Possums (Virginia opossums) are primarily attracted to your house by the promise of easy food, accessible water, and safe, dark hiding spots. Because they are opportunistic omnivores, your yard acts as a giant buffet if these necessities are readily available.
Possums (and opossums) hate being uncomfortable and having their highly sensitive senses disrupted. Their absolute least favorite things include overwhelming strong odors (like ammonia, garlic, and peppermint), spicy tastes, bright, sudden light, and predators.
“When a possum is hanging around your house, it usually means it's found something it needs—like food, shelter, or safety. Your yard might be offering easy meals, cozy hiding spots, or both. It's not just a random visit; it's a sign your property is meeting this wild animal's basic survival needs.”
Opossums are most active during spring and summer, wander widely in search of food, and rarely spend two consecutive days in the same spot. In the fall and winter, they occupy a more permanent nest lined with leaves.
They often get attracted to cinnamon scents, so if you have such scents lingering in your yard, be ready to receive these animals to your property. This explains why most people who wish to eliminate them from their yards use these scents to lure possums to baits.
Easy methods to get rid of possums include:
Possums (such as the North American Virginia opossum) are primarily nocturnal. They typically emerge from their dens at dusk, just before or after sunset, and remain active throughout the night until dawn.
Yes, it is generally safe to have possums (Virginia opossums) in your yard. They are docile, rarely aggressive, and highly beneficial because they eat pest insects, rodents, and thousands of disease-carrying ticks. They also rarely carry rabies due to their low body temperature.
No, possums do not sleep in the same place every night. They are nomadic wanderers. To stay safe from predators and avoid parasites, they use several temporary daytime hiding spots within their territory and rotate through them.
While they can recognize familiar individuals, their ability to remember human faces over time is limited compared to animals with more advanced cognitive abilities, such as primates. Possums primarily rely on their sense of smell and other sensory cues, like sound and movement, for recognition.
No. A porch light by itself won't keep possums away. These adaptable nighttime foragers get comfortable around constant lighting and will still investigate any easy meals or hiding spots.
Bacteria and Infection Concerns
Possums can carry bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, sometimes referred to as Golden Staph. In rare cases, bacteria associated with possums has been linked to necrotic dermatitis in affected animals.
Problem: Will an opossum attack my pets? Solution: In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to avoid confrontations. If escape is not possible then the threatened opossum may “play 'possum”, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would.
A rifle of almost any caliber (. 22-caliber is most common) or a shotgun loaded with No. 6 shot or larger will kill opossums. If it is legal, use a light to look for opossums after dark.
Several everyday foods are highly toxic or fatal to possums (opossums in North America, and brushtail/ringtail possums in Australia). While possums are scavengers, the following foods are poisonous and should be strictly avoided:
Yes, possums (specifically the Virginia Opossum) generally run, or slowly waddle, away from humans. Because they are naturally shy and non-confrontational, their first instinct is to retreat. However, because they are relatively slow, they often rely on other defensive tactics if you get too close.
Possums (and opossums) dislike pungent, irritating smells like ammonia, garlic, mothballs, and chili peppers. They are also afraid of predators (like dogs or coyotes), bright flashing lights, and sudden loud noises. Additionally, they despise losing their free food sources and access to safe, dark hiding spots.
Possums (and North American opossums) are solitary creatures that generally live alone. They do not form packs or colonies.
Yes, North American opossums are opportunistic omnivores that actively hunt and eat both rats and mice. They serve as excellent natural pest control, hunting small rodents and often driving them away due to competition for the same food sources.
Opossums get a bad reputation because of their startling defensive behaviors (like hissing or playing dead) and a misunderstanding of what they leave behind. While they are highly beneficial to the ecosystem, they can be problematic when they cause property damage or attract unwanted pests to your yard.
The fastest way to get rid of possums is by removing their food and shelter sources so they move on naturally. Make your yard unappealing by securing trash bins, bringing pet food indoors, clearing brush, and sealing gaps under porches or decks with hardware cloth.
A possum can bite if it feels trapped or threatened, but it rarely does. Most possums prefer to avoid confrontation and rely on bluffing to escape. You see a possum in the backyard; mouth wide open, teeth bared, looking like it's auditioning for a horror movie.
To lure a possum out of hiding, use a strong-smelling, sweet, or oily bait like sliced apples, peanut butter, or canned pet food. Possums are nocturnal and highly food-motivated, so placing this bait in a humane live trap just before nightfall is the most effective and safe method to draw them out.
Opossums can technically contract rabies, but it is extremely rare. Because their body temperature is lower (between 94°F and 97°F) than most mammals, the virus struggles to survive and replicate.
They're generally just looking for some where safe and dry to sleep for a day or two. If an opportunity exists, opossums will welcome themselves inside your house. To keep them out of your house, inspect the outside of your home for any possible entries, even small entries and fix them immediately.