Pesky Possums Will Be A Thing Of The Past With This Spicy Kitchen Staple

Keeping pests away from your yard and garden can be extremely difficult. While your rat problem will be a thing of the past after planting a stunning flower, possums are a different story. It's impossible to reason with these stubborn creatures, and most homeowners want them to stay away to prevent damage to their lawn or sheds. With one simple ingredient from your kitchen, you can encourage these pesky marsupials to leave your home alone. It's especially urgent if you've recognized sneaky signs your yard has a pest problem, including visible damage to your property in the form of gnaw marks. If you've tried almost everything else and nothing is working, cayenne pepper can be a good choice that doesn't use harsh chemicals.

Thankfully, possums aren't as destructive as raccoons and are not considered aggressive creatures. However, possums (also known as opossums) have been known to bite domesticated pets, like cats and dogs, in self-defense when threatened. Along with carrying diseases like Chagas disease and tuberculosis, they can also host fleas, ticks, and mites, which can infest your yard and harm you and your pests. Using deterrents like cayenne pepper can encourage them to move along and not stay too long in your outdoor spaces.

The strong smell and taste of cayenne pepper will irritate a human's nose and taste buds, due to the capsaicin compound that gives chilis their spice. For possums, the scent overwhelms them due to its strength. To deter possums, simply sprinkle it near the areas they come into your yard. Cayenne pepper is the secret to humanely banishing rabbits from your garden, so you can double your pest protection with this one kitchen staple. You can also try mixing the cayenne with water in a spray bottle and spraying areas that possums keep frequenting, including structures like sheds and decks.

Although cayenne pepper is less harmful than using an inhumane trap or harsh chemicals, always apply it with caution. Cayenne pepper can negatively impact possums by irritating their eyes and respiratory systems. The same is true for any pets that you let into your yard, who can pick it up on their paws. If you have any doubts or the cayenne pepper isn't working as well as you want, call a professional pest removal company for further guidance.