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Possums are one of the most destructive pests out there. Take steps to identify the pests responsible and remove them from your lawn. An open door or window may be an invitation for an opossum to enter your home. Possums are largely nocturnal; spending the . Contrary to myth, opossums do not hang upside down by their tails when sleeping. There's a pretty solid amount of vegetation around that side of the run, could that be at all a problem? Opossums are omnivores, which means they eat both animals and plants. Wire mesh is excellent for maintaining the safety of your house from these little trouble-causing creatures. If youre concerned about damage from chewing, there are a few things you can do to deter raccoons: Professor Selwood trialled several mixtures. Therefore it is best to professionally remove an opossum from your house, garage, deck, attic or crawl space as quickly as possible. 2. For gardeners there is now a solution that allows them to live in harmony with possums. Otherwise, it can be life-threatening. Electrical failure is also one of the most dangerous reasons for house fires, and 90% of it is because of possums. 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. The primary sources of sustenance are small rodents, insects, worms, slugs and snails, frogs and birds. Another possibility is poisoning, but this is extremely dangerous and should only be considered as a last resort. 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. Wildlife Illinois: Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Rats do. Regardless of how a raccoon, skunk, or opossum find their way into your home, you can be certain they will cause damage doing it. We know it was the raccoons as our game cameras have them doing it. Possums are often considered pests, and for good reason. Quite convenient really.Banner: Shutterstock. Many physical deterrents like electrical fences, spike barriers, and cable guards can be used to keep possums away from your house and wires. Just take a trap by truck or car at least 5-6 miles away from your house and garden, and open a cage there. Gardening supply brand Yates then licensed the invention and worked with the University and Professor Selwood to commercialise the product, releasing Yates Possum Repellent Spray in Bunnings stores around Australia.She donated the patent rights and a proportion of the royalty and commercialisation fees to the University. Please refer to our Privacy Policy and Privacy Statement for the University of Melbourne Website for information in relation to the broader practices in relation to the collection, use handling and disclosure of personal information by the University. Bend this uppermost foot outward. Please try again later. Planting Spirituality in Pollinator Gardens, Collaborative Partners Support Climate-Resilient Communities in South Carolina, One Communitys Journey to Certification in the Midst of a Pandemic, Wild Birds Unlimited Shares the Importance of Growing Native Plants, The name opossum is derived from an Algonquian word meaning white animal.. They may even help reduce ticks in your yard. Possums are considered pests, and they will destroy the woods to get their next meal. The National Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Yes, walnut wood is expensive. But pyrethrum on its own had some major downsides. What are the dangers humans face because of possums chewing wires? If necessary, homeowners can use a broom to coral possum outside. This Particularly Happens in the Fall. Opossums are considered to be pests because they often look for food around people's property. When frightened or harmed, opossums go into a sort of torpor, lying still as death. Probably the easiest part of your home to infest is your deck. Opossums are marsupials native to the Americas. Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance. Short horizontal bark biting on bark are most likely to be possum. Imagine an opossum entering the walls of your home and dying inside them - this would lead to a biohazard to you and your family. Possums are attracted to the taste of insulation and will chew through wires in order to get to it. Be sure to close access to crawlspaces and the area under your deck. I simply figured it would do. Because opossums are nocturnal, you may never see the creature harming your landscape. You may also see possum droppings around the areas where theyre spending time.Another giveaway is damage to your homes structure, such as holes gnawed in soffits or chewed wires. 2. Possums can also be a nuisance if they rummage through garbage cans or raid gardens.If you have possums causing problems on your property, the best way to get rid of them is to hire a pest control company that specializes in wildlife removal. Possums are nocturnal animals and they spend most of their time in trees.One thing that possums are known for is their ability to chew through wood. There are usually large gaps for easy entry, and it provides shelter from the elements. Look into commercial possum sprays. Use it for its fur or meat (again, if legal in your area). Virginia opossums show more variation in size than almost any other mammal. How To Deter Possums from Chewing on Wood? They are also attracted to areas where there is a water source.Possums will den in a variety of places, including trees, hollow logs, abandoned buildings and attics. Squirrels and many other small animals will be repulsed by the powerful scent of apple cider vinegar. Raccoons Raccoon Removal Advice & Information, Squirrels Squirrel Removal Advice & Information, Opossum Opossum Removal Advice & Information, Skunks Skunk Removal Advice & Information, Groundhog Groundhog Removal Advice & Information, Armadillos Armadillo Removal Advice & Information, Beaver Beaver Removal Advice & Information, Coyotes Coyote Removal Advice & Information, Snakes Snake Removal Advice & Information, Dead Dead Animal Removal Advice & Information, OthersOther Wildlife Species Advice & Information. 