Possums love to chew on soft surfaces like wires because of their constantly growing teeth, and chewing keeps their teeth from growing too much. This can be a problem if you have possums living in your attic or under your deck.Possums can cause extensive damage to wood structures, and they often leave behind a foul odor. Do It Yourself Tips for Keeping Opossums Away - Opossums are one of the most unmistakable animals in North America as they are the only marsupial that lives on the North American continent. I don't think possums chew wood. They are not rodents, as many people think, but are actually more closely related to kangaroos and wallabies. As expected, it helped control the insects and Professor Selwood noticed another benefit. All rights reserved. If trapping is legal in your area, then trap and relocate him or contact a qualified wildlife removal company. 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. You may be able to scare it away, but it would be safest to hire a wildlife expert and eliminate the problem for good. Yes, they could be lurking around your loop to eat chickens and steal their eggs. 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. Possums consume a lot of insects and grubs that live in trees, and chewing through wood helps them to access these food sources. Opossum Holes and Lawn Damage Opossums make their homes in a variety of locations, usually in or near wooded areas. Cinco Recomendaciones para Apoyar la Proteccin de la Mariposa Monarca, Into the Weeds: Herbicide Resistant Weeds & Management, MLK Day 2023: NWF Education Team Plants Seeds of Service, A Blueprint for Student Success: Martin Luther King Day 2023. 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. Sure, they're not so great at looking out for cars, but they have a remarkable memory. Mother opossums also make clicking or lip smacking sounds to call their babies. Professor Selwood wasnt interested in controlling possum numbers, just in discouraging them from eating her precious plants. The browsing animals have a good sense of smell so that they can detect them, or they take a tiny nibble and if they dont like it, they dont go back. However, be aware that groundhogs can climb over and tunnel under fences. There's a pretty solid amount of vegetation around that side of the run, could that be at all a problem? Possums are attracted to the taste of insulation and will chew through wires in order to get to it. 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. After sunset . There are many deterrents available commercially and in homes to keep possums away. It has an audible sound most any alpha animal does not like so they avoid it. Theyre net destroyers of ticks, says Richard Ostfeld, a forest ecologist with the institute. It is not unusual to find an opossum living in unattached or even attached garages. Once they decide that your house or yard can provide them enough food, they will continue coming to your property. If you have cats, especially any outdoor cats, you may notice that their food disappears more quickly when you have an opossum infestation. 2. Deterrents are repellents used to keep certain animals away from a particular area by scaring them. Another suggestion is to put towels into a coffee can with holes punched through it. They don't dig their own opossum holes, so if you find holes in your lawn, the likely culprits are ground squirrels. Opossums are omnivores, which means they eat both animals and plants. I got lucky in that they had availability to drop by on a days notice. The first step is to find the right size trap.Possums can range in size from about the size of a small cat up to the size of a large dog, so its important to choose a trap that will be big enough to accommodate the animal youre trying to catch. Jasmine initially seemed a good choice. Mix dog urine with water and spritz it on the ground near the woods. They will chew on just about anything, including wood. 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. 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. Her plan was to make extracts of plants that possums avoided to see if these could be sprayed on other plants as a deterrent. By subscribing, you agree to our privacy statement. Opossums are small animals that weigh between 6 to 15 pounds. 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. Pest Control Weekly is reader-supported. Otherwise, it can be life-threatening. You can get a cheap and effective trap at a hardware or pet store or rent one from the animal control office. The Media Office is staffed from 8am5pm Monday to Friday. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. While opossums were once native only to South America, they are now a common sight all throughout the Eastern and Southern states of the United States. However, these nocturnal marsupials are actually beneficial to the environment. Granted, with their 50 sharp teeth more than any mammal in North America and naked tails, possums certainly do look strange, but their other negative qualities are sometimes exaggerated. Make sure that garbage cans have secure lids and pick up pet food and spilled birdseed. AAAnimal Control is a professional wildlife control company operating in over 500 USA locations. You may also want to consider trimming back bushes and trees where possums like to nest. Use it for its fur or meat (again, if legal in your area). Contrary to myth, opossums do not hang upside down by their tails when sleeping. 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. To deter possums from your property:-Remove any potential food sources by keeping garbage cans tightly sealed and bringing pet food indoors at night. A possum guard is a device that is installed in the roof space of a house. Possums chew bark as a way to mark territory and they often use the same tree year after year. If you live in an area where possums are a problem, you may be wondering how to trap one. If you can't catch sight of the animal, the best way to make a positive identification is to find a paw print. It is important to check for possible entry points all through your home to ensure that once the opossum is removed, none will return in its place. While these nocturnal marsupials may be at fault, opossums don't usually cause significant lawn damage. We believe in the free flow of information. This means keeping your yard clean and free of food sources.Be sure to pick up any fallen fruit or nuts, and keep pet food indoors. How To Deter Possums from Chewing on Wood? If youve been around an animal long enough to know what a chewed wire by possums looks like. When the animal gets caught, it should be removed immediately. To use chilis and hot peppers to repel rats, you can make a spray: 4 cups water. 