Should I Be Scared of Opossums on My Property?

Posted on April 24, 2025 by modernwild

Few things make homeowners more uneasy than unexpected wildlife appearances around their property. Opossums, with their nocturnal habits, sharp teeth, and rat-like tails, are creatures that often invoke fear due to common misconceptions. Are they dangerous to your family or pets? Do they wreak havoc on gardens or homes? Should you take action if you notice one nearby?

This blog aims to address these questions with facts and insights, helping you understand opossums better. We’ll explore their behavior, assess the risks and benefits, and share safety measures to keep your property opossum-free. Whether you’re dealing with unwanted opossum visitors or simply seeking peace of mind, read on for expert advice tailored to homeowners, pet owners, and gardeners in the Greater Indiana area.

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Opossum Behavior: What Are They Really Like?

The opossum, North America’s only marsupial, is often misunderstood. They’re not aggressive predators or a plague on property. Instead, their behaviors reveal a far more docile and curious side.

Diet: Opossums are opportunistic omnivores who enjoy a varied diet. They feed on insects, small rodents, fruits, plants, and even carrion. By consuming pests like ticks and cockroaches, they contribute to natural pest control.
Habits: These nocturnal creatures are expert scavengers. They explore neighborhoods at night, often attracted to unsecured trash, pet food, or gardens.
Hiding Spaces: Opossums seek shelter in safe, dark areas like crawl spaces, attics, or under decks. Being excellent climbers and swimmers, they can even use tree branches to access roofs.
Unique Trait: One of their hallmark defense mechanisms is “playing possum”—faking death with an open mouth and a foul smell to deter predators.

Now that we understand their habits, the question is whether they pose any real threats to homeowners.

Risks vs. Benefits of Having Opossums Nearby

Opossums, like any wildlife, come with risks and benefits. Here’s a breakdown to help you weigh your concerns.

Potential Risks of Opossums

Health Concerns: While opossums are less prone to carrying diseases than many think, they can still transmit parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites, which may affect pets or other animals.
Property Damage: Opossums could burrow under porches or gnaw certain materials when searching for shelter, though they’re generally less destructive than raccoons or squirrels.
Startling Pets: If confronted, opossums are more likely to hiss or play dead than attack, but protective pets may become aggressive during sudden encounters.

Benefits of Opossums

Pest Control: This is the opossum’s biggest benefit. They prey on unwanted pests such as slugs, ticks, and even snakes, helping reduce infestations naturally.
Non-Aggressiveness: Contrary to popular belief, opossums are docile animals. They pose little threat unless cornered or provoked.
Ecological Balance: Opossums help clean up their environment by consuming decaying matter, maintaining a healthier ecosystem.

While the risks are minimal with proper precautions, the next step is to create a safe environment for both your family and the neighborhood critters.

Safe and Simple Measures to Deter Opossums

Not keen on sharing your property with opossums? Here are actionable steps to ensure your space is less appealing to them:

Secure Trash Bins: Use tight-fitting lids on garbage cans to minimize food odors that attract scavengers.
Remove Food Sources: Avoid leaving pet food outside overnight. Clean up fallen fruit, bird seed, and compost scrapes from your yard.
Declutter Your Yard: Clear away piles of wood, leaves, or overgrown vegetation where opossums could find shelter.
Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for gaps under porches, crawl spaces, and roof eaves. Use metal mesh or boarding to block access.
Install Motion-Activated Lights: Bright lights can act as a natural opossum repellent, as they prefer dark, quiet areas.
Fence Your Garden: Protect plants with sturdy fences to prevent opossums from feasting on your veggies or flowers.
Trim Tree Branches: Prevent roof access by cutting branches that overhang or touch your home.
Consider Commercial Repellents: Eco-friendly repellent sprays can help keep opossums away from specific areas.
Keep Pets Inside: Minimizing pet-opossum interactions, especially at night, reduces potential risks of hissing or startling encounters.

These measures not only deter opossums but also optimize your property for general wildlife control.

