You may think they’re cute and cuddly, but around your home and garden, possums are actually a pest you definitely want to keep at bay. You might hear a thumping on your roof at night, or a distinct growling noise when it all goes quiet. Cute and furry they may be, but possums have sharp teeth, they carry diseases and other pests, and they cause damage and smells wherever they dwell.
Here are common possum deterrent ideas from natural repellents to sprays that could convince your furry friends to move on. These ideas won’t harm them, it will hopefully just put them off your plants, garden, and home.
Keep possum food out of reach: To discourage possums from visiting your yard, stow water and food supplies, such as pet bowls and bird feeders, out of reach at night.
Fish based fertilisers: Charlie Carp®
Tabasco sauce: use as a spray
Garlic spray: Place 2 tblsp of freshly crushed garlic in 1ltr of hot water. Allow to stand overnight. Spray on foliage.
Blood & Bone: Sprinkle around the base of your fruit salad tree.
A spray made from Quassia chips: add 100g chips to two litres of water and heat for one hour before straining. Add one tablespoon detergent. Dilute one part of the solution to four parts water and apply as a spray. Quassia chips are available at many nurseries, and are pretty effective, forming the base ingredient of many commercially available possum repellents.
Commercially available possum deterrents such as Poss-Off or Scat, work by emitting an unpleasant odour, so when used according to the instructions on the products, claim to deter the little blighters! Just remember to follow all instructions on the packaging of any products you use.
It should be remembered that sometimes no one solution is guaranteed, and re-application of sprays should be a regular and on-going activity. Persistence is the key!
References: Possum Repellent Fact Sheet - Wildlife Victoria, Gardeners Suppy Company, Cannon Pest Management, and the FST team.
