What Attracts Possums to Your Yard?
What Attracts Possums to Your Yard?
In Maryland, opossums are pretty common animals, so it’s probable that you’ve already spotted one outside scrounging through your yard or darting across the road as you were driving. Even though opossums are often calm and wary of people, they can still cause some damage to your grass, garden, and yard as they look for food, water, and shelter. Learn some of the things that attract possums to your yard and what to do:
Food and Water
If you have pets on your property and are the type that feeds them outside or leaves their food or water out during the night, be ready to receive visits from opossums. Opossums have a great sense of smell; therefore, they will be attracted and be able to sniff out food left outside. They will also raid bird feeders within reach and eat the bird seeds.
Therefore it would be wise to bring in the pet’s food during the night so as not to attract opossums. You could also place birdfeeders in inaccessible areas or sprinkle chili in bird seeds since birds can’t taste chili heat due to their lack of capsaicin receptors.
Darkness
Opossums are nocturnal animals; therefore, they are creatures that prefer the nighttime. Unfortunately, this means they like to dwell or roam in darkness and your backyard’s poor-lit areas. If your property has long and bushy grass or an overgrowth of thick bushes, it will provide excellent hiding spots for opossums.
Underneath a raised home or deck also provides a dark space perfect for the opossums to nest since they prefer a quiet, warm, dark area to set up their nesting pouch.
Placing a bright light on your roof or lighting your backyard, basement, or any other place you suspect they are lurking is one way of getting rid of opossums on your property.
Filled Up Trash Cans
Trash cans filled with all sorts of kitchen refuse and junk are an invitation to opossums to your backyard. This is because, like most scavengers, opossums are attracted to trash cans, especially if they can smell leftovers. As a result, opossums will ravage through the trash bins in search of food, leaving the area messy and dirty.
You can reduce opossum visits to your home by tightly covering your trash cans or avoiding stacking trash bins outside and storing them a little distance away from your house.
Partially Rotten or Overripe Fruits and Vegetables
Opossums are omnivores. They can eat fruits and vegetables too. While they are not choosy and can feed on almost anything, sweet overripe fruits are their favorites. If you have a garden with fruits, some fruits on your garden trees may drop to the ground and rot. Opossums may detect and come scavenging if not promptly disposed of.
Opossums will also feed on various plants and vegetables rich in nutrients, for example, sweet potatoes and yams.
The best way of keeping opossums out of your garden is using chicken wire to cover up the fruits and vegetables. You can also prevent them from eating your plants by growing plants like mint, chrysanthemums, and geraniums, which they don’t like. This will cut their food source and prevent them from coming to your backyard.
Scents
Opossums find some odors to be alluring. They are particularly drawn to cinnamon scents, so if you have any remaining in your yard, prepare to welcome these creatures. To curb this, eliminate any of these scents from your backyards.
Have an Opossum Problem? Call the Experts at Shumaker Animal Control
Feel free to contact Shumaker Animal Control’s specialists if you believe you have an opossum problem. Your home and pets won’t be at risk because our skilled staff will quickly get rid of the opossums in the most humane way.
Visit our website to check our services and fill out our contact form. You can also call us at 443-854-8072 for more information.