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Professional Opossum Control for Long-Term Solutions

If opossums are becoming a recurring issue or if you’ve already spotted one stashed in your attic, hiring a professional wildlife removal and control service is your best option. Here’s why it pays to trust trained experts like our team in the Greater Indiana area:

Humane Practices: Professionals use ethical trapping and relocation techniques to ensure the opossums are unharmed.
Expert Knowledge: Local rules and regulations guide the responsible handling of wildlife, avoiding legal complications.
Comprehensive Solutions: Beyond removal, pros address root causes, offering animal-proofing to prevent future issues.
Specialized Equipment: Tools designed for safe wildlife handling improve both effectiveness and safety.
Experience Across Species: Wildlife professionals can assist with other critters, like raccoons, squirrels, and skunks.
Peace of Mind: Enjoy the certainty that your home is protected by trained experts who understand your concerns.

Investing in wildlife control ensures your property remains safe, clean, and comfortable for you and your family.

FAQs About Opossum Infestations

If you’re dealing with an opossum infestation, you may have some questions about these unique creatures. Here are a few frequently asked questions and their answers:

What Attracts Opossums to My Property?

Opossums are commonly attracted to areas with easy access to food, such as gardens, trash cans, pet food bowls, and compost piles. They also seek shelter in dark and secluded spaces like attics or crawl spaces.

Are Opossums Dangerous?

While opossums can appear intimidating due to their size and sharp teeth, they are not inherently dangerous animals. They typically only become aggressive if they feel threatened or cornered. However, they can carry various diseases and parasites that may be harmful to humans and pets.

How Can I Get Rid of Opossums?

There are several humane ways to deter opossums from your property. These include removing any potential food sources, securing trash cans, fencing off gardens, using motion-activated lights or sprinklers, and sealing entry points into your home. It’s important to note that trapping and relocating opossums is not recommended as it may cause harm or stress to the animal.

What Should I Do If I Find an Injured Opossum?

If you come across an injured opossum, it’s best to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. Attempting to handle or treat the opossum yourself may result in further harm to the animal, as they can become aggressive when injured.

In Summary

Despite their bad reputation, opossums play an important role in our ecosystem. These fascinating marsupials with their prehensile tails and pest-eating appetites aren’t inherently dangerous. However, a hands-off approach mixed with basic property maintenance can keep them in their natural habitat where they belong.

If opossum activity around your Indianapolis home persists, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Contact Modern Wildlife Control for expert opossum removal and ensure your home is nuisance-free and future-ready. Our dedicated team specializes in humane animal removal and animal-proofing solutions tailored to the Greater Indiana area.

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Keeping Your Home Safe: Effective Opossum Removal and Control Tips

Posted on June 26, 2024 by modernwild

Have you noticed strange noises in your attic at night or found overturned trash cans in the morning? You might be dealing with an opossum infestation. With their increasing presence in residential areas, opossums are becoming a nuisance for many homeowners. This blog post will guide you through understanding these nocturnal creatures and offer effective opossum removal and control tips to protect your home.

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Understanding Opossum Behavior

Opossums are attracted to homes primarily because they offer abundant food and shelter. These omnivorous creatures have a keen sense of smell and can detect food sources easily. They are particularly drawn to pet food, garbage, and leftover fruits and vegetables in gardens. Understanding why they are attracted to your home is the first step in managing an opossum infestation.

Opossums are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. They are excellent climbers and can access your home through roofs, attics, and any small openings. During the day, they seek shelter in dark, quiet places like basements, attics, or even under decks. Recognizing their behavior patterns can help you identify and tackle an infestation effectively.

These creatures are generally non-aggressive and prefer to avoid confrontation. However, when threatened, they may hiss or bare their teeth. By understanding their behavior, you can implement effective measures to keep them at bay.

