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Opossum Trapping, Removal and Exclusion in North Georgia

A mother opossum and her babies in a trap after being removed from a house by a wildlife removal company.

The opossum (or simply "possum," as opossums are often called) is one of the odder-looking animals native to Georgia. Opossums can be found throughout our North Georgia service areas and most of North America.

Opossums 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 wildlife species found in America. Because of their long, rat-like tails, many people believe the possum to be rodents. But they're not.

So please don't refer to opossum as rodents. They get highly insulted.

 

Opossums are Marsupials

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 completely unrelated to the rats, despite their rat-like tails.

In fact, not only are opossum not rodents, they'll actually eat rodents, so they do help to keep rat and mouse populations down. Their other preferred foods include insects, snails, carrion, berries, over-ripe fruits, and grasses; but when push comes to shove, an opossum will eat pretty much anything.

Finally, although 'possums have a reputation for being "dumb as dirt," they're actually pretty bright as four-legged critters go. This can make opossum control pretty challenging at times.

Opossums are usually harmless. They are passive by nature and rarely attack humans or domestic animals. They have a fairly 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 as all get-out, they do more good than harm.

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

When is Opossum Control Necessary?

Possums are usually harmless. Aside from being funny-looking, they usually don't bother anyone. But 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 opossums out in the future.

Another case in which 'possum control is necessary is around horse ranches, stables, and corrals. Opossums are capable of transmitting a parasite known as Sarcocystis neurona, which causes a serious equine disease called Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM). Proper exclusion of opossums (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.

Here are some pictures of opossum, opossum trapping, and opossum removal we've done in Georgia. You can also click here for a video of Jeff with a baby possum he caught.

A young friendly opossum on the glass counter of a retail store facing the camera.
A friendly opossum found in a retail store
A gap in the plywood about a foot square under a bay window allowed opossums to get into the crawl space of a house in Rome Georgia.
Opossum gap into a house in Rome
A rather calm looking opossum in a cage trap awaiting relocation after being removed from the crawl space of a house in Young Harris Georgia.
Opossum removed from a house in Young Harris
Opossum droppings near the opening of a French drain into the crawl space of a house in Dunwoody Georgia.
Evidence of opossums in a crawl space in Dunwoody
Gaping hole in the brick wall that allowed opossums into a house in Dunwoody Georgia will be temporarily sealed until the animals are removed and a bricklayer can do a permanent repair.
How opossums got into this house in Dunwoody
Young opossum in a cage trap after being removed from a house in Roswell Georgia
Opossum removed from a house in Roswell
Opossum track that looks like a tiny human hand in the dust on a duct in the attic of a house in Suwanee Georgia
Opossum tracks in an attic in Suwanee
A vent cover fell off the foundation of a house in Villa Rica Georgia and an opossum got in through the opening
Opossum entry into a House in Villa Rica
Opossum in a cage trap after being trapped and removed from a house in Roswell Georgia
Opossum removed from a house in Roswell
Someone stuffed a towel in an opening in a brick wall of a house to try to keep opossums out
Do-it-yourself opossum-proofing fail
Young opossum in a cage trap after being trapped and removed from a house in Griffin Georgia
Young opossum removed from a house in Griffin
A baby opossum on the hood of a Rid a Critter service vehicle
Baby opossum on the hood of Chris's truck
A young opossum outdoors in a technicians gloved hand after being removed from under a dishwasher in a house
Baby opossum was removed from under a dishwasher
Front view of a young opossum in a live trap after being removed from a home
Young opossum removed from a home
A young, unafraid opossum being gently held in the gloved hands of an animal trapper
Tim with a young opossum removed from a home
An opossum in a trap snarling after having been removed from a home
Angry opossum awaiting relocation
A mother opossum and her young in a trap after being removed from a home
Mother opossum and her young in a trap
Animal control technician holding a possum trapped in Roswell, Georgia
Terry with an opossum trapped in Roswell
An opossum outdoors somewhere in Georgia
Opossums waiting to be relocated
An opossum being held by the tail by an animal relocator in Jonesboro, Georgia
Opossum captured in Jonesboro, Georgia
An opossum in a trap awaiting humane relocation
Opossum waiting to be humanely relocated
An opossum being released unharmed in Snelleville, Georgia
Opossum humanely relocated in Snelleville, GA
Possum in a bucket in Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw possum removal job
Three baby opossums on the ground
Baby opossums found at a possum-removal job
Three young opossums in a cage after being trapped and removed from a home
Three young opossums awaiting relocation

