- 1). Get rid of possible food sources. Make sure all yard garbage cans have tight-fitting lids. If there are any fruit trees in your yard, make sure to pick up fallen fruit and dispose of it. Set up chicken wire (or another type of fencing) around your compost heap. Bring your bird feeders inside at night, if possible.
- 2). Get rid of possible shelters. Rake up and get rid of brush piles around your yard. If you have piles of wood, keep them in a shed or another tight shelter. Keep closed woodsheds, garages, boathouses and any other structure you may have.
- 3). Pour ammonia into a coffee can. Place an old rag into the can. The rag will work like a wick and disperse the ammonia fumes. Place as many cans around as necessary, in any place that could be a potential shelter for squirrels or possums. Throw some mothballs around your yard and under your house as well.
- 4). Shut off access to certain areas. If a possum or squirrel is living under your house or other structure, wait until the animal vacates the area (usually nighttime for possums). Once the animal has gone, close off its entryway with chicken wire. Bury the wire at least 6 inches into the dirt. Take preventive measures by doing this to other areas that the animal may inhabit as well.
- 5). Get squirrel-proof bird feeders if you want bird feeders in your yard. These feeders may cost a little extra, but pay for themselves in time. Wild Bill's, Droll Yankees, and Brom Bird Care are good name brands for this type of feeder.
- 6). Consider the placement of any bird feeder poles. Keep the poles 10 feet away from anything the squirrel could possibly jump off of.
- 7). Keep areas under bird feeders clean. Rake up hulls and seeds that may fall off the feeder. Clean any catch trays as well.
- 8). Set up live traps if other methods don't work. The most efficient and guaranteed way of getting rid of squirrels and possums is trapping them. Peanut butter spread on a piece of bread will attract squirrels. Any old fruits or vegetables will attract possums. Check your local laws on how to get rid of these pests once they are trapped.