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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.

Left pointing arrow. Right pointing arrow.

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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Spending this Sunday resting up for a big week ahead.
by Chad W.
Sep 10, 2023 08:32:59 am.

Finished up an exclusion before it for too hot outside. Perks of getting up early and getting started.
by Chad W.
Aug 26, 2023 11:03:43 am.

It’s a hot one today. Headed to Jasper Ga to look for a dead animal under a house
by Chad W.
Aug 24, 2023 01:11:32 pm.

Resting up for another full week of critter ridding.
by Chad W.
Aug 20, 2023 06:11:58 pm.

There is nothing like waking up and looking forward to going to going to work. I love my job and am blessed to be in the position I’m in.
by Chad W.
Aug 19, 2023 07:28:21 am.

Headed to Birmingham to do a raccoon quote. Got another raccoon quote in irondale. Squirrels will be active soon. Call Ridacritter for your free exclusion quote.
by Chris Scott
Aug 18, 2023 09:57:39 am.

A dentist office in Stone Mountain has a dead animal smell that needs checked out this morning
by Chad W.
Aug 16, 2023 07:11:34 am.

Sun’s out in Marietta. Getting hot
by Chad W.
Aug 14, 2023 02:51:31 pm.

Sun’s out in Marietta. Getting hot
by Chad W.
Aug 14, 2023 10:59:56 am.

Headed to Birmingham to seal a bottom transition that snake are entering through. We have a big bat exclusion in sylacauga today.
by Chris Scott
Aug 11, 2023 09:45:07 am.

Installed some crawlspace vent covers in Cartersville then checked out some gutters in Big Canoe
by Chad W.
Aug 09, 2023 02:13:17 pm.

Villa Rica to get some materials, Cartersville to screen some crawlspace vents, then Big Canoe to clean out a gutter for a customer. Busy day
by Chad W.
Aug 09, 2023 06:04:59 am.

Started with bats I Talbotton Ga, Bats in the attic in Manchester Ga. Now to Tyrone Ga for rodents in a home.
by Jason Arruda
Aug 01, 2023 12:52:34 pm.

Taking this Sunday to rest up for a big week. Gonna be a hot one
by Chad W.
Jul 30, 2023 08:20:46 am.

Mountains this morning to check out some carpenter bee and woodpecker damage then to Atlanta to trap a raccoon that’s trying to break in
by Chad W.
Jul 18, 2023 06:42:06 am.

Mountains this morning to check out some carpenter bee and woodpecker damage then to Atlanta to trap a raccoon that’s trying to break in
by Chad W.
Jul 17, 2023 06:12:21 am.

Headed to Tuscaloosa. Going to quote a client that has rats and bats. Got a few traps to check around the Birmingham area. Then to Lincoln for a flying squirrel quote.
by Chris Scott
Jul 13, 2023 08:23:51 am.

Villa Rica this morning to pick up some material then to Cartersville to look at a house with problems in the crawlspace
by Chad W.
Jul 12, 2023 05:50:08 am.

Quoting exclusions today, Tifton Ga bats this morning and more bats in Americus Ga this afternoon. Bats in the attic, bats in the house!
by Jason Arruda
Jul 11, 2023 01:35:50 pm.

Headed to Loganville Ga this morning to seal a house and install ridgeguard. Then to Duluth to check some traps
by Chad W.
Jul 11, 2023 06:30:46 am.

Another happy customer in Duluth Ga
by Chad W.
Jul 09, 2023 11:27:57 am.

Atlanta this morning to seal a house and do some ridgeguard. Then to Cleveland Ga to seal some carpenter bee holes
by Chad W.
Jul 07, 2023 06:46:37 am.

In Anniston to look a customer’s chimney. I believe he has chimney swifts nesting in the flue pipe. Going to Leeds after that to set some mouse traps. Couple stops in Birmingham for squirrels and rats later today.
by Chris Scott
Jul 05, 2023 09:10:06 am.

Another good day in the critter industry in the south ga region. Time to call it a day.
by Jason Arruda
Jun 28, 2023 05:53:20 pm.

We will be going around removing traps and deodorizing now that we have stopped all critter activity. Love seeing happy customers!
by Brandon C.
Jun 28, 2023 06:41:28 am.

Started off today having to get a new phone. At the end of the day we have more Exclusions lined up. Customers from Williamson Ga to Macon Ga. Also saw some clients in Sharpsburg and Peachtree City.
by Jason Arruda
Jun 27, 2023 04:01:52 pm.

Headed to north ga this morning. Blue Ridge , Young Harris, Hiawassee, and Clayton.
by Chad W.
Jun 21, 2023 06:02:36 am.

Headed to Lilburn Ga for a bat quote
by Chad W.
Jun 20, 2023 01:41:56 pm.

Got a few stops in Albany Ga today.
by Jason Arruda
Jun 20, 2023 10:34:47 am.

Rainy day isn’t going to stop production. Lawrenceville, Tucker, Atlanta.
by Chad W.
Jun 19, 2023 07:15:41 am.

Warm Springs Ga bats, Newnan Ga rats just to start off today.
by Jason Arruda
Jun 15, 2023 11:18:36 am.

Hiawassee, Canton, Cartersville, Alpharetta, Winder. Getting around today
by Chad W.
Jun 13, 2023 02:13:41 pm.

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, Suwanee, Villa Rica, Winston, Woodstock, Young Harris, and everywhere in between.

#opossum #removal #NorthGeorgia

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