Signs of Opossum Infestation

Identifying an opossum infestation early can save you from significant property damage and health risks. Recognizing these signs can help you take swift action to control the infestation before it escalates:

Noises at Night: Scratching, hissing, or thumping sounds in your attic or walls during nighttime can indicate opossum activity.
Foul Odors: Opossums leave droppings that emit a strong, unpleasant odor. If you notice a foul smell around your home, it could be due to an opossum infestation.
Damaged Trash Bins: Opossums often raid garbage cans for food. If you find your bins overturned and garbage strewn around, an opossum might be responsible.

The Dangers of Opossums

Opossums pose several risks to homeowners, including health hazards and property damage. Understanding these dangers can emphasize the importance of timely opossum removal. Opossums can carry various diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, and toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted to humans and pets. Their droppings and urine can contaminate surfaces and pose serious health risks. Additionally, opossums may host parasites like fleas and ticks, further increasing the risk of disease transmission.

Apart from health risks, opossums can cause significant property damage. They can chew through insulation, wiring, and wood, leading to costly repairs. Their nesting habits can also damage gardens and landscaping. Being aware of these dangers highlights the need for effective opossum control measures.

Effective Opossum Removal Methods

Dealing with an opossum infestation requires a combination of DIY methods and professional services. Here are some effective removal techniques:

Live Traps: Setting up live traps is a humane way to capture and relocate opossums. Bait the trap with fruits or pet food and place it in areas where you’ve noticed opossum activity. Once captured, release the opossum far from your home to prevent it from returning.

Repellents: Opossum repellents are available in various forms, including sprays and granules. These products contain ingredients that opossums find unpleasant, deterring them from entering your property. Apply repellents around entry points and areas of activity for best results.

Professional Services: If DIY methods prove ineffective, consider hiring professional opossum control services. Experts have the knowledge and tools to remove opossums safely and provide long-term solutions to prevent future infestations. Combining these methods can help you effectively manage opossum infestations and keep your home safe.

Opossum Prevention Tips

Preventing opossum activity and tampering is crucial to maintaining a safe and pest-free home. Implementing these preventive measures can help you create an environment that is less inviting to opossums and reduce the likelihood of an infestation:

Secure Trash Bins: Ensure your garbage cans have tight-fitting lids to prevent opossums from accessing food. Store bins in a secure location, such as a garage or shed, to further reduce the risk of raids.
Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for any gaps or openings that opossums can use to enter. Seal these entry points with materials like steel wool or caulking. Pay special attention to areas around vents, chimneys, and roof eaves.
Remove Attractive Food Sources: Avoid leaving pet food or bird feeders outside overnight. Keep your garden free of fallen fruits and vegetables, and compost bins should be well-sealed to prevent attracting opossums.

Conclusion

Ensuring a safe and pest-free home requires understanding the behavior of nuisance opossums, recognizing the signs of infestations, and implementing effective removal and prevention methods. By taking proactive measures, you can protect your property and health from the dangers posed by these nocturnal creatures.

If you’re dealing with an opossum infestation or want to learn more about keeping your home safe, don’t hesitate to reach out to our professional pest control services. Contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for licensed and insured opossum removal services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients.

A Homeowner’s Guide to Controlling Opossums Effectively

Posted on January 5, 2024 by modernwild

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on controlling opossums effectively, designed primarily for homeowners who seek humane and efficient solutions. This blog aims to provide you with practical steps and methods for opossum removal and control. Here, we will introduce you to various opossum repellents and elucidate their effective use.

By the end of this guide, you will be well-equipped to handle the opossum issue on your property with confidence and knowledge. Whether you’re dealing with a nocturnal visit from a single opossum or a whole family, stay tuned to learn how to take back your space wisely.

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The 101 on Getting Rid of Opossums

Before we delve into controlling these marsupials, it’s essential to understand their behavior and habits. Opossums are opportunistic creatures that often take advantage of food sources near human dwellings. With a diet ranging from insects to garbage, opossums are attracted to homes with easy access to food and shelter. The presence of an opossum in your yard or attic could cause damage to plants and property.

