Best Possum Traps

Now that you know what your options are let’s move on to discussing how to use these products and the best ways to ensure success with them. We’ve included additional tips on preventing a possum problem in the future.

Unlike other mammals like raccoons and bats, possums don’t pose as great of a threat with rabies because of their physiology makes the disease less likely. However, they still are nuisance animals that can cause a lot of damage. If you raise chickens, you’re probably well aware of the fact that these pests and chicks don’t mix. Possums are opportunistic and will eat just about anything they can find including roadkill. They can topple over garbage cans and get into bird feeders. They can even get into your house if the opportunity presents itself. They are incredibly dexterous with their opposable thumbs and a prehensile tail. These animals are also prolific breeders and can have up to 20 young in a litter.

Some states consider possums fur-bearing animals which means that you’ll likely need a license or a permit, depending on your location. We strongly urge you to contact your DNR agency before you set any traps to play it safe. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines. Some areas may also have designated seasons and other regulations that may apply as well.

As with trapping, there are laws in some places regarding the release of nuisance animals. Check those regs too. If it is allowed, take the possum to a forested area preferably with water or wetlands nearby. Choose a site that is at least five miles from your home to prevent a return visit. Always wear heavy gloves when handling a cage with a trapped animal. While they’re not typically aggressive, a possum in a cage is another story. They do have 50 razor-sharp teeth. Putting a blanket or tarp over it may help calm the possum. Be sure to place it on top of newspapers in your car or truck to protect the interior.

The correct placement of your possum trap is one of the best ways to ensure success. It’s also challenging since these animals are nocturnal and come out at night. They also avoid humans whenever possible, so you might have a hard time figuring out where they’re living. Possums spend their days in a burrow for shelter. Likely places are under your house or in a tree. Look for signs of bedding. Place the trap a short distance from the entrance. Possums are omnivores and not picky about what they eat. Good choices for baits include fish, canned cat food, or fruits like apples. It’s essential to put it well within the cage to prevent the animal from taking the food without triggering it. Remember what we said earlier about their opposable thumbs. Then, wait. We strongly urge you to check the cage often once you set it. After all, the point of using a live trap is that it offers a more humane option than other types. It’ll also make your task of relocating it easier since it’ll become more agitated the longer it stays inside of it.

The surest way to avoid a problem with possums is to make your backyard and house inhospitable to them. Don’t give these pests a reason to investigate your yard to find food. Make sure that your trash cans are securely closed since these animals are better than most at opening them. Keep them and the area around them clean too to prevent enticing the possums. The same precautions apply to pet bowls, containers, and compost sites. Don’t leave anything around that they can find easily and start to associate your home with a reliable food source. If possums have attacked chickens on your site, secure the coops to prevent them from getting in and causing havoc. If they’ve gotten into your attic, trim low-hanging branches to cut off their access to your house. Don’t make your property attractive to them or provide a source of finding food. Possums, like other pests, seek out the places where what they need is most accessible. Putting up barriers like fences will deter animals in search of readily available areas to meet their needs instead of ones that require more energy to tap. These steps will help ensure a pest-free home.