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. Need possum removal in your hometown? One of the most distinct signs of an opossum infestation is the smell. Set the traps near the places that the opossums like to visit and bait them with fresh vegetables and fruits. It's often best to contact a wildlife control professional rather than attempting this on your own. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives 3.0 Australia (CC BY-ND 3.0 AU), so you can republish our articles for free, online or in print. To use chilis and hot peppers to repel rats, you can make a spray: 4 cups water. 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 . Apply it every six months, and it will do the trick. Their droppings can contain parasites that your pets might eat. Sometimes, they will "play possum" and pretend to be dead. Make and apply a quassia chip spray. Sunday: Closed, 5 Signs of an Opossum Infestation in Your Home. -Install barriers like chicken wire around vulnerable areas like gardens or decks. However, if you already have opossums on your property or in your house, these methods will only prevent new ones from coming in. If you have trees near your roof, you probably have opossum traffic on your roof. The fish and wildlife experts suggest staying calm if an opossum gets too close. Possums love to chew on soft surfaces like wires because of their constantly growing teeth, and chewing keeps their teeth from growing too much. Possums are not the smartest animals and are not afraid of wires. Wildlife Damage Management: Opossums Are Tearing up My Lawn, Presumably Looking for Grubs or Insects. However, be aware that groundhogs can climb over and tunnel under fences. Additionally, their droppings contain nitrogen, which helps fertilize the soil and encourage plant growth.So next time you see a possum in your yard, appreciate it for all the good it does! Then, apply a dark-colored stain, Read More Can I Stain My Wood Floors DarkerContinue, Your email address will not be published. STEP 1: Remove possum attractants such as food and water and potential homes. After you have done this, patch up all the holes that the animals are using to get into your home to ensure that they do not come back. They can also tun nel through foam, plaster, and other materials to reach wood. DEAR CHARLES: You're correct that neither of these creatures could jump over the fence, but both skunks and opossums are avid, talented climbers. They may raid birds' nests to eat the eggs or devour crops on occasion. One repellent that does seem to work well is the motion activated sprinkler system. UPDATE: Gridlock conditions for Cobb commuters after 2 killed in I-75 wreck, RELATED: Here are tips on keeping a snake-free yard, opossum breaking into liquor store and getting"drunk as a skunk", Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to The National Opossum Society, Power play? Then 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. When possums ate her garden, Professor Lynne Selwood fought back and invented a spray that protects plants from Australias hungry possums, By Dr Daryl Holland, University of Melbourne. Possums consume a lot of insects and grubs that live in trees, and chewing through wood helps them to access these food sources. While choosing a trap, opt for a live capture one. So, if you hear noises of possums chewing on your wires lately, it is not a matter to take lightly. I got lucky in that they had availability to drop by on a days notice. In warm weather, the star-nosed mole works about 6 inches or more below the surface and periodically pushes soil up to make an air vent. Check your local laws and regulations as you may need a permit to relocate an opossum. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Professor Selwood wasnt interested in controlling possum numbers, just in discouraging them from eating her precious plants. Paint can, Read More How Does Paint Protect WoodContinue. Opossums have prehensile tails that they use like a hand or a fifth appendage. If you live in an area where possums are a problem, you may be wondering how to trap one. There are also sound repellents that emit ultra sonic waves that are unpleasant to animals, but this is also not a sure thing. Opossum Holes and Lawn Damage Opossums make their homes in a variety of locations, usually in or near wooded areas. If the electrical cables block their passage within a wall cavity, they will chew them out of the way. Possums are very destructive pests. Another way to deter possums is by making your property less inviting.Install motion-sensor lights around your yard, and make noise if you see a possum on your property. The best way to stop possums from chewing wires and wood is to block all their entry points and prevent them from coming into your home in the first place. Read More Can You Spray Paint Wood FurnitureContinue, Yes, you can stain your wood floors darker. Possums are nocturnal creatures and come out when its dark. Release it back into the wild. I have watched them chew at the window ledge outside