Additionally, they can also carry diseases that pose a threat to both humans and pets. Although opossums are not well known to carry Rabies, they can contract and spread other diseases and parasites to people and pets, such as ticks, fleas, and roundworms. Therefore, it’s crucial to take steps for opossum control once you spot them on your property.

Opossum Removal

The first step towards controlling opossums is eliminating whatever it is that attracts them. Regularly secure all garbage cans and remove fallen fruits and nuts from the ground. Keep your lawn trimmed, and any potential entry points, such as holes in fences or gaps in walls, should be sealed off.

If you discover an opossum den on your property, the best approach is to seek professional help. Opossums can be aggressive when cornered, and attempting to remove them yourself could result in injury. Wildlife experts have the experience and equipment to remove opossums safely and humanely.

Opossum Control

If you’re dealing with a recurring opossum problem, consider using repellents to deter them. There are various natural and commercial opossum repellents available on the market. Some common ones include predator urine, ammonia-soaked rags, or cayenne pepper spray. These repellents work by creating a scent or taste that opossums find unpleasant, causing them to avoid the area.

It’s essential to follow the instructions carefully when using any repellent, as some may be harmful to humans and pets if not used correctly. Additionally, remember that repellents are only effective for short periods and need regular reapplication.

When to Hire a Licensed Wildlife Control Company for Help

If you’ve tried various control methods, but the opossums keep coming back, it may be time to call in the professionals. A licensed and insured wildlife control company can help identify and seal off any potential entry points into your home or property, preventing future opossum infestations. They can also provide long-term solutions for deterring opossums from your yard, such as installing motion-activated sprinklers or ultrasonic devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, controlling opossums effectively requires a combination of prevention, removal, and deterrence methods. By taking the necessary steps to eliminate potential attractants and using repellents correctly, you can successfully keep opossums away from your property. And if all else fails, don’t hesitate to seek professional help for a long-term solution. Remember, by practicing humane and responsible opossum control, you’re not only protecting yourself and your property but also these misunderstood creatures. So, be vigilant and take the necessary steps to keep your home critter-free.

Keep in mind that removing opossums is only half the battle; it’s also crucial to take steps to prevent future infestations. Contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for safe and effective animal trapping and removal services for opossums in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial customers.

Understanding the Behavior of Opossums in the Wild

Posted on May 8, 2023 by modernwild

Opossums are one of the most misunderstood animals in North America. Despite their reputation for being aggressive and destructive, these curious creatures are actually quite harmless and can be a great asset to any backyard habitat. But if you’re looking to get up close and personal with an opossum, it’s important to understand their behavior so that you don’t accidentally startle them or put yourself at risk.

In this blog post, we will explore the behavior of opossums in the wild, including why they play dead when threatened and how they interact with other wildlife. We’ll also discuss some tips for humanely removing opossums from your property if necessary. By understanding more about these fascinating omnivores, we can all work together towards creating a safe environment for everyone!

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Top Opossum Facts You Want to Know!

Opossums are Active From Dusk to Dawn

Opossums are nocturnal animals, which means they’re most active at night. During the day, they spend their time in burrows or dens made of leaves and twigs. At night, they come out in search of food, including insects, fruits, and small rodents. Opossums can also be very territorial when it comes to foraging for food and will fiercely defend an area if needed.

Possums Play Dead

When threatened by a predator or feeling cornered, opossums will often play dead as a defense mechanism. This behavior is known as “playing ‘possum” and is actually quite effective in scaring away potential predators. It involves lying motionless on the ground with eyes closed while emitting a foul smell. This will usually make the predator think the opossum is dead and cause it to flee.

Opossums Reproduce Quickly

Opossums are also unique in that they have one of the shortest gestation periods of any mammal: as little as 12 days! Female opossums carry their young for about two months before giving birth to an average litter size of eight babies. These tiny bundles of fur will cling to their mother’s back until they’re big enough to explore on their own.

Opossums are Usually Solitary

When it comes to interacting with other wildlife, opossums generally keep to themselves. However, if food sources become scarce or competition is fierce, they may be more likely to fight with neighboring animals such as raccoons or even small dogs.

