How To Get Rid Of Opossums

Opossums, often misunderstood and misidentified creatures, can pose challenges when they take up residence in or near human habitats. While they play an essential role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations and cleaning up carrion, their presence can sometimes lead to conflicts with homeowners.

Understanding opossums as pests, their preferred habitats, and how to distinguish them from their distant relatives, possums is crucial in addressing and preventing issues arising from their presence.

Published: July 14, 2023.

Where Do Opossums Live

Opossums are highly adaptable animals and can thrive in a wide range of habitats, including forests, meadows, marshes, and urban environments. They prefer areas with access to water and plenty of vegetation, where they can find food and shelter.

Opossums are primarily nocturnal and seek out secure dens during the day, which may include hollow logs, abandoned burrows, or even spaces beneath decks, sheds, and other structures.

What's The Difference Between Opossum and Possum

While the names "opossum" and "possum" are often used interchangeably, they refer to two distinct groups of animals.

Opossums are native to North and Central America, with the Virginia opossum being the most common species found in the United States. They have white or grayish fur, a long, hairless prehensile tail, and a pointed snout with an impressive 50 teeth.

Possums, on the other hand, are native to Australia and the surrounding islands, including New Guinea and Sulawesi. They belong to a different order called Phalangeriformes, which also includes various species of gliders and cuscuses. Possums have a more rounded appearance, bushy tails, and fewer teeth than opossums. Their fur is typically brown, gray, or black.

Does Opossum Bite

Opossums are generally non-aggressive animals and prefer to avoid confrontation when possible. However, if they feel cornered, threatened, or in danger, opossums may bite as a means of self-defense. Their bites can be painful and can cause injury, as they have 50 sharp teeth in their mouth.

Despite their potential to bite, opossums are more likely to use other defensive tactics to deter perceived threats. They are known for their unique behavior called "playing possum" or "playing dead," in which they will collapse and appear lifeless, emitting a foul smell from their anal glands. This tactic often discourages predators from further pursuing the opossum, as they lose interest in prey that appears dead.

To minimize the risk of an opossum bite, it is essential to give them space and avoid handling them.

If you encounter an opossum on your property or need to remove one, it is recommended to use a humane live trap or call a professional wildlife removal service to handle the situation safely.

Remember that opossums are wild animals, and they should be treated with caution and respect.

What Do Opossum Eat

Opossums are omnivorous animals, which means they have a diverse diet and can consume a variety of food sources. Their opportunistic feeding habits allow them to thrive in various environments, including urban and suburban areas. Some common food items in an opossum's diet include:

• Insects: Opossums eat a wide range of insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, ants, and cockroaches. They play an essential role in controlling insect populations in their habitat.
• Small animals: Opossums can prey on smaller animals like mice, rats, birds, snakes, frogs, and even fish, depending on the availability of these food sources in their environment.
• Fruits and vegetables: Opossums consume fruits and vegetables, such as berries, apples, grapes, persimmons, and corn. They may also eat leafy greens, beans, and other garden plants.
• Carrion: One of the opossum's primary food sources is carrion or dead animals. They help keep the environment clean by scavenging on carcasses of animals like roadkill.
• Pet food: In urban areas, opossums may be attracted to pet food left outside, which provides an easy meal for these opportunistic foragers.
• Garbage: Opossums are known to rummage through garbage cans in search of food scraps, making them common visitors in suburban and urban neighborhoods.
• Slugs and snails: Opossums can help control garden pests like slugs and snails, which can be damaging to plants.

Opossums have a highly adaptable diet, allowing them to survive in a wide range of habitats.

While they can sometimes be considered pests due to their scavenging behavior, they also provide valuable services by controlling insect and rodent populations and cleaning up dead animals in the environment.

What Does Opossum Poop Look Like

Opossum poop can be easily confused with that of other animals, but there are certain characteristics that can help you identify it. Here's what to look for when trying to determine if the feces you've found are from an opossum:

• Size and shape: Opossum droppings are generally cylindrical and elongated, with a diameter of approximately 3/8 to 1/2 inches (1 to 1.25 cm) and a length of 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm). The ends of the droppings can be tapered, rounded, or slightly flattened.
• Color: The color of opossum poop can vary depending on the animal's diet, but it is usually dark brown to black. Over time, the droppings may fade to a lighter brown or gray as they dry out and age.
• Texture: Fresh opossum feces are usually soft and moist, with a shiny or slightly greasy appearance. As the droppings age, they become harder, more crumbly, and less shiny.
• Distribution: Opossums do not typically create latrines or deposit their droppings in one specific area. Instead, they tend to defecate wherever they happen to be when the need arises. This means you may find their droppings scattered throughout your yard or property.
• Content: Upon closer inspection, you may be able to identify traces of the opossum's diet in their feces. This could include fragments of insects, fruit, seeds, or small bones.

When dealing with any wildlife feces, including opossum poop, it is important to exercise caution and maintain proper hygiene. Wear gloves when handling feces, and wash your hands thoroughly afterward. Remember that droppings can potentially carry pathogens or parasites, so it is essential to handle them safely and dispose of them properly.

How To Get Rid Of Opossum

If an opossum has become a nuisance, there are several methods to remove them from your property:

• Live trapping: Using a humane live trap baited with fruits, vegetables, or canned pet food can be an effective way to capture and relocate an opossum. Be sure to check local regulations and guidelines on trapping and relocating wildlife before attempting this method.
• Call a professional: If you are unsure how to handle an opossum, or if the situation is particularly complex, consider hiring a professional wildlife removal service. They have the experience and expertise to safely and humanely remove opossums from your property.
• Deterrents: Using natural or commercial repellents can help discourage opossums from entering your property. Examples include ammonia-soaked rags, motion-activated sprinklers, or ultrasonic devices. Remember to reapply or reposition these deterrents periodically to maintain their effectiveness.

How To Keep Opossums Out Of Your Yard

Prevention is the best strategy to avoid opossum-related issues. Here are some tips for keeping opossums out of your yard:

• Secure food sources: Opossums are attracted to food, so ensure that garbage cans are tightly sealed, pet food is brought indoors at night, and fallen fruit from trees is regularly cleaned up.
• Eliminate hiding spots: Opossums seek out sheltered areas for dens, so remove potential hiding places such as piles of wood, debris, or dense shrubbery. Seal off access to spaces beneath decks, sheds, and other structures.
• Install fencing: Erect a fence around your garden or property to deter opossums from entering. Ensure that the fence is at least 4 feet high and extends below the ground by about 12 inches to prevent opossums from digging underneath it.
• Maintain your yard: Keep your lawn mowed and trim back overgrown vegetation to minimize potential hiding spots and make your yard less attractive to opossums.
• Use deterrents strategically: Place natural or commercial repellents around your property's perimeter, focusing on areas where opossums are likely to enter. Regularly check and refresh these deterrents to maintain their effectiveness.

Few Final Words

While opossums play a vital role in the ecosystem, their presence can sometimes lead to conflicts with homeowners. Understanding their habits and habitat preferences is crucial in addressing and preventing issues arising from their presence.

By combining removal strategies and preventative measures, you can effectively manage opossums as pests and minimize their impact on your property. In doing so, you contribute to a harmonious coexistence between humans and these fascinating creatures.