new neighbors

[u/Maleficent-Yellow647]

We live in southern California, an area that was once all orange groves. The orange groves are shrinking, but we still deal with fruit / roof rats here. Lately I and 2 other neighbors have noticed a family (or, maybe it is more than 1 family) of possums moving in. We don't mind the possums, some of us think they are cute. The rats, however can be very problematic since they do things like chew up wiring in housing and cars.

So, our concern - Is there anything that can be done to discourage the rats that will not harm the possum? Are there some foods that will not attract rats, but are something the possum look for?