How to Remove Possums

Possums, also called opossums, are the only marsupial in North America --- that is to say they give birth to their young from pouch on the mother's stomach. One of the most notorious characteristics of the possum is its ability to fake death in threatening situations. Despite their interesting personalities, possums can be a real pest when they take up residence under a porch, in an attic or even inside a home. These little creatures not only will steal food and tear apart the trash, but they have also been known to harass household pets.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage
  • Bait
  • Heavy gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Trap the possums by using a large, live trap. Fortunately, possums are very food driven and can be easily lured into a live trap. Bait the traps with almost anything and the possums will almost trap themselves.

    • 2

      Put on a pair of heavy work gloves and capture the critters by hand. Possums inside the house or in small, confined spaces such as between the walls can be captured by hand. They are not overly viscous animals and will play dead rather than attack when threatened.

    • 3

      Bring the trapped or caught opossums to a location far from the home. Check with city and state laws for information on where wildlife can be relocated and the acceptable means of doing so.

    • 4

      Call animal control specialists to have them deal with the problem if all else fails. If you have the money to spend on an animal control specialist, this is the fastest solution, as they will deal with the problem directly and are skilled in pest removal.