MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). They often make homes under decking and porches, and love brush and wood piles, so although exclusion methods are a good choice to rid your yard of these odd little critters, opossum trapping is the key if you want to safely get rid of them. They catch and eat rats, roof rats, mice, and they consume dead animals of all types (carrion). A lot of people see this as a benefit as they eat some of the more annoying insects and pets on their property. If you cannot deter a very stubborn rodent with lights, bad smells or sounds, then you may need to deploy humane traps. If the food gets stuck between the trigger plate and the bottom of the cage, the trap door will not close. Although they aren’t particularly finicky eaters, the best possum bait is fish or apples. They are scavengers, which means they will take any food source without much hesitation. This should scare the possum and cause it to turn away and leave. • Safe – no sharp edges that could cause you or the animal physical harm. Firstly, they are very important for the environment, controlling insects (particularly ticks, which carry Lyme disease). However, not all states permit catching or killing possums. If the possum does not leave immediately, step away from the cage and go inside your car. An opossum’s diet in the wild is primarily insects and bugs like snails, slugs etc, small rodents, and other dead animals. By using our site, you agree to our. They will hunt different mammals and snails during the winter, spring and summer, which mean that this is the time when they will be looking for meat. Thanks for visiting! Their digestive systems have learned how to adapt given their changes in diet and changes in environment. You are also going to want a trap that is easy to set up and use. That is what I did. They’ll bend chicken wire to get as much of the bird out as they can. Possums also love fruits and apples very much. If none of those work out, search online! Pest Control Specialist. 3. Trapinator. Put some fish on a plate. They will eat ANYTHING that's worth growing, and most weeds as well. Place the cage near the possum’s den or in areas that it frequents. Get Rid of possums permanently. Place a brick on top of the trap to keep it steady and to prevent the possum from flipping it over. As opportunistic scavengers, opossums will feast on a wide variety of foodstuffs. Possums may be able to detect your scent on the trap or the bait if you don’t use the gloves. I do know they will eat crackers with peanut butter, fed one last deer hunting season. More than any other animal, possums are unpicky eaters. Kevin Carrillo. Opossums are probably the biggest marsupials of America. What to do about opossums. You should also remove any uneaten pet food that is placed outside your home. After you caught your oppossum, learn how to relocate your opossum safely. Opossums are omnivores with an opportunistic diet, eating most plant or animal matter. Make sure to repair any broken vents, screens, roofing, and siding to prevent possums from making a home out of your home. Some possums will eat dog or cat food, but is not recommended as it is not their primary food choice. There are strict legal bindings for relocating while animals. There is no point in putting a food that it is not going to go for, so make sure that you use one of the following, all of which have been proven to be effective in opossum trapping: They will eat both pellets and soft foods such as canned meats. You should be trained enough to deal with the animal and the trap system to release the opossum and then to relocate it. In Texas, property owners can kill "nuisance" animals such as opossums if the animals are considered a problem, according to the Dallas Morning News. Next, place the trap on an even surface in the area where you suspect the possum may be, and bait it with apples, marshmallows, or sweet bread. Information about how to catch an opossum - remove one stuck in the house. Fish, canned cat or dog food are good opossum baits. Lastly, you are going to want a trap that actually works. In this case, use breads or sweets. Place the trap inside the attic or outside it just by their entry point. It works in the same way as the single door, but with two. That said, there are two Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Possums are more likely to eat eggs, chicks and smaller breeds like Bantams. Heavier possums are dominant (the boss) over smaller ones, and females tend to be dominant over similar sized (or smaller) males. Possum Control FAQs and DYI steps for Solutions on possum Infestation. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). What Do Possums Eat and Are They Dangerous?. Is it true that all you have to do is chase after them, and when they play dead, just pick them up? If you are not willing to take care of a new pet, and you do not find pleasure in seeing the results of the possums night feasting, it is possible to get rid of them. Brushtail possums are relatively small compared to humans, so even small portions of human food can be very unhealthy for them. 2. To readily entice the opossum into the trap, use a small trail of bait leading to the trap. Animal Control 101. You need the gloves to keep the possum from getting suspicious. If the possum turns to look at you while it is exiting the cage, put your arms up in the air and make loud predator noises as if you are a bear. Once captured, just find a place where your possum won't be able to come back or simply just call an animal removal service. In other cases, Adapted from the book Wild Neighbors. Sometimes possums eat insects, bird eggs or small vertebrates, depending on the size and species of the possum. Keep trapping. Possums are omnivores, meaning they eat almost everything. Expert Interview. Opossum Control. Yes. You can bait a trap with any sort of food, and it'll work. They are not really "playing" anything; this is a physical reaction to stress, or nature's way of protecting them, given that many animals won't attack a comatose animal. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Trap-a-Possum-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Trap-a-Possum-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Trap-a-Possum-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1344027-v4-728px-Trap-a-Possum-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"