how to keep possums away
Matthew Wilson
Updated on May 27, 2026
Smells that possums hate
Mothballs.Camphor.Garlic.Onion.Animal-derived fertilisers*Fish smell.
What do possums hate most?
Possums respond negatively to noxious odors. They abhor the smell of ammonia, garlic, and napthalene (chemical found in moth balls). They are also afraid of lights at night, and don’t like to be wet.
What home remedy keeps possums away?
Garlic – The scent and taste of garlic is sometimes successful in repelling opossums. You can either place crushed garlic cloves around your yard or mix minced garlic and water, add it to a spray bottle, and spray it on surfaces where opossums are active.
What scent will keep possums away?
Opossums have a strong sense of smell that they use to locate food. You can use this to your advantage by deterring them with scents they dislike around areas they frequent, such as camphor, garlic, onion, hot peppers, molasses, wolf’s urine, ammonia, and pet fur.
What is the best possum repellent?
Best Possum Deterrents
Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent. PREDATORGUARD Solar Powered Predator Deterrent.Best Granule Option. Best Nocturnal Option.$24.99.Biodegradable repellent for more than just possums in a three pound bag. It is weather-resistant and well-designed.
Where do possums live during the day?
They are generally nocturnal and they spend the day in hollow tree trunks, rock crevices, under brush piles, or in burrows. They are excellent climbers and good swimmers. Opossums also spend a lot of time slowly ambling about on the ground, and as a result they are frequently struck by cars.
What attracts possums to your yard?
They are attracted to your yard whenever food is plentiful, so leaving food scraps in your garbage will definitely keep them around. In most cases, these animals get attracted by odorous and overflowing garbage cans, any containers left outdoors, or uncovered compost heaps.
Do moth balls keep possums away?
Mothballs, designed to keep moths from chewing fabric that has been stored away, are also unappealing to possums. Fragrant mothballs or naphthalene crystals are best for encouraging possums to evacuate an enclosed area, such as underneath a porch or in a crawlspace.
Do possums chew through walls?
Torn Air Ducts and Walls
If an opossum enters your attic and finds itself stuck, it may try to chew through the wall, air ducts, or insulation to get out.
Do fake owls scare possums?
Owl Decoy is life size and is used to scare unwanted wildlife such as Possums. Simply hang the Owl so it will swing in the wind and for the most effective results, move it around from time to time.
Do lights deter possums?
Light. Possums like to operate under the cover of darkness, so anything that you can put in your garden that mimics the reflective eyes of a potential predator or lights up when they enter the garden should help scare them off.
What does a possum poop look like?
Most opossum droppings are around 3/4 of an inch in diameter and taper off at the ends. Opossum feces are roughly one to two inches in length, smooth on the sides, and may have white or yellowish mold growing on the outer casings. Otherwise, opossum droppings are brown in color.
Will vinegar repel possums?
Vinegar or Fox urine will help you get rid of Opossums.
What is the fastest way to get rid of a possum?
STEP 1: Remove possum attractants such as food and water and potential homes. STEP 2: Secure outside entry points to your home; block access to chimneys, vents, or any other holes or gaps. STEP 3: Apply a chemical repellent to your garden. STEP 3: Use electronic repellents to scare possums away.