What To Know About Opossum Removal
Opossums are some of the most stubborn pests that can take up unwelcome residence in a person’s house. Like raccoons, they have the potential to leave a huge mess whenever they think they can find food in a place; unlike raccoons, they also smell so badly that they can make a person gag. Worse still, they breed very quickly, meaning that a person who does not quickly call a pest removal service will find their troubles getting larger and larger. Here is what you should know about opossums, and how to get rid of them.
All opossums in the United States are part of a species called the Virginia opossum, although they live in many more states than just Virginia, as these little critters have hitchhiked across almost all the United States. An average opossum will grow to about the size of a house cat, usually not more than 15 to 20 pounds. Their bite is particularly harmful to adults, children, and pets, because they pack no fewer than fifty teeth in their mouth, more than any other mammal in North America. Despite the small benefits of opossums, such as eating insects like cockroaches, they are also potent carriers of diseases like tuberculosis, and often are infested with ticks, fleas, mites, or other micro-pests.
The damage that an opossum can do to a household is severe. They particularly enjoy chewing on electrical wires, and while chewing through a wire can kill them, it is far better to get rid of them ahead of time, especially if they happen to die in a crawlspace. Worse, they enjoy ripping apart insulation, drywall, or screens to get into tight areas and build a nest; homeowners often find opossums beneath their bathtubs. They are omnivores that are always hungry and will fight household pets like dogs and cats for food left outside. They also prey on gardens or orchards, consuming any fruits or vegetables before they can be harvested, which is why opossums removal usually bait them with treats.
Prevent an opossum from taking up residence by removing brush or debris that they can use as a nest. Remove any food left for pets before night falls, do not leave food waste in an easily accessible bin, and secure pet doors so that opossums cannot stroll in through the door. While they rarely stay in one place for long, you do not want to give them a welcome berth.
It is not recommended that a homeowner handle opossums removal themselves due to the risk of harm from a bite or an infection. Trapping an opossum is the safest and most humane way to deal with an infestation, although you may not be sure that you have trapped every member of the family that resides in your neighborhood.
