How To Get Rid Of A Possum!

This possum had no manners at all. In fact, he didn't seem to care that he was making a mess on my garage floor. Most of a package of dry cat food was strewned on the floor and in my cat's water dish.

This particular possum had come in through the pet door into the garage and was happily eating leftovers from my cat Spike's dinner bowl. He obviously had no fear of me because he kept eating as I walked over to the work bench. Even though possums rarely get rabies, I was trying to keep a little distance between me and him; images of sharp teeth and rabies shots flashed through my brain.

Spike's garage area was being invaded again by a possum that continued to grow fatter by eating my cat's food.

Reluctantly the possum left the room through Spike's cat door, struggling to fit through the opening. A steady diet of good food will make any possum fat.

Raccoons, as well as possums, enter Spike's domain almost every night. I can't keep them out, without shutting the cat out for the night. That wouldn't be fair to him.

The correct name for this animal is opossum and they love cat food. They are sort of lazy and if there is are no frogs, rodents, grains or road kill to eat, they make for the nearest garage which has a bowl of cat food lying around.

While their appetites knows no bounds, they are cowards and will rarely attack any animal bigger than them or any animal that might fight back, including cats. Chances are though, it will just find a cluttered corner of your garage and "play possum."

There are humane ways of possum removal. A 12 gauge shotgun is no longer appropriate for getting rid of possums; especially since I now live in the city. Such an action now would surely lead to spending a night in jail.

City growth is slowly taking over the wild animal's habitat, making the aroma of a trash can irresistible to critters who want a free lunch.City dwellers like me are finding that what once were considered to be wild animals are gradually becoming less and less afraid of humans.

More and more they are associating man with free food. Possum removal or raccoon removal might appear to be a simple thing, but the lure of food is stronger than many animal deterrents.

Trapping possums and raccoons in cages never worked for me. All I ever caught was my cat Spike who was lured into the trap by a can of cheap moist cat food. Wild critters like cat food too, but they were smarter than my cat. Supposedly, if the culprits have found a way into your garage or attic and will not leave, blaring music from a radio is supposed to scare them away. The same goes for very bright lights shining continually, which should make both possums and raccoons, think that it is day time and leave the premises. This never worked for me.

Possum deterrents sold in feed stores and on the internet are mostly made from urine of natural predators of the animals you're trying to remove. That didn't work either! The way that works for me is to simply open a can of cat food and place it next to my neighbor's yard. There is a 50/50 chance that the critter will move to his house instead of mine!

About the Author

Bob Alexander is well experienced in eating barbeque, gardening, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his site at: http://www.homeandgardenbob.com

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