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Opossums

Opossum Baits

Once you find the best trap for an opossum, it is important to identify the perfect bait to lure it in. Learn more about recommended bait options and other trapping tips below.

Best Opossum Baits

Opossums are omnivores with an opportunistic diet, eating most plant or animal matter. Because there is likely a plethora of food options in your yard, Havahart® recommends using a bait that will stand out - opossums tend to be attracted to fruit and strong-smelling foods like meats and oils.

Best opossum baits include:

best opossum baits

How to Bait an Opossum Trap

One of the most important steps in trapping an opossum is positioning the bait. It is imperative that you strategically place your bait inside/around your trap in a way that will lead to a successful capture.

The best bait placement will:

  • Force the opossum to fully enter the trap (body and tail).
  • Encourage the opossum to engage the trigger.
  • Take into consideration the trap's door style (1-door vs. 2-door):
1-DOOR TRAP - Position bait in the END 1 door trap

For a 1-door trap, place the bait just beyond the trigger plate, towards the closed end of the trap. To prevent animals from stealing the bait, position it as far from the trap walls as possible.

2-DOOR TRAP - Position bait in the CENTER 2 door trap

For a 2-door trap, position the bait towards the center of the trap in one of the following ways: scattered on top of the trigger plate, hung directly above the trigger plate, or in a hole underneath the plate/trap.

Expert Baiting Tips

  • Using just a small amount of bait, create a trail leading towards the trap to lure the animal inside.
  • Keep in mind that other animals may be attracted to the same baits opossums are attracted to. One way to avoid catching an unwanted species is to keep your trap set only at night, when nocturnal opossums are active.
  • For more information on trapping opossums - like where to set your trap and how to handle a trapped animal - read How to Trap an Opossum »
  • Read How to Bait a Trap to explore more live trap baiting tips and expert techniques.
ultimate protection

Ultimate Opossum Protection

Now that you’ve trapped your opossum, use a repellent to stop these critters from coming back. Using a combination of Havahart® traps and repellents gives you the maximum protection you need to keep your yard free of animal intruders!

Critter Ridder® Motion-Activated Animal Repellent & Sprinkler scares away pesky opossums, and it’s eco-friendly, using only startling bursts of water to repel animals.

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