Optimal Conditions
A built-up garden in a built-up area with plenty of access points, such as trees and fence lines.
Signature
Significant damage to outer parts of leaves and fruits. Or when you go out at night and you catch a possum nonchalantly eating your citrus while looking right at you.
Prevention
Netting is the best form of prevention and eradication. If you can find the access point, disrupting it may divert your possum friends elsewhere. Keep precious plants away from fence lines as the closest plants to the access points usually get picked on first. Don’t get a pet dog – in particular, a cocker spaniel – that will bark at the possums from dusk to dawn, resulting in your tired and rather frightening-looking German neighbour knocking on your door at 3.30 am.
Coping
While young seedlings and ripe fruit are frustrating to lose, we are usually happy to share the more mature foliage with our possum friends. You can also try your hand at a number of sprays – chilli, garlic and eucalyptus – as well as sensor lights, high frequency transmitters and fake owls, but like us possums will quickly recognise a plastic owl when they see one.
Eradicating
Possums are territorial, but if you ‘relocate’ them, another will happily take its place. Not only that, but moving the animals is illegal. Remember that they were here first so we have to learn to live with them. Soundly constructed netting is the only sure way of keeping them out.
