Opossums can be bad news for homeowners with a beautiful vegetable garden, pet food, or unsupervised garbage bins. These annoying critters are known for being mischievous and can decimate a garden or empty out an entire bird feeder in one night if they are given the opportunity. If you've noticed an opossum in your own backyard, it might be time to take preventive action.
These unwanted visitors can make a mess of your garbage, make a home in your garage, and even gain access to your home and start to wreak havoc. Spotting an opossum in house can be alarming and requires immediate attention. Once inside, an opossum in attic or walls can cause extensive damage to insulation and wiring. Sometimes, you may wonder, will opossum living in your space leave on their own? In some cases, they do, but often they require professional wildlife removal.
While opossums have beneficial purposes around your own backyard, such as getting rid of other pests and smaller rodents, the image of these rat-like creatures roaming in your yard at night might not please you. When we have provided opossum removal services, we often hear concerns like, "There's an opossum in my backyard" or "I found an opossum under house!" These critters are anything but clean and can leave their droppings all over your yard, creating a terrible mess to clean up. Opossums' droppings also have the potential to transmit other diseases that can take a toll on the health of any pet that it may come into contact with.
At Critter Stop we have provided hundreds of removal services in the Dallas- Fort Worth area, and we can confirm that most opossums don't stick around too long unless a female finds a place inside your living space to raise her offspring. For example, an opossum under deck is a common issue. Under normal circumstances, opossums will only visit your yard to look for food and water.
Opossums can enter your house through various entry points, often climbing to access your attic or roof. Many people ask, can opossum climb fence? Yes, they are excellent climbers and use nearby trees, fences, or structures to gain access. Once inside, whether it's an opossum in garage, walls, or attic, there’s no telling how much damage they can cause.
Opossums are great climbers. Homes that are close to trees or woodland areas will have more opossum traffic. Most of the time, opossums gain access to your home through roofs or attics. If you've noticed this problem, it’s crucial to act quickly to prevent further damage.
Opossums are tree-dwelling creatures, so if your home is close to trees there is a good chance opossum are using the surrounding greenery to gain access to your attic. To prevent opossum infestation in your attic, make sure to keep an eye out for any displaced shingles or holes in your roof that opossums can use to gain access. Sealing these entry points means one less entrance for opossums and other critters like raccoons and squirrels.
Another common entry point for opossums is of course the chimney. The chimney is not only an amazing gateway for these critters to enter your home, but it's also a great place for the female opossums to nurse their babies. Most possums use chimneys for their shelter and protection against their predators. If you've ever wondered how an opossum in my house got there, the chimney is often the culprit. Once inside the chimney, possums can easily access the inside of your home in search of food and water.
Another common way opossums get into your house is through your pet door, especially if a pet food bowl is placed near it. The food's smell is enough for them to push through the pet door and become an opossum in the house, causing disturbances and mess. So, if you want to stop opossums from entering your house, make sure to secure the pet door at night.
If you have opossum infestation in your house or yard you should be able to spot or hear these creatures, as opossums tend to be fairly loud and active at night. For example, opossum digging up lawn can ruin the aesthetic of your yard. If you ever second guess yourself, look for these common signs that you have an opossum getting comfortable in your home.
Opossums usually enter your house through climbing, so you will most likely notice some exterior damage to your home. This damage can commonly be found on the roof of your home, but it’s also worth checking your yard for opossum lawn damage, such as dug-up soil or disturbed plants. Keep an eye out for any damaged vents or out-of-place shingles.
Possums love easy meals. This means leaving food out for your pets can quickly turn into a free meal for a hungry opossum. If you notice that your bowls are emptying more quickly than usual it may mean you may need opossum removal services.
Opossums can be pretty noisy animals, so if they have infested your home, you may have already heard them scratching or moving around your house. Possums typically make smacking or sneezing noises when they are communicating with other members of their species. Keep a ear out for these smacking noises as this may be a sign you have more than one intruder to deal with.
One of the most evident signs of opossum infestation is foul odors lingering all around your house. Opossums, because of their large size, produce large size droppings. If these pests have infested your home, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to smell like a zoo. Also, how can we not mention it here – when opossums “play possum” and pretend to be dead they release a foul-smelling anal fluid. This might be great for repelling predators but it’s a terrible new smell for your living room.
You can try to get rid of an opossum on your own but it’s better to call the professionals for a variety to reasons, especially if it’s an opossum under deck or opossum under house. If you do want to DIY opossum removal, you must pay extra attention to areas where opossums like to nest and hide. As opossum removal experts, we have prepared a short list with methods that can be used individually or in combination with other removal methods:
A yard full of vegetables, fruits, or small animals can seem attractive to opossums. Also, if you have a shed or other covering on your property, they can use this as a place to build their den. So, if you want to get rid of opossums from your house, you must remove these attractants or make sure they have no easy access points.
Trapping is an effective method to get rid of opossums from your house. To trap a possum, you will need to install the trap near suspected areas and bait the traps with fish, fruits, or leftovers. It may be tempting to use poisonous bait to stop your opossum problem for good, but removing dead opossums is a hassle you don’t want to deal with.
Keep in mind, once you have successfully trapped an opossum, it’s up to you to relocate it to a safe location. Be cautious during the process, as opossums are known to play dead when threatened, which can be misleading. Trapping might take a few days as you will have to wait for the opossum to enter the trap.
Another effective and hassle-free opossum removal method is to use natural opossum repellents. There are many repellents available in the market that are made with all-natural ingredients.
These repellents have strong scents that irritate opossums instantly and force them to leave your house. Although if you want them to repel the opossums away effectively, you will need to regularly re-apply them in suspected areas.