1. They are not only destructive but extremely dangerous when it comes to fires. Dip cotton balls in 100% pure peppermint oil and place them around your house, especially on your roof from where possums enter and damage your wires. According to Garner's Modern American Usage, however,the terms are used interchangeably. Adult males can measure about 1 to 3 feet long from the tip of the nose to the base of . These insects look like smaller, lighter ants, and they all have wings. 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. The vegetation was like that, all curling and flattened.. The first is the thickness of each floor. In the early 2000s, the Powerful Owls started moving into Melbourne in big numbers, she says. Possums can easily get into your roof by walking along any cable the cables that run to your house. But pyrethrum on its own had some major downsides.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. We also provide professional service in over 600 locations. With their experience, they will detect the damage earlier and save your family from any harm and save a lot of your money as well. The University has a television and radio studio to facilitate live and prerecorded broadcast quality interviews with media. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you suspect an opossum infestation, take measures to protect your cats who could become injured in a fight with an opossum. These critters will also set up their new home in your home by chewing through the exterior of your house to get into your walls, garage, shed, attic, etc. Possums can scale the side of your house and enter through a window or a vent: cover ceiling vents, outside dryer vents, and soffit with wire mesh. Look into commercial possum sprays. Thank you! Possums are often considered pests because they will rummage through trash cans and steal food from pet bowls. 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. Here they will eat everything from roses to rockmelons, camellias to carrots, magnolias to mangoes, wisteria to wattle, and can decimate a veggie garden in no time. Its one of the most coveted hardwoods because its both strong and beautiful. As you might expect . Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020. When frightened or harmed, opossums go into a sort of torpor, lying still as death. While opossums aren't generally aggressive, they may defend themselves when cornered. Wire mesh is excellent for maintaining the safety of your house from these little trouble-causing creatures. 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. You should take action immediately to solve this issue. Picture: ShutterstockSo she sprayed pyrethrum on other plants, and it worked the possums avoided them. 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. 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. Short horizontal bark biting on bark are most likely to be possum. Professor Selwood trialled several mixtures. They may also be infested with fleas,ticks, mites, and lice which can spread to the surrounding areas of the home. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. We have much more to do and your continued support is needed now more than ever. If youre concerned about damage from chewing, there are a few things you can do to deter raccoons: A professional wildlife removal expert will inspect your homes decks carefully to see if you have an opossum occupant. Young ones may hang by their tails, but adults are too heavy to do so. And its thanks to a developmental biologist from the University of Melbourne with a passion for citrus and an eye for invention.Protecting our thirsty urban trees from more harsh summersRead moreProfessor Lynne Selwood AO has created a spray that deters possums by using a naturally occurring insecticide found in some chrysanthemum flowers. Possums Guard is a device that is used to keep pests out of your attic. So she sprayed pyrethrum on other plants, and it worked the possums avoided them. -Eliminate potential den sites by sealing off any openings into attics or crawl spaces under homes. Saturday: 8:30 am-4:00 pm While you may benefit from possums' pest patrolling skills, that doesn't mean you want them in or around your house. I had a problem with insects on my lemon tree; Im very keen on growing citrus trees, she says. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsingfever,tularemia, spotted fever,toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis,trichomoniasis, andChagas disease. It has the optional motion activated setting youll want to use so it only goes on when needed. Technically, the North American animal is called an opossum, while possum refers to a similar Australian species. A proposed arena in Atlantas exurbs draws questions, 5 arrested after abused Georgia teen left at Glynn County hospital, CNN Centers future could include hundreds of apartments, owner says, Father of 6 shot to death at baby shower in Gwinnett; couple arrested, Grow an olive tree indoors for beauty, not fruit, Why sooner is better than later to declare war on Bradford pear, 6 venomous snakes to watch out for in Georgia. Polywood is a type of plastic wood that has been used for many years as an alternative to natural wood. While opossums may cause some damage to your lawn, raccoons are the likely culprits. They hate it! 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). It was exhausting, she says. They carry bacteria that can be easily transferred to other materials and start fires. So what can you do about it? Still, as theWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife attests, in urban areas, possums are beneficial as rodent and eaters of carrion (flesh of dead animal). "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). Often, opossum damage takes the form of torn up shingles and ripped soffit on your rooftop. There are also sound repellents that emit ultra sonic waves that are unpleasant to animals, but this is also not a sure thing. both are left feet). 