Opossum trapped in live trap, ready for relocation.

Traps

The best method is to trap the opossum for relocation. There are many live traps on the market that are highly affective. Here are some guidelines to choosing the right trap and how to use it most effectively. First choose a trap that is at least 10 inches x 12 inches x 32 inches. Next, you will want to place the trap in the animal’s line of travel or near a much visited site, such as a brush line or garbage can. A trap alone won’t rid you of your problem, proper bait is key. Opossums love over ripe melon, bananas, and other soft fruit, using these in your trap will guarantee you success.
Make sure to check local laws about killing/trapping animals before deciding to take care of the trapped animal yourself. Most areas require a professional wildlife control representative to relocate the animal once trapped. Shooting an opossum is illegal in most areas of the country.

Repellents

If you don’t want to deal with trapping the animal and relocating it to a more suitable environment you could try using a predator lure, such as coyote or wolf urine to deter the opossum. When you apply a predator lure to the borders of your property the opossum is led to believe that there is a predator in the area and will then in turn avoid your home. This method requires applying the lure using a dispenser sure as the Garden Sent-Ry Unit and placing them around the area in which you would like the animal to avoid. You should also check the dispensers to make sure they have not dried out in hot weather and reapply the product as needed, about every other month.

Preventative Measures

Whether trying to deter an opossum already in residence or to thwart future animals from making themselves at home on your property preventative measures are important steps to take in wildlife control. The first thing to consider is the habits of the opossum.
Opossum enjoy making themselves comfortable in small spaces and are attracted to rotting food. This means making sure all garbage cans have tight-fitting lids and that all pet food is stored indoors or in sturdy air tight containers. Next, enclose all open spaces under your home, into the attic, under porches, decking or sheds. This can be accomplished by installing lattice or other similar barriers.
Any small dark space is inviting to an opossum as a place to rest its head during the day whether man or nature made. Clearing out any underbrush and prune back over grown trees and shrubs is also important. If you have a burn pile that has been sitting for a while you will want to take care of that too, just be sure to check burn bans in your area first. With proper maintenance of your yard and garden you may never have to worry about removing an unwanted opossum from your property.

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