Opossum Identification & Prevention

Opossums are marsupials easily recognized by their long hairless tails, elongated snouts, white or light-colored faces, and gray-colored bodies. Opossums typically live solitary lives, are nocturnal, and have flexible diets that allow them to thrive in a number of different living environments.

Only one species of opossum exists in the United States and Canada, the Virginia opossum; these pests can wreak havoc throughout the properties they invade and settle down in.

While opossums rarely carry rabies, they are carriers of several other serious illnesses, including leptospirosis, tuberculosis, tularemia, toxoplasmosis, and Chagas disease. Continued exposure to opossums or their droppings around your property increases your chances of picking up one of these diseases.

Furthermore, opossums may attack when they feel threatened, especially if their young are with them. Scratches and bites from opossums may be serious and introduce bacteria or diseases.

Opossum infestations may also damage your property thanks to their climbing, scavenging, and nesting activities. Opossum pest control is the safest and most reliable way to deal with infestations of these critters.

Opossums are scavengers and are highly likely to invade properties with plenty of food sources that are easily available in addition to excess moisture and sheltering spots. Unguarded compost or trash piles, lots of organic debris, infestations of pest prey, leaks, and accessible hiding spots like crawl spaces and attics will all encourage opossum infestations on your property.

Opossums love to hide around secluded, dark areas, and you are most likely to find them in trash piles or dumpsters, hiding around piles of debris or overgrown foliage, or utilizing the abandoned dens of other animals. If they infiltrate interior spaces, you may find them in crawl spaces, underneath outbuildings, in wall voids, or inside attics.

Getting rid of opossums is difficult, and you don’t want to undertake this task alone due to safety reasons. RodentX Wildlife Control is here to help you identify the root causes of your opossum problem and provide you with reliable wildlife removal services to ensure the removal of these pests from your property. Contact us today to learn about our opossum control options or request your free inspection.

In addition to professional opossum control methods for your property, you can prevent opossums by following our expert tips below.

• Remove brush piles or piles of organic debris from outdoor areas and cut back any long grass or overgrown foliage to reduce opossum hiding spots.
• Seal up any holes around outdoor spaces or abandoned animal dens to stop opossums from settling down in them.
• Make sure to seal up crawl spaces properly and cover any gaps between a structure and the ground to stop opossum entry.
• Dispose of waste promptly and cover up compost piles or trash cans with tight-fitting lids to stop the aroma from attracting hungry opossums.
• Evaluate your foundation and the siding of your property for potential opossum entry points and seal up any problematic areas.

If you have more questions about preventing opossum infestations or discover an opossum invasion on your property that you need help removing, don’t hesitate to contact our expert team at RodentX Wildlife Control for wildlife control in Rochester.