Opossums are the one and only marsupials that are native to the United States. And yes, they are marsupials, like the koala and the kangaroo. They are nocturnal creatures that are often mistaken for larger rats in the night. However, opossums are not typically dangerous. They are slow and only defensive when needed. In fact, most of the time, they will go into a state of shock, faint, and look like they are playing dead when afraid.
Facts About Opossums
- Commonly referred to as “possums,” the possum is actually a different creature from Australia.
- Opossums are resistant to almost all types of snake venom.
- They are opportunistic. They rarely tear something up that is not already out and torn up by some other critter.
- Opossums have 50 teeth, and they love to show them off, although they just play dead if the danger gets too real.
- The act of “playing possum” is an involuntary reaction, not merely an act.
- Mama opossums take their babies wherever they go, whether in their pouch or on their back.
Appearance
Opossums are similar in size to the typical house cat. Their fur is gray or black colored, and they have a distinctive pink-colored nose. And their tail looks like a rat’s tail.
Length: 15 – 20 inches, excluding the tail.
Weight: 4 to 15 lbs
Behavior
The opossum leads a slow-moving lifestyle but can run when needed. Since they are nocturnal, opossums prefer to move about in the evening, when there is less chance of needing to escape harm’s way. And if they do sense danger, they will play possum… or play dead.
Although they are slow-moving, opossums can make a real mess of your yard in just one night. They will rustle through your trash cans, turn up your flower pots, and tear up ductwork and insulation. On the other hand, they are referred to as Natures Sanitation Engineers. They control insects and rodents in your yard. That can be a real benefit for gardeners and farmers.
Diet
And since they are omnivorous, they are also opportunistic feeders. They prefer to scavenge for food others have left behind, rotten fruits on the ground, and insects in the grass or garden. That is another way they are sanitation experts.
Are Opossums Dangerous?
In and of their behavior, opossums are not dangerous. However, they are known to carry diseases that one should be aware of. That is why most people opt to have them removed when they take up residence in the yard. At any time, opossums may carry one or all the following:
- Leptospirosis
- Tuberculosis
- Relapsing fever
- Tularemia
- Spotted Fever
- Toxoplasmosis
That said, opossums usually move on in a few days. They rarely stay in one place for long. So, they may move on before you even get a chance to call for help.
Opossum Infestations
Opossum infestations happen when the yard goes unchecked for a while, or they get into your attic. There are several reasons opossums would want to be in your yard. You see, like any other scavenging animal, opossums look for food, water, and shelter wherever they go. Here are some of the reasons they may be attracted to your yard, in particular.
- If you have fruit trees, they will indeed smell out fruit when it hits the ground.
- When there are mice somewhere in your yard, you may have an opossum stop by.
- Do you keep lids on your trash cans? If not, the opossum may not be the only critter looking for your leftovers.
- Do you leave pet food and water bowls outside for pets? The opossum does not mind sharing, one bit.
- Perhaps you have a raised home or a deck? That is the perfect hiding and nesting spot for the opossum.
- Or maybe you have some overgrowth of thick bushes on the property. Those are excellent hiding spots for the opossum in your yard.
Now that you know what might be attracting the critters to your property, let Covenant Wildlife Removal help you figure out what to do.
Preventing Opossums
Once you have determined the cause for the opossum attraction to your yard in the first place, you can avoid them in the future. When the opossum has been chased out or removed, make sure you clean up the following attractors:
- Bring pet food in at night.
- Secure pet doors so at night so they cannot enter the home.
- Pick up fallen fruit from the garden or yard.
- Cover trash cans with a good lid.
- Clear all hiding spots from the yard.
- And secure all hiding spots with fencing and door locks.
And as always, if you have done all you can to prevent them from wanting to be on your property, call Covenant Wildlife to remove the critters once and for all.
Covenant Wildlife Removal Chases the Opossums Away
With our years of experience removing all kinds of critters from people’s homes and yards, you cannot go wrong when you call Covenant Wildlife Removal. Our team has seen just about every animal you can imagine and has removed them successfully.
For service you can trust, contact our team 24/7 for a timely response. We are reliable and guarantee our work. With a focus on customer service, we often are called back repeatedly to remove the various animals that invade large properties and those of their neighbors.
We are a full-service Alabama wildlife removal company with the exact equipment and knowledge it takes to perform these services professionally and effectively. Covenant Wildlife Removal offers many removal services, from structural damage restorations to exclusion and prevention services. We can fix, clean up, and repair any damages caused by unwelcomed wildlife.