WDFW. If you suspect that possums might be trapped below your deck, provide them with a temporary means of escape. Step 1 - Find the opossum. There have been some studies that suggest possums under 5 lbs have a higher survival rate if released into areas that are not too far from suburban neighborhoods. In fact, not only are opossum not rodents, they'll actually eat rodents, so they do help to keep rat and mouse populations down. They can tell you how to relocate the possum properly. The light angle is adjustable. If an area will support them (has their favorite foods, water, and appropriate shelter) more opossums survive. Not All Critters Are Bad. All possums are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) and it is illegal to kill or catch and release them without a licence. When frightened, this animal can play dead. Possum trapping for idiots is the only thing that you will need to read in order to effectively remove the little guy from your property, and all it takes is a little bit of careful thinking and planning. A possum nest box is essentially like a large bird box with a 5-inch diameter hole near the top. Possums, or opossums, are nocturnal animals that grow to be about the size of a large cat. They will appear dead. Install a possum nest box to mimic the tree holes that possums use for nesting. It may take anywhere from a few minutes up to 4 hours. How to Safely Trap and Release Groundhogs, Possums, and Other Native Animals. After you have trapped the possum in the cage, it’s important to know how and where you should release them safely. Please do not immediately place the opossum in a plastic bag or garbage can. You could be found in violation of the law if you released a trapped possum without permission. Breeding season is almost year-round, from January through mid-November . If it is not possible to release a possum keeping in mind the conditions provided by law then they should be taken to a veterinary or the body who is registered to take care of their release at the expense of the trapper. Therefore, to capture a possum, you will need a very large cage, sometimes called a raccoon cage. If times are hard, fewer will make it. This should be done within 24 house of trapping the possum. Relocating the possums safely will generally mean releasing them into the natural environment that is far away from your home. With its tail a possum can cling to tree branches or carry small trifles in its nest. Born 12 days after breeding, the opossum’s pups crawl into the mother’s pouch to continue developing. Possums numbers reached their highest point in the 1980s when there were 50-70 million possums in New Zealand. Pestrol has over 20 years of experience supplying chemical-free and humane pest control solutions in Australia. Possums usually act dead, hiss or growl, and release a foul smell from their rectal glands, much like a skunk, when scared. An annual report must be submitted with a licence renewal application and the fee paid before the application is processed. The Australian government provides detailed instructions for making possum boxes, which are the right size for North American opossums as well. The species most often encountered, particularly in urban environments is the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Removing a possum also results in an influx of other possums looking to claim the territory. However, when caught out in the daylight with little chance of escape, or when attacked, the opossum will “play possum.” This is a surprisingly effective defense commonly seen in insects. The possum has a thick, bushy tail, thick body fur, a pointed snout and large, pointed ears. How to Get Rid of Possums: While other wild animals allow a number of different control techniques, when it comes to opossums, the only real way to get rid of them is via trapping and removal. Playing Possum. The light is quite bright so avoid getting it in the animal's eyes. In general, possums are fluffier, smaller, and with less severe features. Possum removal services . Pet Possums; Possum Facts; Release; Videos; Links; More. Just set a large cage trap, at least 10x12x32, or a raccoon sized trap in the area where the opossum frequents. Tell them about the situation and request their assistance. A commercial catch and release possum business owner can apply for a licence and authorise employees to operate under the terms of that licence. Place the cage near the possum’s den or in areas that it frequents. Leave it overnight and after that spray it on plants in the garden to deter the possums from munching on them. Life Cycle. This AnimalSake article sheds some light on the dos and don'ts of looking after a baby possum. The possum must be released on the same property, within 50 metres of the capture site, within 24 hours. OEH may relocate possums to other areas, but only as a last resort. Well, the good news is that possums are usually pretty docile rather than dangerous to dogs. Relocating possums is both inhumane and illegal and can result in fines of up to $5000. A study published in 2004 by Lyndall Petett and Louise Yates (Nest Box Occupancy: The management and release of rehabilitated wildlife on the Sunshine Coast) found that boxes placed above this height had very low occupancy. It feeds mainly on insects, fruit, fresh meat or carrion. What you want to do after trapping the possum is to contact the local animal control. A scratch