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Have you ever heard the phrase “playing possum?” This actually originates from the tendency of the opossum (or simply “possum”) to involuntarily play dead when startled or threatened.
Opossums are marsupials; in fact, they’re the only marsupials residing in North America. While they like to create dens in hollow trees or the vacated burrows of other animals, opossums can also find a home under your deck, shed or house. Because of their unspecialized biology, flexible diet and reproductive strategy, opossums are successful colonizers and survivors even when their habitat has been disrupted.
While opossums may be good at playing dead, it doesn’t mean they’re harmless. All that digging and burrowing can compromise the foundation of structures, one of the reasons why you need to send them packing if you discover them on your property. They’ll also feast on just about anything, including your garbage.
Get Rid of Possums: How to Trap an Opossum
Opossum traps come in a variety of sizes and styles. Possum trapping tips include placing traps wherever you’ve seen signs of their activity, such as burrowing. Before setting a trap, always check with your local game commission to ensure you’re allowed to trap in your area. Also, avoid trapping during early spring and summer to prevent separating babies and mamas.
Baiting Possum Traps with the Best Bait for Possums and Other Opossum Baiting Tips
Although they aren’t particularly finicky eaters, the best possum bait is fish or apples. Baiting opossum traps with canned pet food also works well. While there are differences of opinion as to the best bait for opossums, all professional trappers agree, the smellier the better. (No, your old sneakers won’t do the trick!) One of the most important opossum baiting tips is to smear the bait in, on and around the trap.
How to Deter Possums
Chicken-wire fence is a good method to ensure you won’t find a possum in your yard. Construct a fence that is four feet high with the top 12 to 18 inches bent outward away from the garden. You can “possum-proof” standard fencing by attaching an electrically charged wire along the top. However, if you’re like most, you’d rather not detract from your landscaping. If you really want to say goodbye to a possum in your garden and in your yard, apply a liquid or granular repellent that targets their sense of smell and taste.
I PUT HONEY ON BREAD IT WORKS FINE. I GOT ONE THE FIRST TIME I DID THIS.
Cantaloupe is another amazing bait. The possums are hitting it every night.
I used cantaloupe, it worked.
I use dry CAT food I get them the same night I set it I have caught 12 so far if you use it put it in a pantyhose and hang it from the top of the cage or put it in foil and throw it behind the trigger
NO FAIL way to catch a possum. All you need is a large trash can or barrel, a 5 ft piece of 2×4, 2×6, or whatever wood you have handy, and a $0.50 honey bun as bait. Set your trap where the possum has been frequenting. Lean the wood against your trash can or barrel, unwrap the honey bun, drop it in, walk away and go to sleep. The possum will walk up the board and jump in for a bite of the bun, but will not be able to climb out. In the morning you can either dispatch or relocate.
he comes out and eats dog poop! so sounds gross but it attracted him so I am putting it in the trap today!
Possums love my cat’s food but when I try to trap them I very often get skunks.
I’ve been using peanut butter, It sticks to the pan and I don’t have to worry about my cats trying to get it. I also throw in some grapes for good measure.
Have a possum in my back yard and remembered that my ex husband has a trap..so I called him to ask if I could borrow it to catch the possum. Turns out, he has a few possums he is trying to catch as well. No problem, I can borrow the trap..he then tells me to find out what bait is best as he has been putting cat food in the trap and has only caught cats…Go figure?! teehee
I have caught 12 possum babies in my small mobile home since January. 8 in January and 4 in May. They are babies that got in through my wall somewhere. If you corner them you can pick them up by the tail. If they try to crawl up on your arm just shake them downward. Have also caught quite a few with a tall kitchen garbage can. Just put it on it’s side with some bait at the bottom. I like to use dry cat food & chopped apples. Sit nearby & wait. They are not too shy & when they smell food nearby they will arrive pretty soon. Then when you hear them crunching, quiety sneak up behind the can and pull in upright. Then you can take it for a ride to a nice place in the woods with hopefully a lake or creek nearby