Need to repel opossums from your property? Then you’ve come to the right place!
In this Pest Strategies product review you can expect to learn:
- Our top choices for repelling opossums (including our #1 pick)
- What opossum repellents are (and what they aren’t)
- Various types of repellents to use to your advantage
- The difference between repellents and deterrents
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
All Natural Rodent Defense Spray
- Non-toxic and free of chemicals
- Made from totally natural oils and irritants
- Works to irritate opossums until they find an area inhospitable
There are a few different types of repellents out there, but for our top pick, we kept things simple: Exterminator’s Choice All Natural Rodent Defense Spray.
Don’t be fooled by its name! While this spray is marketed toward repelling rodents and squirrels, we find that it works to repel even the introverted opossum.
Here’s how it’s effective: the active ingredients (a combination of garlic oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and white pepper) swirl together and create a strong scent that an opossum can barely handle. This aroma will drive the animal away within a matter of a few days, leaving you with an opossum-free backyard in no time.
Because the active ingredients are common kitchen staples, this spray is totally safe for use around pets and kids. What smells only marginally strange to the nose of a human is completely inhospitable to an opossum!
In addition to opossums, this spray can repel many other types of smaller nuisance animals. As its name implies, rats and mice will flee, as well as squirrels, skunks, and possibly raccoons. This is a versatile spray that packs a punch for a minuscule price, which is why it takes the top spot on our list.
We’ve got several other opossum repellents analyzed below, as well as a few key facts on what exactly a repellent is, and how to differentiate a repellent from a deterrent. Keep reading for more information!
Ed has been working in the pest control industry for years helping 1,000's of homeowners navigate the world of insect and rodent management. He manages Pest Strategies now helping homeowners around the world!
Best Overall
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Shake Away Fox Urine Granules
Features
- Trips an opossum's natural fear instincts
- Urine-filled granules release scent over time to repel opossums on a time-release schedule
- Safe for use around pets
Trap Shack Coyote Urine
Features
- Urine from coyotes in liquid form
- Ships in a spray bottle for easy application
- Works to scare opossums naturally
Amerfist Solar Animal Repeller
Features
- 100% waterproof
- Convenient solar operation
- Choice of charging functions
Natural Armor Animal Repellent Spray
Features
- Effective at keeping pest wildlife from your yard
- Can be used either indoors or outdoors
- 100% natural, eco-friendly ingredients
All Natural Rodent Defense Spray
Features
- Made from oils found in nature
- Safe for use around pets and kids
- Chemical-free with no harsh smells
Table Of Contents
Top 5 Best Opossum Repellents
Short on time? Take a look below for the top 5 in our list. Otherwise, check out our buying guide.
What Is an Opossum Repellent, Exactly?
If you’re not quite sure what a repellent actually does, you’re not alone.
Does it keep the opossums off your property in the first place? Does it make them go away once they’re already there?
For answers to these questions, continue reading below.
Does a repellent prevent opossums?
Opossum repellents work to make your yard or garden an unsuitable place to den.
There are a few different types (which we list in the section below), but they all pretty much work in the same way: to hinder the opossum from wanting come into your backyard in the first place.
By using a repellent, you’re essentially safeguarding your outdoor area from an opossum infestation.
Will a repellent make opossums go away?
When an opossum perceives danger or becomes too irritated to stay in one place, it will move along to another, more suitable den area.
Opossums are a nomadic species to begin with, so it doesn’t take much to push them along toward a new place to live.
Does a repellent make the opossum mad (and ready to strike)?
Despite their mouthful of sharp teeth, opossums are unlikely to bite or pounce on a human in retaliation.
Normally, their best defense is to roll over and play dead in the event that they see a person or an aggressive pet in their line of sight. They are able to slow their heart rate for up to two hours and appear totally lifeless in order to create the illusion that they are truly dead!
Types of Opossum Repellents
So, are all opossum repellents created equal?
Well, not necessarily.
While there are no specific repellents designed especially to keep opossums out, there are broad-spectrum rodent and nuisance-animal repellents which work to ward off these animals.
Predator Urine
Did you know that there’s actually a market for real, live predator urine? It may sound unbelievable, but you can actually buy the waste products of foxes, coyotes, and other top contenders in the food chain!
Why are these types of repellents so effective? Take a look at the explanation in the video below!
These products work by manipulating the natural fear impulse of an opossum. By sprinkling granules infused with the urine (or sometimes spraying the urine itself), you’re making the opossum believe that this vicious predator is actually out and about in the area.
Within a matter of a few days, the opossum will give in to its natural passive instincts and pack up for safer areas.
Ultrasonic Devices
These small machines are designed to emit a high-frequency electronic wave through your yard which irritates the central nervous system of any pests in the vicinity.
They are marketed for all garden insects and nuisance animals, so they’re versatile enough to be used for many different types of unwanted guests in the backyard.
Essentially, once you turn on these devices, a soundless and invisible wave will flow from the machine through your yard. The opossum will feel agitated in your backyard, and will find your property to be inhospitable.
Click here for more information on ultrasonic machines.
Repellent vs. Deterrent: What’s the Difference?
