Possums are frequent visitors to yards across Ohio, from Cleveland suburbs to rural Columbus properties. These nocturnal marsupials often surprise homeowners when spotted near garden beds or under porches at night.
Before you rush to remove these critters from your property, there are several important factors every Ohio resident should understand about possums and their role in your backyard ecosystem.
1. Possums Are Actually Beneficial Garden Allies
These marsupials consume thousands of ticks annually, helping protect your family from Lyme disease while patrolling your garden. I’ve noticed fewer garden pests since allowing them occasional access to my property.
They also feast on slugs, beetles, and small rodents that damage vegetable gardens. In my experience, the tomato plants near where possums frequent suffer far less pest damage than isolated areas.
Many gardeners consider them free pest control. Rather than removing them entirely, creating designated wildlife areas away from prized plantings can allow you to benefit from their natural pest management.
2. Know Ohio’s Wildlife Protection Laws
State regulations protect wildlife, including possums, making DIY removal potentially illegal. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources requires permits for trapping during certain seasons, with violations carrying significant fines.
My neighbor learned this lesson the hard way after improperly relocating a possum family last spring. Licensed wildlife control operators understand these regulations and can legally handle removal situations.
Always check current wildlife laws before taking action. Local animal control offices can provide guidance specific to your county, as regulations sometimes vary between Cleveland, Cincinnati, and other Ohio regions.
3. Understand Their Defensive Behaviors
When threatened, these marsupials don’t actually attack – they’re famous for “playing dead” when cornered. This fascinating defense mechanism involves falling over, becoming stiff, and emitting a foul odor to deter predators.
Contrary to popular belief, they rarely carry rabies due to their low body temperature. While working in my garden last summer, one appeared suddenly but simply waddled away when I stood up.
Hissing and showing teeth is just another bluff. Give them space and they’ll typically leave on their own. Creating clear exit paths rather than cornering them prevents unnecessary stress for both you and the animal.
4. Modify Your Landscape To Discourage Visits
Dense shrubs and overgrown areas create perfect possum hideouts. After trimming back the forsythia hedge along my property line, possum sightings decreased dramatically within weeks.
Fallen fruit from apple and pear trees acts like a dinner bell. Regular yard maintenance, including keeping grass short and removing brush piles, eliminates potential nesting spots.
Consider installing motion-activated lights around garden beds. The sudden brightness startles them without causing harm. This simple addition protected my vegetable garden while allowing these beneficial creatures to patrol other parts of my property.
5. Secure Food Sources To Reduce Attraction
Compost bins fascinate these nocturnal visitors. After switching to a sealed tumbler model, midnight garden visitors practically disappeared. Pet food left outdoors might as well be a neon restaurant sign to hungry possums.
Bird feeders create ground buffets from fallen seed. Moving mine away from the house and installing catch trays significantly reduced unwanted wildlife encounters near my patio.
Fruit trees require special attention during harvest season. Last year, collecting fallen peaches daily kept possums focused on the woodland edge rather than venturing near my home’s foundation.
6. Seal Entry Points Around Structures
Decks and sheds offer prime real estate for possum families seeking shelter. After discovering a mother and babies beneath my garden shed, I installed hardware cloth around the perimeter, sinking it six inches underground.
Crawlspaces require special attention with proper sealing. Metal flashing works better than plastic alternatives which determined possums can chew through surprisingly quickly.
Inspect your home’s foundation annually for potential entry gaps. The small investment in preventative exclusion saved me from costly professional removal services later. Focus especially on areas where utility lines enter your home.
7. Use Humane Deterrents For Garden Protection
Natural repellents like predator urine granules create boundaries possums prefer to avoid. Sprinkling these around my vegetable beds created an invisible barrier that preserved my produce without harming wildlife.
Ammonia-soaked rags placed strategically near problem areas work temporarily. The strong scent mimics predator markings, triggering natural avoidance instincts in possums seeking midnight snacks.
Motion-activated sprinklers provide startling but harmless deterrence. My garden-protecting sprinkler has become something of a neighborhood conversation piece – and my lettuce has never been safer from all types of unwanted wildlife visitors.
8. When To Call Professional Wildlife Services
Multiple possums appearing regularly signals a significant attraction issue. Despite my best prevention efforts last year, a family established residence under my porch, requiring expert intervention.
Daytime activity often indicates illness or injury. Healthy possums are strictly nocturnal, so seeing one wandering your garden at noon warrants a call to wildlife services.
Professionals use species-specific techniques for safe removal. The wildlife service I hired used one-way doors that allowed possums to exit but not return, resolving my issue without harming the animals or violating Ohio’s wildlife protection laws.