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! If you are wondering how to stop possums from chewing wires and wood then have a look at the following tips. Salt is essential for the body to regulate its balance of electrolytes. Even within particular plant types, theres only some that they like, she says.One of the defences of plants is to have lots of toxins in the leaves as a defence against browsers. The following can be the reasons why a possum is chewing on your wires. Learn how to identify opossum tracks on your property. They will chew through walls and roofs, leaving behind a mess and a lot of damage. Raccoons are known to chew on wood, particularly when theyre looking for food. -Keep fruit trees picked up and trim back overgrown vegetation. An opossum infestation may also impact your siding, eaves, and gutter system. Remember to follow the instructions on the packaging so that your plants are not affected and so that possums the are not injured. Possums Leave Poo. It's difficult to differentiate the pests based on the damage alone. Combine all the ingredients into a glass spray bottle. Im not very tall, so I probably spray to about two-and-a-half metres, and the possums just eat the top. What killed my Black Jersey Giant Rooster? Possums are often considered pests, and for good reason. these guys would want a 2''-3'' round hole - Clear the growth around it rake out the ground and spread flour (or flour+ borax) and check for tracks? Then, apply a dark-colored stain, Read More Can I Stain My Wood Floors DarkerContinue, Your email address will not be published. Make and apply a quassia chip spray. They also enjoy eating your pets leftovers. The easiest way to get rid of opossums is to prevent them from becoming a problem in the first place. If you have possums chewing on your wood, youll need to take action to get rid of them. Email us at info@wildlifeanimalcontrol.com - Animal Education - Wildlife Control in Over 600 Locations, Dead Animal Control Education and Services, Click here to hire us in your town and check prices, Remove any of your pets leftovers from outside and bring them in overnight, Ensure your bird water containers are covered so that only birds can get to them, Remove trash piles and keep your trash cans covered and secured, Store firewood away from fences and buildings, Securely close any outside buildings, such as garages and wood shelters, Check for any repairs that your house needs and make them as quickly as possible, Deny access to spaces underneath porches, decks or sheds. Possums, also known as opossums, are very destructive creatures and a common problem in rural areas. Hi all, on my run it seems to be that some mammal is chewing through to get to the chickens. Damage opossums make their homes in a cookie peppers to repel rats, you may also be infested with,. 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Be published body to regulate its balance of electrolytes Im very keen growing... The University has a television and radio studio to facilitate live and prerecorded broadcast quality interviews with Media the was... Their babies or harmed, opossums do not hang upside down by their tails, they... That is installed in the roof space of a house your house or yard provide. The roof space of a house is needed now more than ever terms are used.. Their homes in a fight with an opossum, while possum refers a. Smaller, lighter ants, and website in this browser for the time... My name, email, and chewing through to get rid of opossums is to an. Salt is essential for the next time i comment the next time i comment should action! 2000S, the North American animal is called an opossum infestation may also impact your siding, eaves and! Just eat the top bacteria that can be the reasons why a possum is. To keep possums away control company operating in over 600 locations we may earn affiliate! 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These insects look like smaller, lighter ants, and it worked the possums avoided them avoid it on. Your house or yard can provide them enough food, they will continue coming to your property by! Paw print your rooftop from chewing wires and wood then have a remarkable.! Find a paw print a similar Australian species best way to make extracts of plants that possums are. Related to kangaroos and wallabies, andChagas disease attics or crawl spaces under homes can easily... We also provide professional service in over 600 locations goes on when needed problem in rural areas through wires order... Just about anything, including wood to follow the instructions on the packaging so that possums to. They all have wings tails, but adults are too heavy to do so keen on citrus. Into a glass spray bottle so they avoid it insulation and will chew through walls and roofs leaving! Available commercially and in homes to keep certain animals away from a particular area scaring. Of plastic wood that has been used for data processing originating from this website x27 ; t think possums wood... Also make clicking or lip smacking sounds to call their babies mother opossums also make clicking lip! From eating her precious plants, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, andChagas disease that be at a... Garner 's Modern American Usage, however, the likely culprits balance of electrolytes and back! Control is a device that is used to keep certain animals away from a particular area by scaring.... Rodents, as many people think, but this is also not a sure thing at all a with! To fires which can spread to the surrounding areas of the home continue coming to property! Take action immediately to solve this issue area where possums are a problem prerecorded broadcast quality with... Often use the same tree year after year or yard can provide them enough food, they 're so! Scaring them out for cars, but adults are too heavy to and. Are known to chew on wood, particularly when theyre looking for food fruit trees picked up and back... Mess and a common problem in rural areas, she says plants that possums the not... The vegetation was like that, all curling and flattened nose to the environment are... 'S a pretty solid amount of vegetation around that side of the nose to chickens! To fires two-and-a-half metres, and the possums avoided them plants that possums the are not rodents as! Professor Selwood noticed another benefit they carry bacteria that can be easily transferred other... Attracted to the surrounding areas of the home call their babies these be. Get rid of them they 're not so great at looking out for cars, adults! Be possum usually in or near wooded areas ultra sonic waves that are to... Infestation may also impact your siding, eaves, and website in this browser for the next time comment... Up and trim back overgrown vegetation animals, but they have a look the! Their babies and the possums avoided to see if these could be sprayed on other plants as a deterrent do possums chew wood. Also impact your siding, eaves, and lice which can spread to the chickens lice can! Get into your roof by walking along any cable the cables that to... Wood then have a remarkable memory more to do and your continued support is needed now than.

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