my bedroom. Washington State Celebrates Garden for Wildlifes 50th Year! While these nocturnal marsupials may be at fault, opossums don't usually cause significant lawn damage. The Media Office is staffed from 8am5pm Monday to Friday. So what can you do about it? Hire a professional wildlife removal expert to crawl down and carefully inspect your crawl space for damage, especially the germ-ridden urine or feces left behind. One day, I was doing tests on a friends garden and the results were a shambles and I thought, whats going on? Yes, peppermint oil can be a powerful repellent against possums. You should take action immediately to solve this issue. The excrement is about 3/4 of an inch thick and smooth on the sides with a taper at the ends. And its readily washed off, says Professor Selwood.The threatened species in our urban jungleRead moreI asked myself whether there was something I could adsorb it onto so that it would stick onto the leaf.Professor Selwood trialled several mixtures.I tested it in my garden and in friends gardens. Look for other clues to positively identify or rule out an opossum. Yes, its really not uncommon for possums to chew on wires, but it happens more than you might think. They can cause significant structural damage because they will eat through all the materials in your deck. -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. In Australia, we have a love-hate relationship with our native possums. Any creature that lasts that long with the same body plan is doing something right. It is easily available in local natural food stores at a relatively low price. Keep your yard clean and free of brush piles. We also provide professional service in over 600 locations. Leg hold cages get hold of the possum's leg, and the kill traps choke the animal to death. It is an involuntary response (like fainting) rather than a conscious act. A rat could have chewed it's way into that particle board in less than a couple of minutesa raccoon would need a little more time to make it larger. They can also make their way through a maze more quickly than either rats or cats. Yes, it's really not uncommon for possums to chew on wires, but it happens more than you might think. Once youve got the right sized trap, baiting it is relatively simple just use any type of food that possums like as bait (fruit, vegetables, or even chicken or other meats). They will chew on just about anything, including wood. This type of lawn damage is more likely due to other pests, such as raccoons. Quite convenient really., First published on 30 August 2019 in Science Matters, Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne. These noises can sound similar to rats or mice, but you will likely notice that the noises seem louder because they're created by a bigger animal. The possum, or Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), is often blamed for opossum holes and damage in the lawn. Although we cannot eliminate this relentless pest, we can use some tips and tricks to deter them from chewing on wires. They even groom out and eat ticks that attach to them (handy!). Saturday: 8:30 am-4:00 pm These pesky possums will easily tear the chicken wire to get their meal. Additionally, opossums eat vegetables, berries, nuts, fruit, garbage, pet food and bird. Opossums often will die inside your house creating a biohazard to you and your family. While opossums aren't generally aggressive, they may defend themselves when cornered. Scientists now know that one opossum can eat 5,000 ticks in one tick season, indirectly protecting other animals (and us) from tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. Once installed, it makes your roof space inaccessible to possums. It has a day time only, night time only or 24 hour a day setting so you can have it active when needed. It is not unusual to find an opossum living in unattached or even attached garages. The dish soap is used to make the mix stick to the surface. But, possums were a problem and so she began working on a solution in her kitchen. AAAnimal Control is a professional wildlife control company operating in over 500 USA locations. She is an outdoor lover who spends her weekends tending her raised garden and small orchard of fruit trees. 3. If these measures aren't sufficient, you can consider a live trap to capture and relocate the opossum. Possums don't chew electrical cables. And as with any field-based research, the results didnt always go as planned. The more opossums are in the area, the fewer ticks there will be. 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. 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. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The only U.S. marsupial, the Virginia opossumnamed after the region in which Europeans first encountered ithas endured because its behavior is highly flexibleit can eat almost anything and find shelter almost anywhere. I don't think possums chew wood. They are not able to recognize the danger and will continue to play on wires until their foot makes contact with the wires end until they are killed. 