In recent years, the average American household has seen an influx of wildlife and pest animals in their backyard. While there are many fencing options that homeowners can choose from to keep these critters out, it is not always possible or practical. Here, we explore some ways that you could prevent possums and other small animal pests from climbing your fence.

The “how high can possums jump vertically” is a question that has been asked before. There are many ways to prevent backyard critters and the “how high can possums jump vertically” is one of them.

Possums are native to Australia, whereas opossums are native to North and South America. Because opossums and possums are nocturnal marsupials, they like to be in the dark. They sleep for the most of the day in hollows or other safe havens, emerging only after sundown to scavenge for food. They are almost the same size as an adult house cat. They have short legs that are quite useful. Their rear feet feature large claws and thumbs that help them to climb timber fences, brick walls, and trees. Their powerful feet can grip the surface of a variety of surfaces, allowing them to climb efficiently.

To keep the animal stable when climbing, its prehensile tails may be wrapped around trees and other objects. The tail may also be utilized to transport objects like nesting materials. They will sometimes hang upside down from a tree limb using their tail. Opossums are noted for being excellent climbers and swimmers, particularly when they are threatened. When fleeing danger, they can swiftly climb up trees.

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Possum Characteristics

Possums are nature’s garbage collectors. They will cheerfully hunt for food in trash cans, consuming carrion, small animals, insects, reptiles, eggs, plants, and debris, as well as enjoying fruit that has fallen to the ground. This implies that they are free to create a mess in the yard. They can live in a variety of harsh environments. The opossum is often spotted feasting on road kills, which, of course, puts it at risk of being struck by a vehicle and killed.

Opossums, like other marsupials, carry their offspring in a pouch. They give birth after a 12-14 day gestation period, and the young emerge 70-125 days later from the pouch. Opossums may have up to 15 offspring at a time, which can rapidly become an issue for any house if they decide to make their home there.

In quest of food, opossums have lost most of their fear of people and may even enter a house via a pet door or an open window.

Risks

Opossums normally avoid conflict, but if confronted, they will show their fangs, hiss or growl, and bite. To warn off predators or when they are threatened, they may sometimes emit a disgusting, pungent green fluid from their anal glands. Because they are at the bottom of the animal food chain, they will seek for hiding places to keep themselves safe. Opossums actually do pretend to be dead. To fool predators, they will flop down on their side, close their eyes, and let their tongue dangle out of their mouth. Collisions between pets and opossums can happen, and pets are often wounded as a result.

Opossums, like other animals, may carry diseases. When they scratch and bite, they might pass them on. Leptospirosis, coccidiosis, tularemia, TB, and toxoplasmosis are just a few of the illnesses they may spread. Fleas, ticks, mites, and lice are often seen on them. Opossums should only be handled by skilled and licensed workers for these reasons.

What Is the Habitat of Possums?

Trees are a favorite of opossums. They’ll climb a tree and try to remain as high as possible. They dwell in tunnels made of dried leaves and even shredded paper. Opossums are solitary creatures, although they may share space with other animals or seek protection in abandoned burrows, tree holes, and other deep cover. They will stay in one place as long as food and water are plentiful.

They commonly hide beneath stairs, porches, and garden tool sheds in urban and suburban locations. Opossums will construct their homes in attics and rooftops on occasion. They strew wood and everything else they may find into an untidy nest. Opossums like to live close to water sources such as ponds, marshes, and drainage ditches.

What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Opossums?

It is feasible to keep Opossums away for an extended period of time by following a few measures. Opossums have effectively acclimated to human environs, and in urban and suburban situations, they may rapidly become a nuisance animal. While digging through rubbish, they often disturb pets and make a ruckus outdoors. If you want to keep opossums out of your yard, make sure you clean up pet food at night, keep trash can lids on, and close any possible entry points. Odorous garbage cans, open compost piles, and other containers that may be left outdoors attract opossums. Possums can only leap around 1 meter and cannot scale sheer walls, therefore a 1.5 meter tin fence will keep them out. Other improvements, on the other hand, may prevent Opossums from going over existing fences. Some electric fence modifications have also proven to be effective protective strategies.

Cut lower branches away from the ground and cover the trunk with thick plastic sheets attached with duct tape to keep Opossums out of fruit trees. The animal will be unable to ascend as a result of this. It will also work with a cut-up plastic garbage container.

During the mating season, opossums may be seeking for secure, dark, and warm areas to rear their young, in addition to probable food sources. Cavities in basements or attics, as well as places beneath a porch, deck, or shed, will be investigated. Make sure the firewood is firmly packed, with no substantial gaps ideal for a den or hiding spot.

The most efficient technique to limit damage caused by opossums nesting in a roof hollow is to prevent access. Sheet metal or wire netting should be used to block any probable entrance points to the roof or attic. Remember that opossums’ claws may easily pull apart various fabrics. If you’ve observed a possum enter via a certain hole, you’ll have to wait until after nightfall to close it. Sprinkle a smooth coating of flour directly in front of the entry point to guarantee that the unwelcome animal has departed. You can then follow the animal’s footsteps. You’ll hear a possum’s loud efforts to flee if you’ve caught one inside.

Chicken wire around the whole perimeter of your yard is another preventive step to keep Opossums away. The only issue is that it will need to be roughly four feet tall, which may be a pricey endeavor. Setting up motion-activated sprinklers or lights has shown to be effective in keeping possums away. They are usually startled by them.

What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Opossums?

If you have a possum infestation in your yard, the best thing to do is contact a wildlife management business or specialist. Controlling opossums is lawful, and the tactics are similar to those used to control skunks or raccoons. The translocation of this animals may be prohibited by certain rules. Before taking action, be sure there are no municipal or county prohibitions on the removal of these animals.

Repellents

For repelling diverse animal species, a variety of chemical products are sold.

Repellents work by impairing one of the animal’s senses: taste, smell, or hearing. Fear will be triggered by the fragrance of a natural opponent. Electronic repellers use a flashing light, sound, or water to deter animals.

To keep possums away, predator urine repellent may be purchased. Natural fox urine is really effective, but avoid contact with your hands since the odor will linger for a long time. To establish an undetectable odor barrier, it is best sprayed to plants or to a specific location that needs to be protected from possums. A repellent put at the foot of a tree may serve as a warning to the possum not to climb it.

Traps

Opossums aren’t afraid of traps, so this may be a good approach to get rid of them. A box or cage-style trap may readily catch them. These may be placed along well-traveled paths. Canned cat food with a fishy taste works well as a trap bait, although it may mistakenly catch cats or other animals. Raw chicken eggs, jam, or peanut butter spread over toast may also be used as an alternative. Overripe fruit, such as grapes, bananas, and melons, may also be used as bait. Keep in mind that even if your trapping is effective, you’ll still have to deal with the difficulty of getting rid of the animal.

What odors do possums despise?

Household ammonia, mothballs, and naphthaline chrystals are all unpleasant odors for possums. The unpleasant odor emitted by such objects bothers these creatures. To be successful, a somewhat high concentration as well as frequent application may be required. Because of their tendency to build up toxins in the soil, such therapies are neither authorized or encouraged by many authorities.

Possum repellant is provided in the form of granule shakers. Ingredients such as black pepper, peperine, and capsaicin (hot pepper extract) are used in this form of repellant, which is also safe to use around pets and children. These grains give the possum an unpleasant odor as well as pain if the repellant is trodden on.

The “can possums climb trees” is a question that many people have been asking. The answer is no, they cannot climb trees. There are many ways to prevent backyard critters from coming in contact with your home’s fence.

Frequently Asked Questions

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