The simplest way to catch a possum without a trap is to guide it into a trash can or large container using a broom. Possums are slow, non-aggressive, and surprisingly easy to corral because their main defense is freezing in place rather than running. With a few household items and some patience, you can safely contain and relocate one from your porch, garage, or yard.
The Trash Can and Broom Method
This is the most reliable no-trap approach. You need a tall outdoor trash can (or a large plastic storage bin) and a broom. Lay the trash can on its side near the possum, with the opening facing the animal. Then position yourself behind the possum and use the broom to gently nudge it toward the opening. Possums move slowly and typically won’t bolt or charge at you. Once the animal walks or shuffles into the can, carefully tilt it upright so it can’t climb out.
If the possum freezes and won’t move, give it time. Possums lock up when they’re scared, and pushing harder won’t speed things up. Step back for a few minutes, reduce noise and light if you can, then try again. A frozen possum isn’t being stubborn. It’s experiencing an involuntary fear response, similar to fainting, and its body needs a moment to reset before it can move again.
What to Expect From the Possum
A cornered possum will likely do one of three things: freeze completely, open its mouth wide to show its teeth, or drool heavily. All three are bluffs. The open-mouth display looks alarming, with 50 sharp teeth on full display, but it’s a scare tactic rather than a prelude to biting. The drooling is another defense mechanism designed to make the animal look sick and unappetizing to predators. Some possums even blow bubbles from their nose.
If a possum plays dead, it has entered an involuntary comatose-like state triggered by extreme fear. It may appear completely lifeless, sometimes for minutes or even hours. Its body will “come to” on its own once it senses the threat has passed. Don’t assume the animal is dead and try to pick it up. Wait, and it will eventually recover and move on.
Possums can also release a foul-smelling greenish fluid from their anal glands when terrified. They can’t spray it the way a skunk does, so the only way it gets on you is through direct contact with that area. It washes off easily if it does happen.
Handling Safety
Wear thick gloves if you have them, though direct handling should be your last resort. A broom, a piece of cardboard, or a shovel gives you enough reach to guide the animal without getting close to its mouth. Possums rarely bite, but they will if physically grabbed and unable to escape.
The good news is that possums pose very little rabies risk compared to raccoons, foxes, or bats. As marsupials, they run a lower body temperature than most mammals, which makes their bodies a poor environment for the rabies virus. They rarely carry it. That said, any wild animal bite warrants medical attention regardless of species.
If the Possum Has Babies
Before moving a possum you’ve caught, check for babies. Female possums carry joeys in a belly pouch, and older babies ride on the mother’s back. Joeys latch firmly onto their mother’s nipples and won’t fall off easily, even if the mother is playing dead. If you see a female with visible babies clinging to her, avoid separating them. Move the mother, and the babies will come along.
If you find a dead possum with babies still attached in the pouch, those joeys need help quickly. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area. You can find one through your state’s wildlife agency website. In the meantime, gently remove the joeys by supporting their bodies and pulling slowly and steadily until each one releases from the nipple. Don’t yank or twist. Place them in a small box lined with a soft cloth and keep them warm and quiet until a rehabilitator can take over. Baby possums require specialized care to survive.
Where to Release It
If the possum wandered into your garage or got stuck somewhere on your property, the easiest solution is to simply open the exit and let it leave on its own after dark. Possums are nocturnal, and most will happily wander off once they feel safe. Tip the trash can on its side in your yard, step away, and give the animal space and time. It may take a while for a scared possum to emerge, so be patient.
If you carry the container to a release point, stay on your own property. In many states, it is illegal to relocate wildlife off your property, even if you’re trying to help. New York, for example, prohibits moving any captured animal to a park, state land, or a neighbor’s property. The reasoning is that relocation spreads diseases, stresses the animal, and creates problems for people in the release area. Other states have similar rules, and some require a permit before you can even capture a possum that’s causing a nuisance. Check your state wildlife agency’s website for local regulations before you act.
If the possum keeps returning or has taken up residence under your deck or in your attic, a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator can handle removal legally and permanently. They have permits that allow them to relocate or manage the animal in ways that would be illegal for a homeowner to do independently.
Keeping Possums From Coming Back
Possums are drawn to easy food sources: pet food left outside, open garbage cans, fallen fruit, and compost piles. Removing these attractants is the single most effective way to keep possums from showing up again. Bring pet food indoors at night, secure trash can lids, and pick up any fruit that drops from trees.
Block entry points to crawl spaces, decks, and sheds with hardware cloth or steel mesh. Possums are decent climbers but not great diggers, so burying mesh a few inches below ground level along fence lines or foundation openings is usually enough. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also discourage nighttime visits, though possums are stubborn enough to tolerate mild deterrents if a reliable food source remains available.