or bite from a possum can hurt a dog, and a dog can get ill from eating a possum in certain cases, although it is rare. It depicts a mother that I caught and released with her babies. Catch and release possum handlers can apply for a non-site-specific annual licence from the Wildlife Team. When installing nest boxes think safety at all times. Possums are generally regarded as pests when folks find them lurking in their yard or near their homes in the middle of the night. A possum is a medium-sized nocturnal animal with a grayish-white fur, a pointed snout and a naked prehensile tail. Throughout the 1970s prices for possum skins were good. That means the more possums that are in … Apply. Possums have very specific preferences for taste and smell. Opossums are very easy to catch. Displaced possums will cover great distances to return to their home, usually resulting in the possum being hit by a car. Don’t just release the possum anywhere you please, however. Releasing possums. If found then leave the area, put dogs in the house and give the opossum a chance to recover. Basic Necessities: I treated myself to this little gadget a while ago. Very few survive to become adults. Nature is very efficient. Step 4 - Wave one hand around in front of the possum's face to distract it, and then grab the tail with your other hand. Possums can be dangerous to dogs, but they do try to avoid confrontation. Author: Len Rapoport. Anyway the coon could not get to them but pulled out the poop trays and made a general … Instead of sealing up the final section of screening, use 1 ⁄ 4 inch (6.4 mm) grid screening to form door or a funnel that the possum can get out of but can't get back in through. This release was unsuccessful and a second release 20 years later at the same Southland location was required for them to establish. How to catch a possum. How to Take Care of a Baby Possum. The possum would then come back and try to find another entry point to its home. Just how dangerous are possums to dogs then? Get rid of possums humanely with Australia’s #1 selling and toughest Possum Trap! Our possum traps have a footplate which the possum stands on to release the trap door. As cute as they are to look at, baby possums are not too easy to care for. The cages are right by my bedroom and I saw the coon so I know it is him and not the possum, although the possum would if he could. Possums are the only marsupial in the United States. In 1981, the best year for trappers, 3.2 million skins were exported. Now I can actually see what I am doing when I am working on an animal and have both hands free to do it. It involves a lot of delicate handling, patience, and a working knowledge of these marsupials. The few that make it are eager to have their own love affairs and repeat Nature's cycle. The time of release must be consistent with the possum's usual time of movement (after dusk). If she had babies, they will not survive a day and night without their mom and milk. Our specifically designed possum trap ensures possums or any animals don’t get injured when caught. The footplate is located at the rear of the trap and is connected to the door release hook by a metal bar / rod. The 'possum is actually a cousin to the kangaroo and the koala, and is completely unrelated to the rats, despite their rat-like tails. According to DELWP , you can make a DIY repellent by mixing 2 tablespoons of freshly crushed garlic in 1 litre of hot water. release him elsewhere? Many opossums will “play ‘possum” when extremely frightened. Create a temporary one-way exit for any trapped possums. According to the National Wildlife Federation, a single possum consumes 5000 of the parasites per tick season. Attach the nest box 6 to 10 feet up in a tree. Doesn't matter if you creep up or confidently strut. Possum boxes for brush tailed possums should ideally be installed in a tree at a height of 12 feet (3.6m). To hear the Possum movie explained, it … Generally, the ears will start to wiggle when the opossum is about to revive. Step 3 - Put on your thick leather gloves if you want safety, or go bare handed if you're brave. At the time of release, all reasonable steps must be taken to protect the possum from injury or predation by other animals. Step 2 - Approach it. It … This will be safe for you as well as for the animal. A mother possum carries up to 13 babies in her pouch. There are two colour forms of the species - grey and black, with many variations in appearance. Bushland areas rarely have any vacant territories, so if you were to release the possum in another area, it would have to search and compete with other possums for shelter and food in unfamiliar territory. POSSUM TRAP – Catch and Release possum removal cage from Pestrol. GENERAL OPOSSUM TRAPPING: Opossum trapping is subject to state laws regarding capture and relocation or euthanization of wildlife. Learn … Unfortunately, many … The relocator can only release the possum within 25 metres of where it was caught, since taking it further would most likely cause the possum to die due to not being able to find a suitable home and food within the new territory. Precautionary measures to undertake. This informative video I made will tell you more about our friend, the possum. I hope the possum was a male; if female, you may have taken her from her babies this time of year. Besides medical dangers, these pests are also known for causing damage to property.