Opossums Do Not Carry Rabies

Contrary to popular belief, opossums are rarely carriers of the Rabies Virus. However, they can still spread other infectious diseases and parasites. These include Leptospirosis, fleas, Lyme disease, ticks, and cocido19 to both humans and animals. Furthermore, their saliva is known to contain a variety of pathogens which can cause skin infection in people with weakened immune systems. Though fortunately human illnesses from these creatures are comparatively rare. The opossum does help maintain healthy ecosystems by feeding on unhelpful insects as well ticks and snails that could otherwise spread illness.

Professional Opossum Removal and Control is Essential

If you find that an opossum has taken up residence on your property, it’s important to remember they are a protected species and must not be harmed in any way. The best option is usually to employ humane methods of removal by contacting a licensed wildlife control company. Once the animal is removed, make sure to close off any potential entry points around the house so that no other opossums can get in.

Conclusion

By understanding more about the behavior of opossums in the wild, we can work together towards creating a safe environment for these fascinating animals and their human neighbors. With a little bit of knowledge and patience, everyone can co-exist peacefully!

Are you dealing with frequent possum visitors to your property? Act now before they can cause any damage or pose any threat! Contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for safe and effective opossum removal and control in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our wildlife removal services are humane, effective, and available for both residential and commercial clients.

Best Strategies to Get Rid of Opossums Around Your Property

Posted on September 22, 2022 by modernwild

Opossums are an interesting species of nuisance while here in the central Indiana regions. As omnivores, opossums eat everything that we eat and plus some. From insects and grubs to fruits, vegetables, plants, roots, pet food, garbage, and even rodents, your property likely has many desirable amenities favored by these nocturnal mammals.

If you are spotting opossums around your property at night, it is important that you take action soon. The quicker you put a stop to nuisance opossum activity, the easier it’ll be to clean up any mess they cause and repair any damage they do. And yes, opossums are very messy and destructive. There are sites like mites, fleas, and ticks.

Continue reading to learn the best strategies to get rid of opossums around your property.

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Opossum Control Strategies for Homeowners and Businesses

Whether you’re a homeowner or business, these opossum control strategies will be effective at debating any nuisance tampering or activity around your property. These strategies are safe and humane and can be accomplished all on your own. If these opossum abatement methods turn out to be unsuccessful for you, contact a licensed and insured Indianapolis wildlife removal company for professional opossum control services.

Protect Your Gardens

Opossums love anything you grow in your garden. Although there are a few exceptions to this rule, such as menthol and hot peppers, opossums will go after anything edible and accessible to them. Gardens are the perfect target. If you’ve noticed that your gardens have been pillaged every night, it is likely opossums. If you’ve seen them with your very own eyes, crossing your patio or walking along your backyard fence, it is definitely opossums. The best way to protect your gardens is to stay on top of routine harvesting. As soon as fruits and vegetables are just about right, harvest them so that there is nothing ripe and ready to eat for opossums and others nuisance. Many people tried to install chicken wire fencing around the gardens, but opossums can climb over these and dig underneath them.

Remove All Other Food Sources

What else do you have in your property that’s edible? Bowls of pet food or water? Birdseed? Squirrel feed? Livestock feed? Uncapped garbage cans? Compost piles? There are many things that opossums will eat. They will even eat dead and decaying animals. If you remove all of these edible amenities on your property, opossums will have no reason to come there. They’ll eventually move on to another area where food is more readily available.

Environmental Modifications

Possums are great climbers, and they will use trees and tree limbs to access other areas of your property. By staying on top of routine tree care service, like tree trimming and tree pruning, you can stop opossums from accessing your roof and upper deck areas by means of tree walking. This will also protect your roofing, gutters, downspouts, siding, decking, and more.

