Opossum and Raccoon

Opossum

If there is an opossum in the greenbelt, on the trails or in your yard, don't worry. He is not a threat, and more than likely he will be moving on in a short while. Opossums are not aggressive, although their open-mouth, defensive hissing may make them appear that way. But they are only bluffing and trying to look vicious as a defense. And if that doesn’t work they play dead when really scared! But far from being a nuisance, opossums can be beneficial for your garden, eating snails, slugs, insects, and sometimes even small rodents.

Ways to keep them from coming into your yard:

• Have tight fitting lids on garbage cans
• Don’t leave any pet food outside
• Pick up any fruit that has fallen from trees

Raccoon

If you come across a raccoon in the greenbelt, on the trails or in your yard, one thing to remember is that raccoons are not afraid of man, dogs or cats. They are pretty smart critters and are intelligent enough to escape or avoid various trapping devices. They shouldn’t bother you so just try to avoid them.

To repel raccoons from your yard, garden and plants, use a mixture of cinnamon and ground black pepper sprinkled liberally around the yard. These spices irritate a raccoon’s sense of smell and will quickly discourage them from foraging in your yard.