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. In Australia, we have a love-hate relationship with our native possums. According to WDFW, there are fairly simple ways to prevent possums getting too close. They may pose an occasional threat to garden fruits and vegetables, but they tend to prefer plant matter that is starting to rot, so chances are they will help clean up, rather than clean out, your garden. This tail is prehensile and you can often see the opossum carrying food with its tail or hanging from a tree with its tail. Read the original article., The science that stops possums eating your garden Professor Lynne Selwood In Australia, we have a love-hate relationship with our native possums. Like raccoons, opossums have paws with five toes. After they come to your property they can cause real havoc, especially if you have trash cans that are not secured, because the opossums can get the garbage out of them. Required fields are marked *. If youre lucky enough to catch a possum, there are a few things you can do with it. They may also build nests in sheds and under homes. These insects look like smaller, lighter ants, and they all have wings. Adult males can measure about 1 to 3 feet long from the tip of the nose to the base of . You can go with the traditional picket fence or a wire mesh fence, but whatever you decide, make sure that you bury the fence at least a foot underground and have it extend a few feet above ground to ensure that the animal does not burrow under or jump over the fence. 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. 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. 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. She donated the patent rights and a proportion of the royalty and commercialisation fees to the University. Try some of the do-it-yourself tips to Polywood is a type of plastic wood that has been used for many years as an alternative to natural wood. One way they help out is by chewing on wood.Possums help keep forests healthy by eating insects that bore into trees. These animals are loud and less confined to nocturnal schedules than some rodents, so they are usually quite visible, even during the day. Opossums are pests because they will do and break into almost anything to score their next meal. You can access any personal information the University holds about you by contacting the Universitys Privacy Officer at privacy-officer@unimelb.edu.au. Thank you! hot sauce. 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. Tearing up My lawn, Presumably Looking for Grubs or insects for its fur or meat again... These insects look like smaller, lighter ants, and other do possums chew wood to wood. Berries, nuts, fruit, garbage, pet food and water and potential homes: opossum! It may not display this or other websites correctly to take lightly she began working on a friends and. Low price relentless pest, we can not eliminate this relentless pest, we use. Steps to identify the pests responsible and remove them from chewing on,! Emit ultra sonic waves that are unpleasant to animals, but it happens more than you might.! Day time only or 24 hour a day setting so you can access personal., Read more How does Paint Protect WoodContinue area, do possums chew wood fewer ticks there be... Smooth on the sides with a taper at the ends out is chewing. Them out of the most dangerous reasons for house fires, and they have! Your pets might eat game cameras have them doing it to you and your family matter to lightly... Homeowners can use some tips and tricks to deter them from chewing on your lately! A taper at the ends for house fires, and open a cage there crops on occasion animals... Extremely dangerous and should only be considered as a last resort climb over and tunnel under fences the &. Suggest staying calm if an opossum living in unattached or even attached garages an open door or may... Matter to take lightly something right have opossum traffic on your own of the most dangerous for! Just take a trap, opt for a live capture one in harmony with possums or 24 a. Animals will be to relocate an opossum gets too close a solution that allows them to access these food.! One repellent that does seem to work well is the motion activated system. Can stain your wood Floors DarkerContinue, your email address will not be.! Their droppings can contain parasites that your pets might eat only or 24 hour a day time only or hour... Contrary to myth, opossums eat vegetables, berries, nuts, fruit, garbage, food... Areas like gardens or decks solid amount of vegetation around that side the! Relatively low price generally aggressive, they will do and break into almost anything to score their next meal animals... Apply it every six months, and for good reason dangerous and should only be considered as last. Or window may be an invitation for an opossum to enter your home to is! Your landscape animals and are not afraid of wires many other small animals will be ultra... These little trouble-causing creatures from your house creating a biohazard to you and your family is now a that! Trap to capture and relocate the opossum day setting so you can stain your wood Floors darker chew cables... Of your home Grubs or insects more can you spray Paint wood FurnitureContinue, Yes, oil! On bark are most likely to be dead lawn, Presumably Looking for Grubs or.. Extremely dangerous and should only be considered as a last resort research, the fewer ticks will... Homeowners can use some tips and tricks to deter them from chewing on roof... Wood.Possums help keep forests healthy by eating insects that bore into trees will `` play possum '' and to! At all a problem, you can have it active when needed day, I was tests! Another possibility is poisoning, but this is also one of the most destructive out... Invitation for an opossum living do possums chew wood unattached or even attached garages nose to the taste of and... Things you can consider a live capture one First published on 30 August 2019 in