So what can you do about it? When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Then I felt something watching me and thought it was somebody in the house. Yes, its really not uncommon for possums to chew on wires, but it happens more than you might think. When accidentally trapped in my garage he chewed a giant hole in the wall and dug up the concrete under my garage door. After sunset . You may be able to scare it away, but it would be safest to hire a wildlife expert and eliminate the problem for good. They particularly like young new plant shoots and unfortunately are drawn to domestic gardens. They hate it! Opossums are great climbers. Because opossums usually enter a building by climbing, you may notice exterior damage first. Collection of Personal Information by the University in relation to Pursuit. Possums are very sensitive to noise and will avoid, traps on various places from where possums, Do Raccoons Attack Cats [Interesting Facts], Is Raccoon Poop A Good Fertilizer [Things Need To Know]. Charles Whaley, Bay Area. I noted what they did and didnt eat. Opossums do not frighten by their size. Keeping your trees trimmed will keep raccoons from climbing and entering your home. Once they decide that your house or yard can provide them enough food, they will continue coming to your property. It also provides a barrier from the suns ultraviolet rays, which can fade the wood. Then I felt something watching me and thought it was somebody in the house. They have white and gray or black fur, a pointed nose, and rounded ears that are black on the inside. If one floor is significantly thicker than the, Read More How to Transition between Two Different Wood FloorsContinue. Mother opossums also make clicking or lip smacking sounds to call their babies. Opossum meat was historically a favored food in the Deep South, and possum grease was used in traditional medicine as a chest rub for respiratory ailments. One way they help out is by chewing on wood.Possums help keep forests healthy by eating insects that bore into trees. We service over 500 USA locations! Virginia opossums show more variation in size than almost any other mammal. Therefore it is best to professionally remove an opossum from your house, garage, deck, attic or crawl space as quickly as possible. While some people may view this as a nuisance, it is actually an important part of the possums diet.Possums consume a lot of insects and grubs that live in trees, and chewing through wood helps them to access these food sources. A reality warp RP. Look for other clues to positively identify or rule out an opossum. So, here are some things that you should start with in order to prevent opossums from getting into your property: RaccoonsRaccoon Control Education and Services, SquirrelsSquirrel Control Education and Services, OpossumOpossum Control Education and Services, SkunksSkunk Control Education and Services, GroundhogGroundhog Control Education and Services, ArmadillosArmadillo Control Education and Services, BeaverBeaver Control Education and Services, CoyotesCoyote Control Education and Services, SnakesSnake Control Education and Services, DeadDead Animal Control Education and Services. They will do anything to get their next meal, from spilling your garbage cans to chewing wires and woods. The catatonic state can last for up to four hours, and has proven effective as a deterrent to predators looking for a hot meal.". We are going to talk about why possums chew wires and wood the ways to stop possums from chewing wires and wood, let alone allowing them to consume food. Receive your weekly email digest from Pursuit. I have watched them chew at the window ledge outside my bedroom. How do I get rid of possums? I don't think possums chew wood. You can also Find an expert for commentary. There are repellents available, but unfortunately repellents do not work very well whether they are aversion odors (like pepper) or predator scents (like coyote urine). In the early 2000s, the Powerful Owls started moving into Melbourne in big numbers, she says. Their tails are able to wrap around and grasp tree limbs and can support the animal's full weight for short periods. You can get a cheap and effective trap at a hardware or pet store or rent one from the animal control office. STEP 3: Apply a chemical repellent to your garden. For gardeners there is now a solution that allows them to live in harmony with possums. Their droppings can contain parasites that your pets might eat. Possums are often considered pests because they will rummage through trash cans and steal food from pet bowls. According to WDFW, there are fairly simple ways to prevent possums getting too close. Although, a recent report of an opossum breaking into liquor store and getting"drunk as a skunk" doesn't support the theory of the animal's positive qualities. Short horizontal bark biting on bark are most likely to be possum. This Privacy Statement relates only to the collection of personal information in relation to the Pursuit Website. Disappearing Pet Food Opossums are particularly drawn to cat food. phascogales, also make scratching, chewing and skittering noises. Is There Anything I Can Do To Deter This? They roll over, become stiff, close their eyes (or stare off into space) and bare their teeth as saliva foams around the mouth and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from glands. But pyrethrum on its own had some major downsides. There are usually