Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I just read that putting mothballs in the garden, inside of a plastic jug with holes in the bottom to keep them dry, will help keep cats out of the garden. So I wonder if that would help with the opossums that get in my yard and eat the cat's food. I have a fence around the yard and wondered about putting the mothballs along the fence. But I don't want to reject my cat.
As a licensed wildlife rehabilitator I am frequently asked about deterrents to wild animals that are safe and will not harm the animals, people and domestic pets. Mothballs (naptha) will usually work for animals that have a keen sense of smell...opossums, deer, mice, skunks, etc. However mothballs can be very dangerous. Even in a container there is a chance of leaching into groundwater, plus they can be poisonous for other animals.
A much safer method would be to clothespin UNUSED fabric softener sheets (the more fragrant the better) to the fence or take a small chunk of Irish Spring Original Scent soap and place it in one of those little drawstring muslin bags that are sold at most feed stores and clothespin it to the fence.
These methods will also work well to keep mice, etc. out of sheds, boats or cars being stored, etc.
I have an aggressive possum in my yard that wants to hurt my Pomeranian. At night it screams at me or the dog. It's huge. I only have a small courtyard, so it's quite a problem as it's bigger than the dog. Any Suggestions?
By Pauleen
You should call animal control for your town or county right away. It may be sick and could give rabies to your dog or you.
How do I get rid of possums in our vents without harming the animals or the home?
By Jamie from GA
You need to find out where they are entering and exiting your house. Then get a Live Catch Trap and bait it with lettuce or cabbage. Ask around and you may find someone with a trap they can loan you or you can check with your humane society (SPCA) and they might be able to help. Oposum eat just about anything so lettuce or cabbage could be replaced with something else. We had some under the house and put out a trap with a piece of chicken and caught one. We also caught a stray cat and a bunny (with a carrot). But we got 1 adult and 2 baby Opossum as well.
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Does anyone have any ideas how we can keep possums from coming in our yard?
I think I have possums in my attic. They are also in my walls. These things are scary because they fight all the time.
What are possums afraid of? And how do I get rid of them?
This is the second time in a 3 week period my little Jack Russell terrier woke us up in the middle of the night chasing a possum.
