Tag Archives: Opossum control

Proven Tips for Effective Opossum Removal and Control

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Have you spotted an opossum scurrying across your yard at night? You’re not alone. These nocturnal creatures often find their way into residential areas, causing headaches for homeowners, gardeners, and property managers alike. This blog will guide you through understanding opossums, detecting their presence, and implementing effective control methods, ensuring your property remains opossum-free.

Call 804-292-0156 for Licensed Opossum Removal and Control in Richmond Virginia
Call 804-292-0156 for Licensed Opossum Removal and Control in Richmond Virginia

Get to Know the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Opossums are North America’s only marsupial. Known for their nocturnal habits, these creatures are omnivores, feeding on anything from fruits and insects to small animals and garbage. Their adaptability makes them common in both rural and urban areas. While opossums can play a role in the ecosystem by controlling pests, they become nuisances when they invade human spaces. They may forage in garbage cans, create nests under decks, and even prey on ornamental plants.

Top Signs of an Opossum Infestation

How do you know if opossums have made themselves at home on your property? Look for these telltale signs:

  • Tracks and Droppings: Opossums leave behind distinct tracks and droppings. Their footprints show five-fingered impressions, while their droppings are typically dark and cylindrical with pointed ends.
  • Noises at Night: If you hear rustling, scratching, or other noises at night, it might be due to opossums. They are nocturnal and usually active after sunset.
  • Damage to Structures: Check for signs of gnawed wood, disturbed insulation, or damaged screens. Opossums often seek shelter in attics, basements, and under decks.

Health and Safety Concerns

Opossums can pose several health and safety risks. They are carriers of various diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, and tularemia. Their droppings may harbor parasites like fleas and mites, which can infest pets and humans. Additionally, opossums can cause significant property damage by chewing through electrical wires, insulation, and wooden structures. Their presence can also attract other predators, creating a more significant issue on your property.

Prevention Strategies

To deter opossums, consider the following prevention strategies:

  • Secure Trash Cans: Use sturdy, sealed trash cans to prevent opossums from scavenging. Store garbage indoors until collection day whenever possible.
  • Remove Food Sources: Clean up fallen fruit, pet food, and birdseed from your yard. These easily accessible food sources can attract opossums.
  • Block Entry Points: Inspect your property for potential entry points. Seal gaps under decks, porches, and sheds. Install screens over vents and chimneys to keep opossums out.

Humane Removal Methods

If opossums have already invaded, humane removal methods are essential:

  • Natural Repellents: Certain scents, like garlic, ammonia, and predator urine, can deter opossums. Place these repellents around your property where opossums are active.
  • Professional Wildlife Control: For a guaranteed and humane approach, contact a professional Richmond animal removal service. They have the expertise to remove opossums safely and efficiently.

Wildlife Control Legalities

Understanding local ordinances and regulations is crucial before taking action. In some areas, it is illegal to trap and relocate wildlife without a permit. Always check with local authorities or wildlife organizations to ensure compliance with the law. Professional wildlife control services are often well-versed in these regulations and can handle the legal aspects for you.

Post-Infestation Guide

After removing the opossums, take steps to prevent their return:

  • Repair Damages: Fix any structural damages caused by the opossums. This includes sealing holes, repairing gnawed wires, and replacing damaged insulation.
  • Regular Inspections: Conduct regular inspections of your property to identify and address any new entry points. Keep an eye out for signs of opossum activity.
  • Use Opossum Deterrents: Continue using natural repellents and maintain secure trash cans and food sources to keep opossums at bay.

Conclusion

Opossums might be a part of the natural ecosystem, but they can cause significant problems when they invade human spaces. By understanding their habits, detecting their presence, and implementing these strategies, you can effectively control and remove opossums from your property. Timely and humane intervention is key to ensuring the safety and well-being of your home and garden.

If you are looking for professional and reliable wildlife control for these nocturnal nuisance critters, you are in the right place. Contact Virginia Wildlife Pros at 804-292-0156 for opossum removal and control in Richmond and its surrounding counties. Our team is dedicated to helping you maintain an opossum-free environment with expert care and effective solutions.

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The Secret Life of Opossums: A Closer Look at Their Daily Routines

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Opossums, often misunderstood and unfairly vilified, lead fascinating lives that are largely hidden from human view. As nocturnal animals, they navigate through their nightly routines with an intriguing mix of adaptability and resilience. But what exactly does an average day (or night) in the life of an opossum look like?

From its foraging habits to its unique method of opossum control and survival, we’re about to take a closer look at the daily routines of these often overlooked creatures. Get ready to step into the secret life of opossums, and you might just find yourself gaining a new respect for these adept survivors.

