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What can you do about opossums?
04/15/2015 4:27 PM by John M
I have possums living under my house and I am scared to death. They hang out in my neighbors yard as well as mine and we want them gone ASAP. Does anyone know how to get rid of them or know someone who can. Thanks in advance.
My father worked with the Cooperative Extension service for 2 decades and that is a fantastic free resource you can contact who will be glad to answer these exact type of questions. Here’s a link to the Richmond branch: http://offices.ext.vt.edu/richmond-city/
You could always try and trap them then call animal control to see if they will aid in the removal of them. Then again there’s always the good old baseball bat and shovel trick, I had to do that recently, so good luck and remember they play dead very well…
Opossums are nocturnal. If you are seeing them during the daytime, that is unusual behaviour and could indicate rabies. That being said, you can buy a havaheart trap at Tractor Supply for around $40.00. The best bait is raw chicken wings. Trap and release down by the river.
We caught one opposum three times, (she had a big split in her left ear ) before we got her far enough away that she didn,t come back.
They are not bad animals, ie: they don,t chew on wiring like squrrils, and they would rather be left alone than interact with people. They are really good raters, so there may be a rat problem in the vicinity.
I forgot to disclose that we had one as a pet. It liked to sit on the back of your neck but was otherwise not very affectionate.
Possums don’t get rabies, apparently their body temperature doesn’t allow for it. Little know factoid that I was just told recently. I second the suggestion to call Animal Control, though.
They sell the live traps at Southern States. Get one and bait it with peanut butter or some other foodstuff, but just remember to check the trap often! A dead, starved possum in your trap is not a happy thing.
Once you’ve got it, just take it somewhere with plenty of woods, at least a half mile from your house (so it doesn’t just come right back home).
Oh, and I don’t know about the regulations here, but often times Animal Control isn’t allowed to live trap. If they get it, they usually have to euthanize it. The live traps are relatively cheap and easy to use.
Call Critter Control, they are supposed to be good. You need a professional particularly if you are scared of them, and Kathleen @10 is right, they have teeth and claws. Critter Control will also tell you what to do to prevent it happening again.
CRD, All mammals can carry rabies, including opposums. They do have a lower body temperature than other mammals and are less prone to contract rabies, but they ARE NOTimmune to it. Caution should always be used when an animal deviates from it,s normal behaviour.
@15 I didn’t mean to imply that they cannot get rabies but apparently they are less prone, you are correct. I only just heard that recently.
My recommendation to Tulesha for Critter Control comes from a neighbor who has used them. His comment was, if the critter is under the house and you aren’t crazy about dealing with it, it’s best to spend the money on a pro. He’s used them and thinks they’re great, and he also said that they offered suggestions on future prevention; if he wasn’t prepared to implement the suggestion they could also have done it for him for another fee.
Make “Possum ‘n Taters”.
This is possum baby season. Possums are usually transient, and move on after a few days. Please reads this link for lots of info on possums and what can be done to trap them and move them if necessary. Trapping them in a trash can is not difficult, and is virtually free. After they’re gone, close your crawlspace so they cannot reenter. Crawlspaces are like wonderful caves to many animals, not just possums.
http://opossumsocietyus.org/faq-opossum/
I like opossums, but agree and probably wouldn’t want them living under my house either. They aren’t bad creatures at all — they eat gross, rotting stuff, mostly at night, are not aggressive unless cornered/trapped and very rarely carry rabies — I’ve heard just about never, but this is not an invitation to debate, that’s all I know about it. I really really hope you don’t try to poison them though, it’s just plain bad to have around the animals we wish to keep healthy, including ourselves. Good luck.
Scott, they may eat ticks, but they carry fleas like crazy.
We had possums too last year. We trapped them (in a humane trap – used cat kibble) and then took them out to the country and released them. It was easy and we felt good about not hurting them.
Yuck and good luck. Try the humane thing. If there are any leftovers, my american bulldog has four accidental possum kills from shrub diving. She can do a sweep for you 🙂
ASAP Andy with ASAP Wildlife Control can live trap them, relocate them and help you keep them out. He’s great. Highly recommended! http://www.asapwildlifecontrol.com/
CRD and Jean are right. It’s extremely rare for them to carry rabies because of their body temperature. I had done the research CRD initially mentioned when I was dealing with one in my yard last year. Deal with it humanely. In the meantime, another tidbit…they don’t burrow. They use existing holes, so don’t worry about them hurting your systems or foundation. They also cohabitate with other ground animals peacefully. Fascinating creatures, really. The one under my deck used to poke its head out when I grilled as if it was asking if I had extra. Pretty cute.
But don’t take my word for it, listen to the song!
https://player.vimeo.com/video/67857516
We have one that likes to sit on our back porch with one of our cats. They seem to have become friends. If they weren’t so ugly…
Brian– Pics, or it didn’t happen! 😉
I’ve been told that pest control companies like Critter Control cannot transport trapped critters they catch so they have to euthanize them.. . . in their vehicles since they aren’t supposed to transport them. This could be bullshit & I hope it is but I seem to remember hearing this from a local wildlife rescue volunteer. Anyone know the real story about what is done w/animals trapped by pest management /removal operations? I’d like to know & maybe others would too before calling anyone to remove an unwanted guest.
I second the demand for proof in pictures from #27!!
My wife used to volunteer with an animal welfare league that had an outdoor, contained feral cat shelter. Occasionally one of the caretakers would find a opossum had slipped in and was hanging out with the cats.
I used to take care of a few feral cats, and man, the opossums *loved* that cat food that I’d put out.
Umm… John M…..yea I bet they did, it was easy pickings for them. Strangely, when I was feeding some ferals some years ago, all I got was feral cats, no possums. I was some blocks north of Broad on 32nd, and absolutely no possums picked up on that food. It was when you were headlining a skunk colony some where even more north of me if that dates it…WAITING FOR PICS FROM BRIAN @27!
WarGib, next time I see it, I’ll try to get a pic!
My dogs brought me a cute little baby opossum gift last night… I contacted Richmond Animal Control and they are coming to get it and assured me that they take them to a wildlife rehab (as opposed to euthanizing).
I also found some helpful resources in the process -trapping is not recommended because they are transient, easy to deter from unwanted places, help control other critters such as rats, and may leave orphans behind (http://opossumsocietyus.org/faq-opossum/#How do I trap and relocate an opossum?; http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/scrap_the_trap.html). If opossums are getting in, just think about what other critters will take their place unless you address what attracted them to begin with.