Safeguard Your Home With Effective Opossum Removal Services

Opossums are nocturnal marsupials known for their distinctive pointed snouts, grayish fur, and ability to appear dead. Although they help the environment by scavenging trash and eating pests, having them on your property can lead to a number of problems. Opossums can demolish gardens, raid garbage cans, and hide in attics, crawl spaces, or beneath decks, potentially spreading diseases. Professional opossum removal services are a safe and effective way to keep unwanted wildlife out of your home. Let’s read on to know more!

What You Need To Know Before Hiring Opossum Removal Service

If you want to know how to get rid of opossums in your home, professional opossum removal can assist in keeping your property safe and secure. In Delaware, it is illegal to trap and relocate a possum without a license. The local regulations recommend that homeowners use exclusion tactics to get the animal to leave on its own. Otherwise, you must hire a licensed professional to remove opossums. Relocating them is usually fatal for the animals, so deterrents and exclusion are considered more compassionate options.

Why You Shouldn't Trap and Move a Possum Yourself

Trapping and transferring protected species is illegal without a permit.

• It's ineffective: Relocating a possum does not solve the long-term problem because another animal will most likely occupy the abandoned territory. You must address the attractants to keep them away for good.
• It's inhumane: Opossums are highly territorial. Being abandoned in an unfamiliar environment is extremely stressful and can result in starvation, conflict with other possums, or death at the hands of a predator.

Signs You Should Notice To Identify Opossum Activity

Attics, basements, sheds, garages, and gardens are just a few of the places on your property where you may find opossums. Some indications that they may be active in these locations include:

• Noises at night: Opossums are nocturnal, so you may hear scratching, banging, or rustling sounds in the attic, walls, or under your home.
• Tracks and droppings: In the places they frequent, look for oblong droppings and five-toed paw prints.
• Foul odors: A musky odor from their droppings or urine, particularly in confined areas such as attics or crawl spaces.
• Damaged gardens: One of the most common indicators that opossums have infested a garden is the presence of partially consumed fruits and vegetables.
• Nests: Possums collect leaves, grass, and twigs to build nests in secret places.

DIY Ways To Get Rid Of Opossums

DIY opossum removal techniques may appear cost-effective but are often ineffective, dangerous, and cruel. If you don't know how to get rid of opossums, you risk injuring them, violating local wildlife regulations, or causing additional damage to your property. Wildlife pest removal experts ensure that the task is completed legally, safely, and with a focus on long-term prevention.

Home Remedies

1. Bright lights: Opossums are nocturnal and prefer dark, calm environments. Floodlights and motion-activated alarms are said to help scare them away by disrupting their environment. These strategies may work temporarily, but they rarely keep opossums away permanently, especially if they have already built a shelter or a reliable food source.
2. Hot sauce or pepper spray: The spicy peppers can irritate an opossum's senses, causing it to avoid areas where the substance is dropped. While it may keep opossums away from specific areas, such as garden beds, the effect is short-lived, and it must be reapplied regularly.
3. Garlic or onions: The strong smell of garlic or onions is believed to help repel opossums and other wildlife because they don't like the smell of onions. This is only a short-term fix, just like other odor-based opossum repellents. Additionally, opossums may eventually ignore or become accustomed to the smell, especially if there are food sources close by.

Humane Traps

As part of humane wildlife pest control services, opossums can be safely captured and relocated using live capture devices. When an animal enters one of these wire traps, a trigger typically closes the opening. Trapping and relocation regulations vary by region, so local wildlife laws must be followed. Although using humane traps to manage nuisance opossums is a non-lethal method, successful opossum removal requires proper use.

Opossum Repellents

Opossum repellents can sometimes prevent opossums from entering specific areas by impairing their sense of smell and taste. Natural repellents include predator urine, garlic, onions, and solutions containing ammonia. These produce unpleasant odors or tastes that opossums find repulsive, leading them to avoid treated areas. While opossum repellents can be effective for short periods of time, they frequently need to be reapplied, particularly after rain. They work best in conjunction with other professional preventive measures.

Tips To Help Keep Opossums Away

Secure House

The first step in preventing opossums from entering your home is to seal off any entry points, such as siding gaps, the roof, or vent openings. To keep opossums out of attics, crawl spaces, and basements, fill any openings with steel mesh, caulk, or hardware cloth.

Secure Trash And Food

Opossums are scavengers, so keep food out of their reach. Don't leave pet food or birdseed outside overnight, and use animal-proof trash cans that have tight-fitting lids. Also, make sure that compost bins are secure from smell, to lessen the chances of opossums becoming attracted.

Remove Shelters

Remove brush heaps, log stacks, and overgrown vegetation near your property to help reduce hiding places. Use lattice or hardware cloth to prevent access under decks, porches, and sheds. Remove these shelters, and opossums will be less likely to establish a camp on your property.

Install Fencing

A good fence can keep opossums away from gardens and other sensitive areas. To discourage digging, use four-foot fencing and bury the bottom 6-12 inches underground. To prevent climbing, add an outward-facing overhang or electrical wire on top.

Professional Opossum Control Services

Professional wildlife removal is the best way to get rid of these intruders. Experts understand how to deter opossums and remove them from your home. They can detect entry points, resolve underlying issues, and gently relocate the animal. They will also protect your home from future invasions. Professional wildlife exclusion services help you with safe and effective opossum removal. Schedule an appointment today to start protecting your home from wildlife!