If you have severe opossum infestation in your house, it will not be easy for you to get rid of them all by yourself. However, a professional opossum removal company will effectively remove them whether it's an opossum in backyard, opossum in garage, or you're wondering, "How to deal with an opossum in my house?". Critter Stop can help through trapping, exclusion, and other methods.
Also, they will thoroughly disinfect your house and completely dispose of all the mess your guest left behind.
Whether you have opossums in the attic, yard, or inside the garage, removing them all by yourself is not a good idea. At the end of the day, opossums are wild animals and may attack you if they feel frightened or threatened. Even worse, they might play dead, a defense mechanism that can be deceiving and make removal more challenging, or decide to “play possum” and release that terrible smell mentioned earlier.
It is a much wiser decision to take help from any professional opossum removal service-providing company. Some of the reasons why you should consider a professional opossum removalcompany are:
Although it’s extremely rare possum can carry rabies, they still are carriers of many other diseases. This means these unwanted visitors can pose a serious health hazard if you try to get rid of them without professional help.
Besides health hazards tha may come from instance when opossums defecate, infestation usually happens in difficult to access area such as roof spaces, under sheds, and guttering. In that case, trying to remove them all by yourself means risking the safety of you and your loved ones.
A professional opossum removal company has many experts with knowledge, experience, and the right equipment to complete the job safely.
Even if you have successfully removed all the opossums, you may have forgotten to eliminate the problems that caused the infestation in the first place. So, if you want to make sure that these messy creatures never return, you must consult with opossum removal professionals.
They will help you get rid of opossums in the house and ensure that they don't ever return by sealing all their entry points. They will help you identify the causes, like open chimneys or broken roof vents, that gave these unwanted visitors access your house.
Apart from causing visible damage, opossums may cause a lot of structural damage to your house that might not be visible. Opossum removal professionals know how to spot the signs of any possible structural damage and repair them to help you avoid any long-term problems.
During the hottest months of the year your backyard full of vegetables and fruits can seem quite attractive to many pests and rodents. Opossums are probably one of those pests. Although it is not difficult to get rid of them, they still are capable of causing severe health issues to your family and pets.
From covering your yard in dirt to making holes in your walls, opossums can become a huge nuisance for homeowners. Critter Stop is a reliable company that provides critter removal services in The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. We use many effective opossum removal techniques such as trapping and fencing to make your house and yard possum-free. Give us a call at (214) 234-2616 and let us take the critters away!
Opossums can be a nuisance when they make their home in or around your property. They often seek shelter under decks or inside houses, leading to potential health risks and property damage. At Critter Stop, we understand the challenges of dealing with opossums and offer professional, humane removal services. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you understand how to handle opossum issues effectively.
To get rid of opossums under your deck, start by sealing off any entry points they might use. Use sturdy materials like metal mesh or wood to close gaps. Installing motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also deter them. Additionally, removing food sources and keeping your yard clean will make your living space less attractive to opossums.
If an opossum gets into your house, the first step is to stay calm and avoid cornering it. Open windows and all the doors to create an exit path, and use gentle guiding with a broom or similar tool to encourage it to leave. If the opossum does not exit on its own, contact a professional wildlife expert in removal service like Critter Stop to handle the situation safely.
Yes, humane solutions include using live traps to catch and relocate the opossum. Ensure the trap is checked frequently to avoid unnecessary stress it. Once captured, relocate the opossum to a suitable habitat far from residential areas. Additionally, using deterrents like noise machines can help encourage opossums to leave on their own.
The best way to remove an opossum from your house without causing damage is to create an easy escape route. Open windows and all the doors leading outside, turn off the lights, and minimize noise to avoid scaring the opossum. If the opossum is hidden, using a humane trap baited with food can lure it out safely. Always avoid using harmful chemicals or aggressive methods.
Preventing future opossum problems involves making your property less appealing to them. Secure trash cans with tight lids, remove food left outside, and clean up fallen fruits from trees. Regularly inspect and repair any holes or gaps under your deck and around your home. Installing barriers like mesh or fencing can also prevent access to potential shelters.
When dealing with an opossum in your house, the first step is to assess the situation without panicking. Determine the opossum's location and observe its behavior. Ensure pets and children are kept away to avoid any confrontations. Then, gently guide the opossum toward an exit or set up a humane trap to capture and relocate it safely.
While DIY methods can be effective, professional services are recommended for ensuring the safe and humane removal of opossums. Professionals have the experience and tools to handle wildlife situations without harm to the animal or property. Critter Stop offers expert removal services, ensuring that opossums are relocated humanely and preventive measures are put in place to avoid future issues.
An opossum exterminator safely and humanely removes opossums from residential or commercial properties. They use live traps and deterrents to capture it without harm and relocate it to a safe habitat. Exterminators also inspect and seal entry points to prevent future infestations, ensuring your property stays critter-free.
If an opossum is injured, behaving aggressively, or trapped in a public area, contact animal control opossum removal services. These services are often available through local municipalities to address urgent wildlife situations. They focus on humane relocation or rehabilitation, ensuring the safety of both the animal and the community.
Opossum animal control helps manage wildlife issues by removing opossums humanely and ensuring they are relocated to appropriate environments. These professionals assess the situation, use safe trapping techniques, and seal potential entry points. Their expertise ensures minimal disruption to your property while addressing the root cause of the problem.
Critter Stop offers humane and effective opossum and wildlife removal services. If you’re dealing with opossum under deck, or opossum digging up lawn, contact us at (214) 234-2616. Let us make your home critter-free.
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