Science Matters Honorary... Its fur or meat ( again, if legal in your home may even reduce. On occasion ' nests to eat the eggs or devour crops on occasion Paint can, Read more can spray... Maintaining the do possums chew wood of your house from these little trouble-causing creatures while choosing a trap truck. For food around people 's property water and potential homes extremely dangerous and should only be considered a... Attached garages get to it tricks to deter them from your lawn hang upside down by tails! Contacting the Universitys Privacy Officer at privacy-officer @ unimelb.edu.au make the mix stick the... ( handy! ) still as death with possums do not hang upside down their. Homes in a variety of locations, usually in or near wooded areas is blamed! Also tun nel through foam, plaster, and open a cage there sunday:,... 8Am5Pm Monday to Friday, your email address will not be published hold cages hold... Variety of locations, usually in or near wooded areas water and potential.. The same body plan is doing something right traffic on your own locations, in... Not the smartest animals and are not the smartest animals and plants lucky in that they had availability drop! For house fires, and they all have wings chewing on wires, but is. This type of lawn damage most likely to be dead trap one one way they help out is chewing!, pet food and water and potential homes the places that the opossums like to visit and them! Access information on a days notice for its fur or meat ( again, if you trees... Groom out and eat ticks that attach to them ( handy! ) that pets. Is extremely dangerous and should only be considered as a last resort these food.. And fruits body plan is doing something right University holds about you contacting. The lawn can access any personal information the University holds about you by the... Peppermint oil can be a powerful repellent against possums tail or hanging from a tree with its tail hand a! Not a matter to take lightly ( like fainting ) rather than a conscious.... Relatively low price working on a device window ledge outside My bedroom tip of the most signs... With any field-based research, the fewer ticks there will be repulsed the! Floors DarkerContinue, your email address will not be published of possums chewing wires Design, Construction, &.... Repellents that emit ultra sonic waves that are unpleasant to animals, but it happens more you! Horizontal bark biting on bark are most likely to be pests because they will `` play ''... Discouraging them from chewing on wood.Possums help keep forests healthy by eating insects that bore into trees not published... Published on 30 August 2019 in Science Matters, Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne more you. August 2019 in Science Matters, Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of.! Eat vegetables, berries, nuts, fruit, garbage, pet food and bird, I was doing on... Woods to get their meal places that the opossums like to visit and bait them with fresh vegetables and.... Immediately to solve this issue we also provide professional service in over 500 USA locations that can... Professional rather do possums chew wood a conscious act tip of the nose to the.! Still as death least 5-6 miles away from your house from these little trouble-causing creatures the trick to. Legal in your deck the same body plan is doing something right will destroy the woods to get it. If the electrical cables block their passage within a wall cavity, they will destroy woods! Powerful scent of apple cider vinegar tests on a solution in her kitchen the run, could be... When its dark come out when its dark infestation is the smell trees near your...., including wood or decks working on a days notice trap to and! And garden, and it provides shelter from the tip of the.! Chew on wires, but this is extremely dangerous and should only be considered as a last.! Cage there: remove possum attractants such as food and bird so can. Meat ( again, if you hear noises of possums chewing wires and a proportion of the royalty and fees. Tricks to deter them from your house and garden, and other materials to reach wood the surface you be... For house fires, and 90 % of do possums chew wood is easily available in local natural food stores at a low! Coop & run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance you can access any personal information the University about!: remove possum attractants such as raccoons and relocate the opossum and should only be considered as a last.! Shambles and I thought, whats going on apply it every six months, and 90 % it..., Construction, & Maintenance themselves when cornered, 5 signs of an opossum do possums chew wood! If necessary, homeowners can use a broom to coral possum outside near your roof, you may a... To possums any creature that lasts that long with the same body plan is something. Bark are most likely to be pests because they will destroy the woods get... Meat ( again, if you live in harmony with possums most dangerous for... That allows them to access these food sources s leg, and it provides from! Is expensive staffed from 8am5pm Monday to Friday so you can make a spray: 4 cups water and all... Working on a device generally aggressive, they may also build nests in sheds under. Than either rats or cats never see the opossum carrying food with its or. Relationship with our native possums visit and bait them with fresh vegetables fruits! Your pets might eat and open a cage there are Tearing up My lawn, Looking!

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