Chimney Caps and Vent Covers

As mentioned, opossums are great climbers, so they commonly accessed roofs, which leads to intrusions in attics and chimneys. It is also common to find opossums nesting in wall voids and crawlspaces. To avoid this possibility, install a quality animal proof chimney cap, plus a series of vent covers for the dryer vent, attic vent, roof vent, and more.

Professional opossum removal and control services are the best solution for possum problems. If you’re still having trouble with nuisance opossums, contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for safe and effective animal trapping and removal services for opossums. We serve residential and commercial clients in Indianapolis and all throughout Central Indiana.

Are Opossums a Critter Control Problem in the Fall and Winter?

Posted on November 22, 2021 by modernwild

Winter is a mere four weeks away, so you may be relieved to know that many of the pests and local animal populations are taking shelter for the season, thus giving your property a break from animal intrusion and tampering. But what about opossums? Are they active during the fall and winter? Do you need to animal proof your property against nuisance opossums?

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about opossum control in the fall and winter, including who to call for emergency critter removal services for opossums in Indianapolis.

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Basic Facts About Opossums

Opossums are marsupial critters that prefer the dusk and evening hours rather than the brighter light of day. For this reason, you will usually spot them out just after the sun sets, or in the midst of the night when all others are asleep. Aside from being crepuscular in nature, opossums are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and meat. They are also nomadic, preferring to wander from habitat to habitat in search of better and more reliable food sources. If you see opossums on your property, they are likely searching for new shelter and an abundant source of food.

Opossums are Active All Year Long

Opossums do not hibernate, so you can expect them to still be active in the Fall and winter season. Although they are less active than warmer seasons of the year, they can still post nuisance animal threats to your property just the same. Opossums can do a lot of damage to lawns, gardens, and structures, plus pose infectious parasites like lice and mites. Although they are not predominant carriers of the Rabies virus, all other diseases and threats posed by opossums are reason enough to keep them away all year long.

How to Get Rid of Opossums

Opossums are opportunistic scavengers and will go to great lengths to access any food source on your property. This includes garbage, pet food, compost, and literally anything else edible. As for shelter, they tend to gravitate toward warn and secluded places, like underneath porches, in hollowed trees, amidst large bushes, or in garages and sheds.

To get rid of nuisance opossum, you must first eliminate all points of interest that attract them to your property. Secure your garbage lids, remove or secure pet and livestock feed, and seal up all accessible areas to places they might want to nest.

Also, opossums are incredible climbers, so trimming back large tree branches hanging over your roof and fence line is another effective approach to opossum abatement. This may seem like a big project, in which case you would want to hire a professional Indianapolis critter control company for opossum removal services.

Do you have a nuisance opossum problem on your property? Contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for safe and effective animal trapping and removal services for opossums in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Why Opossums are a Threat to Your Property

Posted on January 12, 2021 by modernwild

They might look goofy and walk slow, but make no mistake. Opossums are a threat to your property, whether it be a residence or commercial building. Continue reading to learn why these nuisance animals we colloquially refer to as “possums” are too much of a risk to have around, and what you need to do to prevent opossum intrusions around your home or business.

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Opossum Diseases

Opossums are known to be among the filthiest nuisance critter because they scavenge for food, will eat practically anything, and pillage garbage on the regular. However, possums are not just dirty and unhygienic, they are also common carriers of several infectious diseases and illnesses that can be transmitted to both people and pets. The most dangerous disease that opossums can possibly carry and transmit is the Rabies Virus, which there is no cure for once contracted, whether person or animal. Other common opossum diseases include fleas, ticks, parasites, bacterial infections from bites, and more.

Opossums are Destructive

The threat of disease is serious, but it is not as likely to be harmed by an opossum (person or pet) than it is to have your property destroyed by them. Nuisance opossums are a nuisance because they are highly destructive. They have long claws that are sharp, which allow them to be agile climbers. Their climbing ability allows them to get high into the trees, and access power lines, roofs, gutters, attics, and more. Once there, they cause a massive amount of structural damage.

