Problems with opossums
 Opossums are nocturnal, needing a quiet and dark place during the daytime. They are attracted by pet food, ripe fruit, water and snails. They are generally not destructive or predatory. They are usually solitary. They are marsupials, carrying their babies in a pouch, often not making a nest until the babies are several months old. Their breeding season begins in February and can go through November. Opossums can have 3 litters a year. Litters average about 8 young, but can be up to 13.
Opossums may "play dead" when startled or confronted; they may lay there for up to an hour before coming to and scurrying away.
It is not good to feed opossums, either intentionally or unintentionally. Don't leave pet food outside at night, keep ripe fruit picked, and keep garbage cans securely covered. |
Under house
Find the entrance, usually a loose vent cover. Wait until the opossum comes out, then securely close the hole. Make sure there are no babies still under the house. If there are babies under the house, allow the babies to mature until they are old enough to join the mother outside, then close the opening when they have left. Sprinkle flour or cornstarch on the ground around the opening so you can more easily check for footprints to see if the opossum has come out. Put lights and a radio in the space during the day to make the area uncomfortable. |
In attic
Find the entrance, usually a loose vent cover. Wait until the opossum comes out, then securely close the hole. Make sure there are no babies still in the attic. If there are babies in the attic, allow the babies to mature until they are old enough to join the mother outside, then close the opening when they have left. Leave the hole open and make the area unpleasant by lights and noise. The mother will move her babies to another nest site and you can then safely close the hole. Wrap metal guards, 18" or wider, around tree trunks five or six feet above the ground to keep opossums from climbing trees to get to rooftops. Put lights and a radio in the space during the day to make the area uncomfortable. |
Eating pet food
Don't leave pet food outside at night. Feed pets indoors or put food outside only during the daytime. |
Coming in house
Close the door. If coming in through pet door, close the pet door (hopefully keeping the cat indoors). |
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