how to get rid of a possum while opossums are unique in that they are the only North American marsupial they are almost always considered a pest these nocturnal mammals are about the size of a house cat and resemble overgrown rats often they disturb Gardens frighten or even fight with pets and disrupt outdoor garbage cans opossums are also carriers of many types of diseases as well as fleas lice and ticks they frequently make their home underneath buildings making them difficult to get rid of fortunately there are several methods for eliminating this best things you'll need chicken wire mesh hardware cloth flour cat a raccoon trap overripe fruit or bread with Jam habitats control eliminate anything opossum may find appealing from your yard overgrown shrubbery should be cut back to avoid the possibility of a possum making its home in your yard any tree limbs that overhang a roof should be cut back so they are at least 5 feet from the roof this will prevent possums from roosting in the Attic remove pet food from outdoors prior to nightfall any fallen fruit should be removed at regular intervals ensure that any outdoor garbage bin Sep tightly closed lids if opossums frequently disturb the trash you may want to consider an enclosure for the bends stack firewood tightly to prevent possums from making a home in the gaps any scrap lumber or other items stored outdoors should also be orderly if possible keep these items at least 2 feet off the ground eliminating the pests construct a fence from chicken wire around any garden areas the fence should be at least 4 feet high and without any support the top of the fence should turn outward the lack of support will make it impossible for the opossum to climb the fence this method can also be used to prevent possums from climbing trees prevent possums from making their den underneath the building by blocking off the area with small mesh hardware cloth if the possum is already residing in an area sprinkle a smooth layer of flour at the entrance check for tracks soon after nightfall then close off the area small mesh will also prevent smaller pests such as mice from entering said a raccoon or cat trap if the possum remains a problem use overripe fruit or bread with Jam as bait as using pet food frequently results in the accidental trapping of a house pet it is illegal to relocate these animals without a permit so contact your local animal control once the animal has been trapped tips warnings in some areas it is legal to shoot possums check with your local wildlife department regarding any restrictions as to which methods of control you can use to get rid of a possum in many cases animal control will set a trap for you without charge if not check with other pest control centers in your area if a possum feels threatened it may scratch or bite if a possum appears overly aggressive it is best to back away poisons should never be used to control opossums as they are usually illegal and are frequently ingested by pets you