Arrgghhh!!!!

I am fighting a losing battle against possums in my vegetable garden. They are eating the cucumber and tomatoes as soon as they ripen and it's starting to get a little irritating, to say the least! I have put a net around the garden but Houdini Possum somehow found a way in, so I have just re-netted the entire thing in a ridiculously elaborate manner in an attempt to block their access. I also went online to see if I could get any tips about how to deter them. Most 'tips' are from the RSPCA and environmental groups who spend a lot of time pointing out that it is illegal to kill them, but don't say much else about how to encourage them to go elsewhere. They did, however, have this little gem to share:

Q: Possums are eating the fruits and vegetables from my garden. What should I do?
A: It is important to remember this is only a temporary problem. The possums will only remain while there is a fruit source for them. They will go when there is no fruit for them to eat.


So... when they've completely stripped my garden, they'll leave. Yeah, thanks for that. Very helpful.

Anyone else have any tips on how to deal with them? Remembering that I rent so I can't really build a greenhouse or anything.
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5 comments:

Dee said...

Can't help you, sorry. Other than the greenhouse thing that you can't do. Or a mesh cage part buried in the ground.

Givinya De Elba said...

Oh dear, that's annoying and their advice is just stupid. I dream of something slightly electric as a deterrant, but ... you know. Perhaps it's more effective to wait until they've eaten all your babies, and then they'll go away, yeah, that's great.

Dee said...

Oh, and they wont go far, as they are territorial too, so they will come back one day.

Femina said...

I don't really want them to go away; I just want them to eat something other than my vegetables... my neighbours' vegetables would be fine! Heh.

Hippomanic Jen said...

I'm going with the 'something slightly electric' option. I can't help but laugh about the fact that they will leave once the food source disappears.

Goodluck with Netting Take Two - the modern saga.

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