Whether they’re rummaging around your trash or climbing in your trees and shrubs, opossums should never be welcome on your property. If you’ve spotted one around your yard, or suspect one’s lurking nearby, it’s crucial to know how to keep opossums away from your home. Discover practical, helpful tips for thwarting these nocturnal critters with McCall Service!
Dealing with an active opossum problem? Contact our Florida wildlife professionals.
How dangerous are opossums?
Typically, opossums’ response to danger is to freeze and “play dead” until the threat is gone. However, they won’t hesitate to use their sharp teeth and claws to defend themselves. If you, your loved ones, or your pets get too close to an opossum (especially a mother opossum with babies) you’re putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation.
Opossums can spread tuberculosis, spotted fever, and toxoplasmosis. Like rodents, they also spread leptospirosis, a potentially deadly bacteria-borne disease, via their urine. Opossums do not, however, pose a threat of carrying rabies. Their low body temperature prevents the rabies virus from spreading throughout their bodies.
Can opossums climb?
Yes, opossums are excellent climbers. They have opposable thumbs, making easy work of shimmying up the side of your house and into your attic. All they need is an easily accessible point of entry like an eave gap or uncovered vent. Opossums usually won’t work too hard to get in, so having wildlife professionals place mesh over vents can help block their entry.
How to Keep Opossums Out of Your Yard
Trust us when we say that you don’t want to end up with a dead opossum in your attic. Homeowners unaware of an infestation often find themselves seeking out the source of an unbelievably foul odor, only to find the body of a marsupial in the upper reaches of their homes. Make the likelihood of an opossum invasion less likely with these tactics:
- Keep pet food inside
- Trim tree branches away from the house
- Pick up fruit that’s fallen from trees
- Store bird feeders in the garage or shed at night
As with most wildlife and pests, the key is to make your home less inviting by removing sources of water, food, and shelter.
How to Scare Opossums Away From Your House
If your best efforts fail to keep opossums away from your yard, try to make your home less appealing. Try these tips:
- Install motion sensor lights with bright bulbs
- Place a radio near the house, and leave it on a talk radio station overnight
- Store plants indoors at night to limit opossums’ food sources
Keep Opossums Away with Wildlife Control From McCall Service
Although opossums aren’t usually aggressive, it’s never a good idea to approach a wild animal. If you see an opossum in the daytime, there’s a chance it could be ill or injured and will behave differently than a healthy opossum
Knowing how to keep opossums away can help prevent a number of issues. McCall Service will teach you how to keep opossums out of your yard and house to avoid problems ranging from parasites and disease to home damage. We help Florida residents keep their homes free of wildlife and pests safely and efficiently, so contact us today for a free quote.
