About Opossums
Opossums are pouched mammals that are around the size of a cat. Their fur is coarse and ranges in color from white to dark grey. Although they are often described as “large rats”, opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are actually marsupials (relative of the kangaroo). They are the only marsupial in North America. They have a white face that is similar to a rat's, with a long, narrow, and pointed snout and they have rounded ears. They have large teeth that peek out of their mouth and have a rat-like tail that is long and hairless. Opossums have the ability to hold onto objects with their tails, and also use their tails for balance and stability when climbing. Opossum's hind feet look like human hands that have thumbs (opposable toes). Their opposable toes allows them to grasp and hold onto tree branches and other structures. It is not uncommon to spot them on rooftops or along fences during the nighttime. They were first introduced to California in San Jose in 1910 and are now well established in the state.
Opossums prefer natural habitats, such as:
- Wooded areas near streams or rivers
- Hollow trees
- Wood piles
- Rock piles
- Abandoned underground burrows
However, they are often seen in urban and suburban settings, where they den in areas like:
- under porches, decks, and sheds
- in buildings, crawl spaces, and attics
They are nocturnal (active at night) and do their foraging at this time. Opossums are scavenging omnivores with a keen sense of smell. They occasionally eat roosting birds, poultry, and rodents but generally feed on:
- Pet food
- Fruits and vegetables
- Dead animals
- Garbage
- Snails
Opossums will usually soil their nests with urine, feces and anal fluids resulting in offensive odors. When they get scared they try to hide instead of run because they move slow. They might hiss, growl, and show their teeth when cornered but they are generally not aggressive. They usually go into a shock-like state, where they roll over on their side, become limp, shut their eyes, and appear dead. They do this to wait for a good moment to escape from danger.
Why are opossums important?
Opossums are an important part of our ecosystem. They help control the overpopulation of snakes, rodents, and insects and also help with cleaning up dead animals. However, they also have the ability to spread a variety of diseases, including:
Opossums can also carry ectoparasites, like fleas, ticks, and mites that also have the ability to spread other diseases to humans and pets. They can also cause severe property damage to homes when looking for food or denning areas. They can tear heating ducts, chew on electrical wiring, and claw at overhanging rooflines.
Services
You can request a free home inspection and consultation for issues with opossums. Our trained technicians will inspect the exterior of your property and do the following:
- Look for possible entry points.
- Identify what might be attracting wildlife to your property.
- Provide consultation and advice on how to:
- Do the repairs to keep wildlife out of your property.
- Reduce availability of food, water, and shelter.
REQUEST A WILDLIFE INSPECTION
How can I prevent opossums at home?
Reduce the availability of food, water, and shelter that attract skunks and rodents, and other small animals that might attract them.
Food and Water
- Harvest fruit and vegetables when ripe and pick up fallen fruit
- Regularly rake areas around bird feeders
- Do not leave pet food or water outside
- Secure garbage and recycling bins
- Fix water leaks
- Fence vegetable gardens with poultry wire that is 4 feet high, with the top 12-18 inches of the wire bent ourtard, away from the garden (the wire should not be attached to any support so that it bends under the opossum's weight)
Shelter
- Cut back overgrown shrubs
- Trim back trees
- Stack firewoood neatly
- Repair or replace crawl space vents that have holes
- Remove boards, debris, and rocks that they could use for shelter
Exclusion
- Use 1/4" hardware cloth to seal under porches, decks, and mobile homes to exclude opossums and other animals