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

 

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Beautiful day to be out and about, quoted squirrel jobs in Decatur(where it’s greater), and Riverdale, headed out to Covington for mice, back to Marietta for squirrels chewing on facia board
by Chris Collender
Mar 29, 2023 03:16:33 pm.

Rain rain go away, in Stone Mountain today
by Chris Collender
Mar 27, 2023 11:18:39 am.

In Oglethorpe, Montezuma, Vienna and Byron Ga. today quoting homes Wildlife Exclusions that has Bats and squirrels.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 23, 2023 11:31:15 am.

Bat calls are coming in already with the mild winter in middle to south ga. Tifton, Vienna, Cordele, Zebulon, and Barnesville Ga. Just to name a few cities I’ll be today and tomorrow.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 22, 2023 12:41:29 pm.

Good morning, glad to back, was out 2 1/2 months cause I broke my leg, time to quote some houses
by Chris Collender
Mar 20, 2023 09:48:34 am.

In Tifton Ga giving a quote for a commercial building for squirrels and then headed to another commercial building in Americus Ga for bats. Ending the day in Macon Ga for a residential quote for Rats. Have a good day!
by Jason Arruda
Mar 13, 2023 11:57:15 am.

Scurrying in the attic, scratching in the walls sounds like you may have critters. Going to some homes today hearing these noises.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 10, 2023 09:34:34 am.

Wildlife exclusions for Bats, rats and squirrels are keeping us busy in Barnesville, Macon and Albany Ga.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 09, 2023 10:44:54 am.

Headed to Vienna Ga after a customer referred they’re neighbors to us.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 08, 2023 10:35:37 am.

Helping the technicians today with a Bat Exclusion on Lake Jackson Ga.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 07, 2023 10:47:30 am.

Started off in Rome ga, raccoons in the crawl space, then headed to Atlanta, ga, rats in the attic
by Chris Collender
Jan 05, 2023 11:48:37 am.

Happy New years, back at it, started off in Conyers ga, squirrels, then headed to Stone Mountain ga, rats in the attic, now In Gainesville ga, bats in the house
by Chris Collender
Jan 02, 2023 11:16:26 am.

Here's Wishing All of You a Merry Christmas from Rid-A-Critter!
by Webmaster
Dec 23, 2022 12:56:04 pm.

Rain rain go away, i need to quote some houses today, started off Snellville ga, squirrels have chewed several new holes, paid 2 companies to do patch work , never works long term, why she called us, we will give her a permanent solution
by Chris Collender
Dec 20, 2022 12:54:00 pm.

Beautiful day but Baby, it’s cold outside. Started the day in Athens ga, rats, then headed to Brasselton, ga, rats, then headed over to Oxford, ga, squirrels. Good times
by Chris Collender
Dec 19, 2022 12:42:44 pm.

Back in conyers, ga today, seems to be busy over here, flyers in the attic, headed to Ellenwood, ga, square
by Chris Collender
Dec 16, 2022 09:53:13 am.

Beautiful day, had 2 stops in Dacula, ga. Rats and squirrels, headed to conyers, ga. For another squirrel job.
by Chris Collender
Dec 15, 2022 12:15:22 pm.

Busy day in the rain, had two quotes in Alpharetta ga, flying squirrels in both homes, headed to Athens ga, squirrels in the attic.
by Chris Collender
Dec 14, 2022 12:45:29 pm.

