Are Opossums Harmful? Bites, Disease, Odors, Damage & Mess in Ocean City, NJ. How to Get Rid of Opossums

Opossums, also known as possums are widespread and are the only native marsupial in North America. They are related to the kangaroo. Opossums have a pouch that is designed for carrying and taking care of their young. They differ from kangaroos in that they are slow and can produce a repulsive smell. From the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail they can measure two and a half feet in length and weigh between 9 to 13 pounds, about the size of a large cat. They have long, light-gray hair with a scaly tail that is about half the length of their whole body.

What Do Opossums Eat & Where Do They Live?

Opossums are pests that will eat your food and your pet’s food. They are scavengers that will find their way to human homes to raid garbage cans, containers and dumpsters. They are omnivores but aren’t picky. They will hunt birds, mice, insects, snakes, worms, carrion and sometimes chickens along with nuts, grass and fruit. They are great at climbing trees and will spend lots of time in them. They have sharp claws that dig into the bark and a long tail that acts like an extra limb to grip the tree. They will make their homes close to food sources to make life easier. You can find them nesting in tree holes, hollow logs, under buildings or in dens that are left behind by other animals. Opossums would much rather escape than attack you or your pets and will “play possum”. If they are threatened by dogs, bobcats or foxes etc. they will flip on to their side with their eyes closed or stare off into space and act dead. Sometimes they will even loll their tongues out. This behavior will confuse a predator and give the opossum a chance to escape.

Opossum Damage; Bites, Disease, Odors & Mess

Opossums can be a source of disease and danger for your family and pets. They will bite if they feel threatened and can be carriers of rabies. If they crawl up into your attic or into your shed, they will make it smell very bad with urine and feces. If left unsealed, they can make a mess of your garbage cans and can also cause damage to your yard when digging for grubs. You know you have them when you see them around garbage and in attics. There are many geographical areas where opossums are protected, so you’ll need to check before starting any control measures. Possums can’t be controlled with sprays. There actually isn’t a spray that exists! Have opossums living in your walls or attic makes the job of trapping them harder. You will need specialists in wildlife removal. Most times you’ll need to trap them and then relocate them.

Opossum Wildlife Removal

Preventing opossums is a lot easier than getting rid of them. Keep areas clean and tidy by raking your yard and cleaning up wood piles or unused equipment. Seal entry points with rocks or hardware cloth to block them and keep food stored inside. Ross Environmental Solutions can answer any questions you have and provide you with a professional evaluation. Call us today!