Opossum Trapping, Removal and Exclusion

The opossum (or simply "possum," as opossums are often called) is one of the odder-looking animals native to Georgia.

Opossum have long, rat-like prehensile tails, five-toed feet with opposable thumbs whose prints look almost like miniature human footprints, dog-like jaws with sharp teeth, and big, round, hairless ears. No wonder that some have described the opossum as looking like it was created from "God's spare parts."

The opossum is also one of the more misunderstood animals found in Georgia. Because of their long, rat-like tails, many people believe the possum to be rodents. But they're not. The opossum is actually North America's only native marsupial. Marsupials are animals who raise their infant young in a marsupium, or pouch, on the mother's body. The 'possum is actually a cousin to the kangaroo and the koala, and is unrelated to the rat, despite their rat-like tails. So please don't refer to opossum as rodents. They get highly insulted.

In fact, not only are opossum not rodents, they actually hunt rodents for food and help to keep rat and mouse populations down. Their other foods include insects, snails, carrion, berries, over-ripe fruits, grasses, and pretty much anything else that's edible.

Finally, although 'possums have a reputation for being "dumb as dirt," they actually score pretty high on animal intelligence tests. This can make oppossum control pretty challenging at times.

Opossum are usually harmless. They are passive by nature and rarely attack humans or domestic animals. They have a very low risk of rabies. They don't generally dig up yards or otherwise destroy property, and what little damage they do to crops is generally trivial and is outweighed by their usefulness in keeping the rodent population down.

So for the most part, opossums who wander through your yard looking for a mouse or rat to eat can probably be left alone. Aside from being funny looking, they do little harm.

But there are a few situations in which professional possum trapping or control is necessary.

For example, when an opossum takes up residence in your basement, attic, garage, shed, barn, or other building and doesn't leave on its own within a few days, then opossum control needed. 'Possum trapping should be followed by repairs and exclusion to keep opossum out in the future.

Another case in which 'possum control is necessary is around horse ranches, stables, and corrals. Opossum are capable of transmitting a parasite known as Sarcocystis neurona, which causes a serious equine disease called Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM). Proper exclusion of opossum (and other animals) from areas where horses are kept, as well as the elimination of wild animal attractants, are important parts of protecting valuable horses from EPM and helping to prevent other arboviral and parasitic equine diseases.

Rid-A-Critter provides expert advice, opossum exclusion services, and opossum control throughout greater Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Columbus, Peachtree City, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and all of Northern and Central Georgia.

Here are some pictures of opossum, opossum trapping, and opossum removal.

With offices throughout North-Central Georgia, Rid-A-Critter has the tools and personnel to handle any animal control job, so please call us today.