Our North Georgia wildlife-removal specialists are squirrel-proofing the roof of a house in Jasper this morning. They're installing a metal animal barrier over the edge of the roof under the shingles to keep squirrels and other animals out of the attic.
by Webmaster
Dec 14, 2022 09:00:11 am.

Quoted a rental property In Atlanta ga, rats, them headed to Athens, ga, mice, then off to Snellville ga, squirrels in the attic
by Chris Collender
Dec 13, 2022 12:33:01 pm.

Finally no more rain, headed to Decatur ga, rental property, rats, headed to Monroe, ga, squirrels in a house, then back to Atlanta ga, rats
by Chris Collender
Dec 12, 2022 03:51:16 pm.

Good day yesterday, other then the rain, started off in Dawsonville ga, rats, then headed to Lawrenceville ga, flyers, then headed to Atlanta ga, rats
by Chris Collender
Dec 07, 2022 10:01:04 am.

Rainy day, started out in Duluth, ga, snakes found in the house, then headed to doraville ga, squirrels again, then 2 stops in Atlantic ga, rats. Busy day
by Chris Collender
Dec 05, 2022 03:25:03 pm.

Glad the rain stopped yesterday, we stood in Atlanta, ga. rats and squirrels, then headed to Duluth ga, squirrels again, then to Marietta ga, rats. Another good day
by Chris Collender
Dec 01, 2022 07:20:51 am.

Happy thanksgiving to all, it’s back to work, was in Decatur ga, rats, to off to McDonough ga, rats again, the headed to Douglasville ga, for grey squirrels, then I just left Carrollton ga, bats in attic
by Chris Collender
Nov 28, 2022 12:25:45 pm.

The management, staff, and logo animals of Rid-A-Critter wish all of our customers, suppliers, and Web site visitors a Happy and Save Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving from Rid-A-Critter
by Webmaster
Nov 23, 2022 10:05:14 am.

Cold day yesterday, started in Cedartown ga, squirrels in the soffits, had them last year, he tried to fix it himself last year, didn’t work. Headed to Mableton ga, squirrels again, then 2 stops in Marietta ga
by Chris Collender
Nov 22, 2022 08:21:48 am.

Rainy day, started off in Cleveland ga, bats in the ridge vents, then headed down to Atlanta ga, rats in the basement, then off to Douglasville ga, squirrels chewing holes threw customers shingles
by Chris Collender
Nov 15, 2022 03:36:15 pm.

It’s a cold Monday, was out in Monroe ga this morning, customer has had a constant issue with squirrels, then out 3 jobs in Atlanta ga, rats rats rats.
by Chris Collender
Nov 14, 2022 11:51:04 am.

Busy day yesterday, started off in Hoschton ga, rats, then out to a rental property in Atlanta, rats, then to Jonesboro ga, rats, then up to Athens ga, squirrels, good times.
by Chris Collender
Nov 10, 2022 10:19:13 am.

Was out in ellijay ga today, rats in crawl space, then headed to Hiawasse ga, flyers in attic, in Athens ga now, raccoons in a house
by Chris Collender
Nov 08, 2022 11:38:20 am.

Did a quote yesterday in Watkinsville, ga bats, and a quote for snakes, different houses, then off the Athens, ga snakes in a crawl space, has mice too. Then over to Covington, squirrels in the attic
by Chris Collender
Nov 03, 2022 09:32:16 am.

Rid-A-Critter provides opossum trapping and control in all of North Georgia, including Athens, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Canton, Carrollton, Cartersville, Cumming, Dacula, Doraville, Ellijay, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Jasper, Lawrenceville, Loganville, Macon, Milton, Norcross, Rome, Roswell, Suwanee, Villa Rica, Winston, Woodstock, Young Harris, and everywhere in between.

#opossum #removal #NorthGeorgia

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