Opossum Identification & Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions About Opossums
Opossums hiding around your property bring health and safety risks with them, resulting in the need for professional removal tactics.
What are opossums?
Opossums are North America's only marsupial and an easily recognized wildlife critter that often invades human structures. Opossums have grayish-black fur with distinct white faces, elongated snouts, sharp teeth, and a long scaly tail that helps them balance as they climb. Opossums are omnivores and scavengers, often leading them to our homes and businesses as they search for easily available food.
In general, opossums are solitary creatures and will only be seen with other opossums when they are actively mating or raising their young. This critter is also nocturnal, so most scavenging activity occurs after dark.
Are opossums dangerous?
Though opossums are well-known for hardly ever having rabies, these nuisance critters are still not safe to be around. Opossums may bite or scratch humans that stumble too close to them as they hide out during the day or disrupt their scavenging activities after dark. Opossums also carry parasitic pests in their fur, like fleas and ticks, that can cause additional problems for your property. In addition, they leave behind urine and feces and can spread diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, and tularemia.
Investing in professional opossum control is important if you want to avoid the dangers that invasions of these critters bring.
Why do I have a opossum problem?
If you are noticing an opossum problem around your property, you likely have many of the factors that opossums love within easy reach. This critter typically looks for areas with plenty of moisture or water, odorous trash or waste piles, and convenient access to dark, secluded hiding spots.
Where will I find opossums?
Opossums generally hide outdoors during the day in abandoned animal dens or holes, crawl spaces, hollow trees, and even inside dumpsters or trash cans. They may invade garages, basements, crawl spaces, or attics, and you may see them perusing exterior areas at night in search of food and water.
How do I get rid of opossums?
Opossum pest control is the best way to get rid of invading opossums on your property and keep you safe from the problems these animals bring with them. Our team at Wildlife and Pest Control Experts provides effective opossum control methods that will meet your property's specific needs and ensure all opossum invaders are taken care of so you can reclaim the safety of your property.
Reach out to Wildlife and Pest Control Experts for a free estimate.
How can I prevent opossums in the future?
Prevent opossums in the future from calling your property home by following our expert tips below:
- Eliminating food sources is key to keeping opossums at bay. Cover up all outdoor compost piles, remove outdoor pet food, and ensure trash cans have tight-fitting or lockable lids to keep opossums out.
- Clear out brush piles, fallen fruit, debris, and fallen or hollow trees on your property to remove opossum harborage areas.
- Block off entry to crawl spaces, the areas under decks and patios, underneath outbuildings, and abandoned holes and dens to prevent opossums from nesting in these areas.
- Address moisture issues like leaks and puddles of water that lead to the moist conditions and water opossums love to be around.
- Make sure you store leftover food properly and clean all food and drink spills to keep the aroma from attracting opossums to interior spaces.
Reach out to our techs at Wildlife and Pest Control Experts for further opossum control and wildlife exclusion assistance.
