Opossum Removal & Control
Humane solutions for opossum problems in your home or business
About Opossums
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is North America's only native marsupial. These adaptable creatures are often misunderstood but play an important role in our ecosystem as nature's cleanup crew and tick consumers.
Size & Weight
Adults typically weigh 4-14 pounds and measure 2-3 feet in length including their tail.
Lifespan
Relatively short-lived at 1-2 years in the wild and up to 4 years in captivity.
Diet
Omnivorous scavengers that eat almost anything: insects, small animals, fruits, garbage, and notably thousands of ticks per season.
Unique Traits
"Playing possum" (feigning death) when threatened, prehensile tail for climbing, and resistant to rabies and snake venom.
Problems Caused by Opossums
Property Issues
- Taking up residence under decks, porches, and in crawlspaces
- Damaging insulation in crawlspaces when nesting
- Creating unsightly paths through yards and gardens
- Raiding garbage cans and compost piles
Health Concerns
- Carrying fleas, ticks, and mites that can infest pets
- Potential carriers of leptospirosis and tuberculosis
- Feces and urine can contaminate areas under homes
- Note: Opossums rarely carry rabies due to their low body temperature
Pet & Human Interactions
- Potential conflicts with pets, especially at night
- Frightening encounters due to their intimidating defensive display
- Consumption of pet food when left outside
- Occasional damage to garden crops and fruit trees
Our Opossum Removal Process
We use humane, effective methods to safely remove opossums from your property and prevent their return.
Inspection
Thorough assessment to locate opossum activity, denning sites, and potential entry points to structures.
Removal
Humane live trapping and relocation of opossums following all state wildlife regulations.
Exclusion
Installing barriers to prevent opossums from accessing crawlspaces, decks, and other vulnerable areas.
Prevention
Implementing deterrents and habitat modifications to discourage future opossum activity.
Preventing Future Opossum Problems
After removing opossums, we recommend these preventative measures to keep them from returning:
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Secure Entry Points
Installing heavy-duty metal screening or lattice around decks, porches, and crawlspace openings.
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Food Management
Securing garbage cans, removing fallen fruit, and avoiding outdoor pet feeding, especially at night.
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Habitat Modification
Trimming low branches, removing brush piles, and sealing potential den sites around the property.
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Sensory Deterrents
Motion-activated lights, sprinklers, or natural repellents in strategic locations around your property.
Ecological Benefits of Opossums
While opossums can become a nuisance when they take up residence in or around structures, they provide several important ecological benefits:
- Tick Control: A single opossum can consume up to 5,000 ticks per season, helping reduce Lyme disease prevalence.
- Pest Management: They eat cockroaches, rats, mice, and other pests around properties.
- Carrion Cleanup: Opossums serve as nature's cleanup crew by consuming carrion (dead animals).
- Snake Control: Their immunity to snake venom allows them to prey on venomous snakes.
Our humane removal techniques ensure that these beneficial animals are safely relocated where they can continue providing these ecological services without causing problems for homeowners.
Opossum Removal FAQs
Opossums are generally docile and non-aggressive. When threatened, they're more likely to 'play possum' (feign death) than attack. However, like any wild animal, they may defend themselves if cornered or handled. They rarely carry rabies due to their low body temperature.
Look for nocturnal noises, tracks (resembling tiny human handprints), droppings, disturbed trash, or actual sightings of opossums at dawn, dusk, or night. You might also notice worn paths through landscaping or pet food disappearing overnight.
If you find baby opossums (joeys), it's best to leave them alone and call us immediately. Mother opossums carry their young in a pouch or on their back, so if you see babies alone, the mother may be nearby or may have been injured or killed. Our professionals can safely handle the situation.
We follow all state and local wildlife regulations regarding relocation. Opossums are typically relocated to suitable habitat areas where they can continue their beneficial role in the ecosystem, away from residential properties.
Having Opossum Problems?
Our wildlife experts are ready to provide a humane, effective solution with our 10-year guarantee.
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