The two words seem to be interchangeable, but are they? What’s the big difference between a repellent and a deterrent, anyway?
At its core, the job of a repellent is to drive opossums away from a property. The substance or device can do this in any number of ways, as mentioned above. However, the basic goal is the same: once the opossum (or other pest) is there, a repellent’s job is to rebuff it.
A deterrent, on the other hand, prevents an opossum from taking up residents on your property in the first place. By using scare tactics like light, sound, and sometimes painful sensations, these products can make your backyard seem like an unsafe and unsuitable place for an opossum to build its den.
Opossum Repellents Reviewed
In the below section we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.
All Natural Rodent Defense Spray
The All Natural Rodent Defense Spray by Exterminators Choice takes the top spot on our list of opossum repellents because it combines function, affordability, and effectiveness.
This spray is made from a combination of garlic oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and white pepper as its active ingredients. Combined, these four blend together to create an aroma which is unpleasant to opossums and other nuisance animals alike—creating an inhospitable environment in any place this has been sprayed.
Because there are no chemicals or rodenticides contained in this spray, it’s completely legal for use in all states to repel opossums. It’s safe to use around pets and kids, and despite its harsh scent for nuisance animals, there’s no obvious smell to humans.
We recommend this repellent to those who want a safe, all-natural way to repel the opossums that won’t agitate their own noses.
The Good And The Bad
- Works to repel opossums from garbage and crawl spaces
- Potent, all-natural formula without an overbearing smell
- Safe for use around young kids and pets
- Chemical-free and legal in all states and areas
- Spray caused garden vegetables to ripen faster
- Did not work to repel problem squirrels
Shake Away Fox Urine Granules
The Shake Away Fox Urine Granules are an excellent example of manipulating a natural instinct: one of prey fearing predator.
Opossums are genetically programmed to fear foxes, and will instinctively flee any area where they believe that foxes live. Shake Away Fox Urine Granules make a point to take advantage of this natural loophole by offering a product infused with fox urine as to scare the opossums off of your property for good.
Application of the granules is a breeze: simply shake the canister around the area where you’ve seen an opossum (or believe that one is hiding out). The smell is strong, and it will take over the area and quickly repel the opossum that’s taken up residence on your property.
These granules release the scent of fox urine over time, so as not to overpower an area all at once. Also, they won’t harm your pets! They’re safe and non-toxic for dogs and any other furry friends you may have in the yard, although the scent may scare pet cats.
The Good And The Bad
- Takes advantage of opossum's natural fear instincts
- Repels other small nuisance animals as well
- Affordable compared to competitors' prices
- Scent of urine can be overpowering
- Pet cats can be repelled by the urine granules
- Does not always work to repel squirrels
Trap Shack Coyote Urine
Like the fox urine granules above, Trap Shack Coyote Urine makes good use of the natural fear opossums feel toward the animals a few notches ahead of them in the food chain.
This urine is shipped in its original liquid form after collection from ranch-raised coyotes. The potency can vary from batch to batch depending on the animal’s water intake and handling conditions.
The feature that we really like about Trap Shack’s Coyote Urine is that it repels a really wide array of different nuisance animals—not just opossums. If you have animals from squirrels to deer terrorizing your yard, this is the product for you.
If there are a ton of different pests prowling around your property, we recommend that you give this product a try; it’s all natural and straight from the source.
The Good And The Bad
- Affordable and effective at repelling opossums
- Comes in a spray bottle for easy application
- Can repel deer, squirrels, skunks, raccoons, and other nuisance animals
- All-natural and non-toxic
- The smell can be overpowering
- This product can repel pet cats and some dogs
Natural Armor Animal Repellent Spray
Get rid of those pesky possums from your yard with Natural Armor Animal Repellent Spray. Its powerful active ingredients keep pest animals away for up to 90 days and it contains no unpleasant odors.
Use for these wildlife pests:
- Opossums
- Skunks
- Raccoons
- Rodents
- Deer
And it’s safe for these common areas:
- Cellars
- Basements
- Garages
- Gardens
- Shrubs
- Trees
Natural Armor is easy to use. Just shake and spray. It comes with a trigger sprayer that’s guaranteed not to clog.
The Good And The Bad
- Effective at keeping pest wildlife from your yard
- Can be used either indoors or outdoors
- 100% natural, eco-friendly ingredients
- Won't harm pets
- Liquid may leak during shipping
- May not work as well for raccoons
Amerfist Solar Animal Repeller
This solar repeller from Amerfist is an excellent choice for keeping all sorts of animals away from your yard and garden areas. It’s especially suitable for opossums and other small wildlife pests. It activates at distances of up to 25 yards to turn on only when it detects intruders.
The upgraded design utilizes ultrasonic technology that is set specifically for small animals. You can also activate the audible alarm and flashing lights to give you maximum protection. Best of all, it won’t affect children or pets.
You can charge the device using the solar panels, or it has a USB adapter included. Either way, it lasts for several hours. And it can be mounted almost anywhere for continuous monitoring.
The Good And The Bad
- 100% waterproof
- Convenient solar operation
- Choice of charging functions
- Environmentally safe, no chemicals needed
- May not work as well for larger animals
- The instructions are unclear