Are Possums Good Or Bad For Your Backyard?

Now that the nice weather is here, chances are you will be spending more and more time in your backyard and if you see this in your yard, let it be.

A lot of people get freaked out if they see a possum in their backyard but in fact, possums are very good for your backyard experience.

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Possums are known to homes and backyards free of pests. Possums are hunters of some insects and rodents that could bring trouble to your backyard. Here are some of the pests that possums like to eat.

• cockroaches
• crickets
• beetles
• slugs
• snails
• rats
• mice
• over-ripe fruit
• remains of dead animals
• snakes

Plus possums are very clean animals. Lots of people like to think that possums are the ones that knock over trashcans or dig through the garbage but that is not true. Most times the possums will eat the leftover trash that is left behind.

Possums are also good for keeping you healthy. According to citywildlife.org possums kill more than 95% of the ticks that try to feed on them and can kill about 5000 ticks in one season. This helps prevent the spread of Lyme disease.

People also think that possums are violent but most are gentle and won't attack unless provoked. Most times they will hiss and growl and won't bite unless cornered. Of course, they are known for playing dead, and most possums will play dead and avoid a fight instead of risking an injury.

So next time you see a possum in your backyard, don't be frighten be happy, and know all the good that they bring.