What do opossums look like?

Adult opossums grow to between 15 and 20 inches in length (not including their tail) and weigh between 4 and 14 pounds, or about the size of your average house cat. They have a long pointed face and ears that lack any hair. Opossums have a thick undercoat of fur that is peppered with long guard hairs; they are whitish-gray in color. Opossums are the only marsupial found in North America, and therefore they carry their young in a pouch. They are also well-known for being able to use their long, hairless tail to hang upside down from trees with.

Are opossums dangerous?

The most common sign of an opossum problem is seeing them often on your property digging around your garbage or in garden areas. When opossums are around you might also see your pet’s (especially cat) food suddenly disappearing. If opossums have taken up residence in your home’s attic or behind walls you will probably hear scratching, running, or tapping noises.

Why are opossums in my home?

Opossums often enter inside of homes and other buildings to create a safe place to live and burrow inside of after first being attracted to food sources that are found on your property. Opossums are drawn to properties that offer easy access to food and water sources; pet food, unsecured garbage cans, gardens, and compost piles can all attract draw opossums. Once on your property, they may decide to take advantage of any openings found inside of your home, garage, or other outbuildings to access warm, safe shelter and to make their burrow inside of.

How do you get rid of opossums?

If opossums have become a problem on your property or inside of your home, contact the wildlife professionals at Spencer Pest Services. At Spencer Pest Services we can get rid of opossums from your property through our rodent and wildlife control services. Our wildlife control professionals have the experience and training needed to safely and humanely get rid of an opossum infestation and stop future infestations with opossums and rodents. Contact us today to learn more about our rodent and wildlife control services that are available throughout Upstate South Carolina and northern Georgia.

Opossum Prevention Tips

Opossums are excellent climbers. To help prevent them from gaining access into your home, trim back tree branches away from the exterior of your home.
Make sure that all chimneys have secure caps on them.
Repair any holes or gaps found in the roofline.
Make sure that vents leading into your home have tight-fitting covers over them, and repair any loose window screens or other large openings into your home.
Make sure that outdoor garbage cans have tight-fitting lids on them and that they are stored a distance away from the outside of your home.
Pick-up uneaten pet food each evening.
Opossums like to live and hide in woodpiles. Make sure that woodpiles found on your property are kept a distance away from the outside of your home.
Make sure that gutters are working properly to direct water away from your home and to prevent it from pooling and creating water sources.

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