How to Keep Possums and Raccoons Off Your Property

Cute? Yes. Annoying? VERY!

Opossums and raccoons are nocturnal wild animals that are easily attracted to garbage and/or food left out on your property. These creatures tend to carry disease and are potentially harmful if they bite or scratch you. The key to ridding yourself of these pests is through simple storage methods and food source removal. The following list denotes some key things you can do to deter these animals. If the problem persists or becomes unmanageable, we recommend seeking the assistance of a professional animal/pest removal service.

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

• 30 to 40 lb. weight
• Rope
• Peppermint oil
• Cloth rag
• Ammonia

• Make sure to seal Trash Night systems with their appropriate latch and close compost bins at night. If you do not yet own a Trash Knight system, place a 30 to 40 lb. weight on top of the garbage can lid to keep animals from removing it, or tie rope tightly around the lid’s handle to tie down the lid to trash can. We assure you, the Trash Knight is a much easier alternative! Opossums and raccoons sleep during the day and search for food at night, which leaves your garbage cans and compost bins susceptible to being invaded.

• Pick up fruit and other food sources from your yard. Fruit trees attract these nocturnal rodents, and fallen fruit results in a yard filled with the creatures.

• Move your pet’s food and water bowl indoors after sunset. Raccoons and opossums will eat and drink your pet’s food and water if it is left outside at night, which increases the risk of passing diseases to your pet.

• Soak several rags in peppermint oil or ammonia and place the rags around your property. Opossurms and raccoons do not like the pungent odor of the peppermint oil or ammonia, and will stay away from the offending area. Replace the rags after rainfall to maintain the deterrent.

 

Related articles

• Life for Opossum After It Rode the D Train (nytimes.com)
• It’s a wild scene in the backyard (csmonitor.com)
• Wild Possum on the Loose in Nyc! (weeklyworldnews.com)
• Paw paw & his albino opossum (Y’all that’s possum’ for us southern folk) (dawnsdorkydiary.wordpress.com)
• Yet another raccoon attack (sfgate.com)

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