Call 804-292-0156 for Safe and Humane Opossum Removal Service in Richmond Virginia
Call 804-292-0156 for Safe and Humane Opossum Removal Service in Richmond Virginia

A Nightly Foraging Adventure

As the sun sets and most of the world goes to sleep, opossums come alive. These creatures are strictly nocturnal, which means that they spend their days sleeping and their nights actively foraging for food. With a diet that consists of everything from insects and small animals to fruits and vegetables, opossums have developed a versatile and opportunistic approach to finding their next meal. Using their keen sense of smell, they can locate food even in the dark, which is aided by their long snouts and whiskers that help them navigate through their surroundings.

Multi-Tasking Masters

While foraging may be the main priority for opossums at night, it’s not the only task on their to-do list. Opossums are skilled multi-taskers, and they use their nightly hours to fulfill a variety of other essential activities as well. From grooming and socializing with other opossums to marking their territory and building nests for shelter, these creatures have a busy schedule to keep up with every night.

Playing Dead

One of the most fascinating and well-known abilities of opossums is their unique survival technique – playing dead. When threatened, opossums have the ability to go into a state of shock that makes them appear dead to predators. This helps them avoid danger, as many predators prefer fresh prey over carrion. While in this state, opossums also release a foul-smelling odor that further deters predators from attacking them.

Opossum Babies

As with many animals in the wild, opossums face significant challenges during their first months of life. Babies, known as joeys, are born after only a 13-day gestation period and are extremely tiny, about the size of a honey bee. They then spend the next two to three months inside their mother’s pouch, surviving solely on her milk. That’s right, opossums are marsupials just like kangaroos. After leaving the pouch, they continue to nurse for a few more weeks before venturing out on their own. As a result of this precarious start to life, opossum mothers are extremely protective and nurturing towards their young.

Humane Solutions for Nuisance Opossums

While opossums may seem harmless and intriguing from a distance, they can quickly become a nuisance when they decide to take up residence in or around our homes. In addition to the mess and damage they can cause, their tendency to scavenge through trash and gardens can be a health hazard for humans. If you find yourself with unwelcome opossum neighbors, it’s important to seek out professional wildlife removal and control solutions for opossums. This may include using motion-activated sprinklers or sound devices to deter them from your property, as well as setting up exclusion channels and sealing up any potential entry points to prevent them from getting in.

In Summary

From their nightly foraging adventures to their unique survival techniques and important role in the ecosystem, opossums lead intriguing lives that are worth learning more about. By gaining a better understanding of these often misunderstood creatures, we can develop a newfound appreciation for their adaptability and resilience.

So, next time you spot an opossum in your backyard or on your street, take a moment to appreciate the secret life of these fascinating creatures.  So, it’s our responsibility to live in harmony with them and respect their right to survive alongside us. Together, we can share this planet with all its inhabitants and continue to learn from one another. 

Would you like expert assistance with nuisance possum troubles? Contact Virginia Wildlife Pros at 804-292-0156 for professional opossum removal and control in Richmond and beyond. Our licensed and insured animal trappers work with all native Virginia wildlife, using only safe and humane methods to extract and abate nuisance animals. Request a free quote, today.

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Opossum Control Tips for Homeowners

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Opossums, with their pointy snouts and hairless tails, can be an unusual sight for homeowners. While they are typically non-aggressive and play a crucial role in controlling pests such as mice and ticks, their presence can still be problematic. They can overturn trash cans, create nests in attics or garages, and spread fleas or other parasites.

Thus, opossum control becomes essential for maintaining a safe and clean home environment. This blog post will provide you with practical opossum removal tips and will guide you on how to use opossum repellents effectively. Let’s ensure you can enjoy your home, free from the unexpected visits of these nocturnal marsupials!

Call 804-292-0156 for Licensed Opossum Control in Richmond Virginia
Call 804-292-0156 for Licensed Opossum Control in Richmond Virginia

Common Opossum Problems for Homeowners

One of the most common issues caused by opossums is their propensity to overturn trash cans. To address this, make sure your garbage bins are securely fastened and sealed. This will prevent them from accessing your trash and ensure a cleaner environment around your home. Opossums can also cause damage to your property if they find their way into an attic or garage. To prevent this, you should ensure that all the openings leading up to these spaces are covered and sealed with strong mesh screens.

Effective Opossum Control Strategies

If you already have an opossum on your property, removal will be necessary for your safety and peace of mind. The most humane and direct approach to opossum removal is through eviction. This can be achieved by setting up a one-way door, which will allow the opossum to leave your property but not return.