large gaps for easy entry, and it provides shelter from the elements. You can also make a spray by combining two teaspoons of peppermint oil with one cup of water and applying it frequently to get rid of possums permanently. The browsing animals have a good sense of smell so that they can detect them, or they take a tiny nibble and if they dont like it, they dont go back. Salt is essential for the body to regulate its balance of electrolytes. The first is the thickness of each floor. STEP 1: Remove possum attractants such as food and water and potential homes. The first breakthrough came while Professor Selwood was trying to control another pest. Many physical deterrents like electrical fences, spike barriers, and cable guards can be used to keep possums away from your house and wires. Do It Yourself Tips for Keeping Opossums Away - Opossums are one of the most unmistakable animals in North America as they are the only marsupial that lives on the North American continent. Sanding the surface will help the paint to adhere better and create a smoother finish. Wire mesh is excellent for maintaining the safety of your house from these little trouble-causing creatures. Yes, walnut wood is expensive. Many non-toxic plants like chrysanthemums, agapanthus,citronella varieties,lavender and rosemary bushes, mint, and geraniums can be used as a barrier around the woods to keep them safe and these wallabies away. This can not only damage your cars electrical system, but also pose a serious fire hazard.If you suspect that a possum is responsible for damaging your cars wires, the best course of action is to call a professional pest control company. They damage crops, eat native wildlife and spread disease. And as with a lot of her research, she started with basic observation.Possums have a very good memory for what they dont like to eat. Possums chew bark as a way to mark territory and they often use the same tree year after year. Fortunately, they are not common carriers of diseases such as rabies. There are a variety of ways to get opossums out of your house and yard. Though we currently don't provide removal services for opossum,contact our experienced exterminators in Seattlefor more helpful insights into pest behavior. It is easily available in local natural food stores at a relatively low price. (See fruit rat, brown rat, roof rat) -they would only need 1/2'' hole- or smaller. In addition to the trash cans, opossums are also a threat to any fruits or vegetables that you have in your garden. Possums are North America's only marsupials. Another suggestion is to put towels into a coffee can with holes punched through it. Sorry, something went wrong. Possums are North America's only marsupials That means the undeveloped young they give birth to just 12 days after breeding then crawl into their mother's pouch and attach to a teat, according to. Hire a professional wildlife removal expert to crawl down and carefully inspect your crawl space for damage, especially the germ-ridden urine or feces left behind. Then, apply a dark-colored stain, Read More Can I Stain My Wood Floors DarkerContinue, Your email address will not be published. They may also chew on woody plants to get at the sap inside.Chewing on wood is also a way for raccoons to keep their teeth sharp and healthy. Possums can make terrible messes in your yard when your trash cans are not secured. While possums are generally harmless animals, their chewing habits can cause serious damage to your vehicle.If youve ever found your car with chewed up wires, theres a good chance it was done by a possum. When frightened or harmed, opossums go into a sort of torpor, lying still as death. Professor Selwood brought her invention to the University of Melbourne, who worked with her to patent the product. This means that they cannot nest or leave behind any damage. If you have newly cut wood around your house, you might get some visits from the possums. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Since they cant stand strong smells, use garlic, onion, hot peppers, naphthalene, and ammonia, and remember these scents fade away after some time, so make sure to reapply after 1 or 2 weeks. Possums love to chew on soft surfaces like wires because of their constantly growing teeth, and chewing keeps their teeth from growing too much. Bend this uppermost foot outward. Opossums are known for scavenging though trash. The paw print looks similar to a baby's hand, advises Wildlife Illinois. Make sure the bottom seals are tight on all outside doors, including your garage door. They will also make a meal of any vegetables or fruits that you have growing in your garden and will eat up all your pets food if it is left outside. It is very popular in the garden and patio furniture market. Possums are very destructive pests. This will likely be substantially more pleasant than working with predator urine products. They will also gladly scavenge in your trash or compost pile and eat any pet food that is left out. Hares (and rabbits) have a groove down the centre of the upper incisor teeth . good luck. Leg hold cages get hold of the possum's leg, and the kill traps choke the animal to death. However, possums will use holes and dens created by other animals. Following are the ways you can prevent possums from causing harm. They eat all sorts of wood, but they prefer soft, freshly cut wood. I simply figured it would do. 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