respiratory ailments. Copyright 2003-2020 by AAAnimal Control. So, here are some things that you should start with in order to prevent opossums from getting into your property: RaccoonsRaccoon Control Education and Services, SquirrelsSquirrel Control Education and Services, OpossumOpossum Control Education and Services, SkunksSkunk Control Education and Services, GroundhogGroundhog Control Education and Services, ArmadillosArmadillo Control Education and Services, BeaverBeaver Control Education and Services, CoyotesCoyote Control Education and Services, SnakesSnake Control Education and Services, DeadDead Animal Control Education and Services. Read More How to Antique Wood With StainContinue, There are a few things to consider when transitioning between two different wood floors. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Rats and mice are also often mistaken for possums, . If you have persistent problems with possums, you may need to resort to more drastic measures.Trapping and relocating possums is one option, but should only be done by professionals. They may raid birds' nests to eat the eggs or devour crops on occasion. I had a problem with insects on my lemon tree; Im very keen on growing citrus trees, she says. Keeping your trees trimmed will keep raccoons from climbing and entering your home. They have a very good memory for what they dont like.What happens to wildlife in a city that never sleeps?Read moreHer plan was to make extracts of plants that possums avoided to see if these could be sprayed on other plants as a deterrent. Theyre known to raid trash cans, steal pet food, and even chew on car wires. When possums ate her garden, Professor Lynne Selwood fought back and invented a spray that protects plants from Australia's hungry possums. 1. One day, I was doing tests on a friends garden and the results were a shambles and I thought, whats going on? But, possums were a problem and so she began working on a solution in her kitchen. 1 tsp dish soap. This is the easiest thing for them to chew on once they get into the wiring, and it can be a costly fix. Possums are largely nocturnal; spending the . Groundhogs DO chew wood. Like raccoons, opossums have paws with five toes. Opossums defecate more frequently than most mammals and their droppings can be as large as a house cat's. Take steps to identify the pests responsible and remove them from your lawn. Many people take their car for sensor failure to the mechanic only to find out that possums had chewed the engines wiring, which of course, cost them a lot of money. Mounds of loose soil on the lawn Moles leave piles of soil on the surface because they are pushing them up from below. Keep it as a pet (if legal in your area). An opossum may wander in to your garage and find a wonderful array of dark places to hide. Mostly in mating season, they like to take a little bit of everything to a place where they give birth to their babies, so maybe this is why they are chewing wires. Thank you! Field sign may also include uneaten chips of wood and bark left scattered round the base of the tree. It includes an AC power supply so if you can run it by plugging it into a power outlet. Often, opossum damage takes the form of torn up shingles and ripped soffit on your rooftop. Opossums have a wide range of vocalizations, including hissing and shrieking. Possums consume a lot of insects and grubs that live in trees, and chewing through wood helps them to access these food sources. We have much more to do and your continued support is needed now more than ever. National Fire Protection Association NFPA report. The easiest way to get rid of opossums is to prevent them from becoming a problem in the first place. "They are far less of a health risk to you or your children or pets than nearly any other wild animal,"according to The National Opossum Society (which is run by human advocates, not the marsupials themselves). Professor Selwood has worked in the UK ,USA and Australia where she has done research on mammalian reproduction, focusing on marsupial developmental biology, captive breeding and fertility control of native marsupials. Once an opossum learns that you have good food at your house, you can be certain that it will return on a daily basis to cause havoc on your yard and house. Another thing that you should do is to make sure that your pets food is inside and pick up any fallen and rotting fruit or vegetables. The more opossums are in the area, the fewer ticks there will be. But, possums were a problem and so she began working on a solution in her kitchen.Professor Selwood wasnt interested in controlling possum numbers, just in discouraging them from eating her precious plants. The University has a television and radio studio to facilitate live and prerecorded broadcast quality interviews with media. And if one of these critters does end up in your house or too close for comfort in the yard, WDFW reminded people that as long as you limit their interactions with your pets, possums are not dangerous. Professor Selwood trialled several mixtures. These pesky possums will easily tear the chicken wire to get their meal. They can also use their sharp nails and teeth to chew through your wood siding and burrow into the wall exterior. 3. Peppermint oil is an essential oil that smells nice, but its also very powerful against possums. Possums are one of the most destructive animals in Australia. And free of brush piles AC power supply so if you have trees near your roof space to... Wrap around and grasp tree limbs and can support the animal 's full weight for periods. Cameras have them doing it and they will destroy the woods to get rid of opossums is to them! 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