Hungry Possums

[PinkFlowers]

Speaking of pests: I've got some VERY hot chillies growing and, presumably, a bird took a bite out of one last week. That bird would've have had one very sore mouth if the chilli didn't kill it.

Birds don't actually taste chilly the way we do, they'll quite happily munch away on it with no issues.

[cre8ivbonsai]

AARRRRR! Damn possums ... last Sunday I was out checking the benches and found one of these little bastards has been chewing at my crab apple (bonsai) chewing off branches and braking others I haven't heard nor seen them in the 18mths of living here, and was unaware of them even being in the neighbourhood and thought that seeing they'd already demolished my only fruiting tree that I wouldn't see them back How wrong I was ... yep that was my face when I saw tonight that they'd stripped my Blue Atlantic Cedar back to the trunk, and even had a chew at the trunk not to mention having a crack at few other surrounding trees

Anyway I've moved the tempting trees into more difficult positions (I hope), and guess I'll have to work out some deterants (if only I could have a woofa ) I'll be trying the chilli/garlic spray as I already have some but ... any further recommendations (that won't get washed away in the constant rain)??

First time I've used so much

Cheers,
Ryan

[Rintar]

You can by hooting owls which are supposed to discourage possums and cats I can vouch for the cats side. But the possum here seems to only eat my vegetables and go through my compost bin.

[Olivecrazy]

Just reading this post it would drive me nuts so i would be thinking of trap an relocate them 20km away

[cre8ivbonsai]

well, thanks Rintar, but I don't happen to have any spare owls lying around

Just out the back, dowsing the benches (not the trees) in the garlic/chilli spray, when I caught a glimpse of the little bastard's bushy black tail scampering up the palm tree, so I dowsed the tree as well!

same palm tree I kicked a family of doves out of when clearing out an invasive vine back in feb ... now the possum's moved in ... so I think I've done myself over

oh well, time to hit back, this guy's not gonna want to hang around for long ... I hope

[cre8ivbonsai]

Just reading this post it would drive me nuts so i would be thinking of trap an relocate them 20km away

Yeah, unfortunately (as I understand) you actually need a trappers license, and not going to waste $$ on a professional ... besides they're endemic in most melbourne suburbs, so get rid of one, and there'll be another ready to replace it

Plan is to annoy it enough with deterant so it stays away, and lets it's mates know not to drop in for snack either!

[Rintar]

the hooting owl is a item you can purchase from big green shed and other places their around $30 motion sensor thingys

[cre8ivbonsai]

the hooting owl is a item you can purchase from big green shed and other places their around $30 motion sensor thingys

Ahaa, gotchya, thanks I'll check it out.

[DustyRusty]

Arrrrggg possums = native rodents. Just moved my trees up two feet - more sun no toddler ripping off moss. Now my trident is possum salad every night.

[cre8ivbonsai]

Arrrrggg possums = native rodents. Just moved my trees up two feet - more sun no toddler ripping off moss. Now my trident is possum salad every night.

Dusty, although mine was a minor problem (compared to somewhere that has many possums) in a relatively small area, it was solved using the following deterrents (all three can be purchased from BW in the disease & pests isle ): 1. Smell and taste: Chilli & Garlic spray (also helps deter other pests); 2. Physical: Plastic spike strip, I wrapped 2 around the tree that possum was using to access the garden 3. Smell: Camphor - commonly used as moth deterrent apparently possums also hate the smell, I found these came in plastic holders with a hook that you could dangle off the side of your pot, they gradually dissolve in the rain, but last long enough to do the job and can be easily replaced or moved.

Hope these may help you win the fight

Cheers,
Ryan