If the animal has already taken up residence in an attic or garage, then you may need to enlist the help of professional wildlife removal services. They will be able to use humane traps and other tools to safely remove the animal from your property.

Utilizing Opossum Repellents

The use of repellents is another effective way to prevent opossums from entering your property. There are several types of commercial repellents available in the market, such as those made with predator urine or predator-scented sprays. These repellents can be placed around the perimeter of your home to discourage opossums from entering.

If you want to take a more natural approach, then try using items like garlic, lemon peel, and cayenne pepper as opossum repellents. Just sprinkle them around the outside of your property and they will act as a natural deterrent for opossums.

Cleaning Up After an Opossum Infestation

It is important to take the necessary steps to clean up your property after an opossum infestation. This includes thoroughly cleaning any areas that may have been contaminated by feces or urine, disinfecting any surfaces that may have come into contact with the animal, and repairing any structural damages. If fleas were present during the infestation, you should also use an insecticide to ensure that they are eliminated from your home.

In Summary

Following these opossum control tips and strategies can help you keep your home safe and secure from nocturnal marsupials. Taking preventative measures such as sealing holes and using repellents can help you avoid unwelcome visitors and unpleasant issues. Keep your home clean and free from contamination by following these simple tips!

Note: Make sure to always use humane methods when dealing with opossums, as they play an important role in maintaining the balance of our ecosystems.  In addition, it is illegal to relocate or kill any wild animal without proper authorization in most places, so be sure to consult your local wildlife authorities before taking any drastic measures.

Would you like some professional assistance with getting rid of opossums in your yard or commercial property? Contact Virginia Wildlife Pros at 804-292-0156 for licensed and insured opossum removal and control in Richmond, Virginia, and surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial customers with comprehensive mice and rat removal solutions at affordable prices. Request a free quote, today!

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Dealing with Nuisance Opossums in Your Yard: What You Need to Know

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If you have opossums in your yard, then you know how much of a nuisance they can be. Not only do these animals leave behind messes and damage to your property, but they also carry many diseases that can make humans sick. While some may think trapping or killing the opossums is an effective solution, it’s important to understand all of the options available before taking such drastic measures.

In this blog post, we’ll look at different ways to get rid of opossums without harming them or putting yourself in danger. We’ll cover topics such as opossum removal and control methods, tips for deterring them from coming back into your yard, and more. By learning more about these creatures and understanding their behaviors better, you can take steps towards keeping them away from your property safely and humanely.

Call 804-292-0156 for Fast and Effective Opossum Removal in Richmond, Virginia.
Call 804-292-0156 for Fast and Effective Opossum Removal in Richmond, Virginia.

Opossum Proofing 101: How to Get Rid of Opossums

Opossum Attractions

The first step to getting rid of opossums is to understand what attracts them in the first place. These animals are scavengers, meaning they feed off of whatever food sources they can find. Items like pet food, garbage cans, and bird feeders can all be attractive to opossums when left out in the open. By limiting these items and keeping them secured away from the reach of these creatures, you can help deter them from coming into your yard.

Opossum Deterrents

In addition to removing potential food sources, there are several other ways you can get rid of opossums from your property. One method is to use opossum repellent. You can make your own, homemade, non-toxic version, or you can purchase animal repellents from a trusted retailer. You can also use possum deterrents such as bright lights, talk radio, and motion-activated lights or sprinklers to scare them away. These methods are effective but should be applied in accordance with industry best practices regarding wildlife control. Avoid using lethal traps and poisons.

Licensed Opossum Removal and Control Services

Finally, consider using a professional service for opossum removal and control if all other options fail. A wildlife expert will know how to properly handle these animals without putting anyone in danger, and they will have access to more powerful tools like traps and cages for relocation. This is definitely the best option for getting rid of nuisance opossums from your yard since it guarantees their safe capture and release from your property.

Now You Can Safely Get Rid of Opossums in the Yard!

Dealing with opossums in your yard can be a tricky problem to solve, but it’s not impossible. By taking the time to learn more about these animals and their behaviors, you can take steps towards keeping them away from your property safely and humanely. With the right opossum removal and control methods, you can enjoy a peaceful yard without any unwanted visitors.

By following the tips outlined above, you should have no trouble getting rid of nuisance opossums from your yard in no time! Make sure to call a professional if all else fails – they will have the skills and tools necessary for successful opossum removal and control services.

Can’t seem to get rid of nuisance opossums in the yard no matter what you try? Reach out to Virginia Wildlife Pros at 804-292-0156 for opossum removal and control service in Richmond, Virginia and surrounding areas. We serve residential and commercial customers with comprehensive mice and rat removal solutions at affordable prices. Request a free quote, today!

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