In addition to being great climbers, opossums are also avid diggers, and they will use their long, sharp claws to tear up lawns, gardens, flowerbeds, and mulch beds. But freshly laid sod is their favorite. As an omnivorous species, which means they eat both plant and animal matter, they often scavenge trashcans and pet food storage, causing an infuriating mess to clean up in the morning.

Where They Like to Hide

Most often, you can find opossums strolling around dumpsters and garbage cans, where they will take shelter somewhere nearby. They are often found in attics, or under porches and decks, usually in a litter of three or more. In nature, they use hollowed trees or old animal dens as shelter.

As nocturnal animals, they are active at night, making it more difficult to catch them in the act. That is why you need safe and humane Indianapolis opossum control. It will ensure your home is protected from nuisance opossum damage, as well as damages from other nuisance animals in Indiana.

Indianapolis Opossum Removal and Control Services in Indianapolis

Call Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for professional opossum control in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Not only do we get rid of opossums, but we offer cleanup and restoration work for animal damages. Our specialists have more than 10 years of hands-on experience and retain the latest technologies and innovative resources to safely and humanely manage any opossum removal job, regardless of size or scope. Start with a free estimate or advice, today!

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Tips for Controlling Nuisance Opossums Around Your Property

Posted on August 5, 2020 by modernwild

Although opossum can offer some benefits in terms of garbage and insect control, they can also be quite the pest. These unappealing nocturnal animals are known for causing loads of destruction to both residential and commercial properties. Not only can these critters be highly destructive to homes, buildings, and landscapes, they can also pose several different health risks.

Continue reading to learn more about nuisance opossum activity, and what you can do to put a stop to it on your property.

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Opossums Carry Disease and Mites

Opossum are not known carriers of common canine and feline diseases, but they can infect domestic pets and humans with many others. The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Department states, “Opossum carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice.”

As if disease and safety risks are not enough to want to keep opossum off of your property, these nocturnal animals also cause a long list of structural damages to lawns, gardens, patios, porches, decks, crawl spaces, and more. These damages can happen overnight, and cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to repair.

What You Need to Do to Get Rid of Opossums For Good

Preventative maintenance is the best way to protect your property from opossum damage. This includes making certain environmental modifications to reduce your home’s attractiveness to nuisance wildlife. To start, remove all outdoor food and water sources (i.e. bird baths, pet food, water bowls, garbage cans, compost piles, etc.). When it comes to garbage, always be sure to take yours out on the day of trash pickup.

You can also use predator urine, opossum repellents (non-toxic ones only please), motion lighting, or electronic sound machines to scare opossum away. If you have a garden with fruits and vegetables, be sure to pick when ripe to avoid attracting hungry opossum at night. Rotten fruit will attract nuisance wildlife, as well as a swarm of insects and other pests.

After making all of your needed environmental modifications, you can step it up by having your home inspected for holes, openings, and gaps that nuisance wildlife can use to get inside. This includes pet doors, trash shoots, dumbwaiters, and chimneys. A licensed Indianapolis wildlife removal and control company can provide this service for you.

It is important to seal up any openings under slabs, in siding, on roofs, in the foundation and more. You can remove hiding spots yourself too, such as brush piles, log piles, dilapidated sheds, abandoned vehicles, fallen trees, and more. A wildlife removal and control company can help you with all of this.

What to Do if You See One

NEVER attempt to touch, trap, harm, or kill an opossum. If you discover one on your property, you’re your pets indoors until it goes away. If opossum continue to come back night after night after you have implemented all of the necessary property changes, OR you discover one in your home, immediately contact a licensed wildlife control company for emergency service. They have the proper permits, training, and experience to provide safe, non-lethal opossum removal that adheres to the state and federal laws that govern wildlife.

Where to Get Humane Opossum Control in Indianapolis, Indiana

Call Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 when you need fast and affordable opossum removal and control services in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Our DNR licensed and insured wildlife rescue and removal professionals offer non-lethal wildlife control services for residential and commercial properties. We work with all species of Indiana wildlife, but specialize in raccoons, bats, birds, and squirrels. We also offer cleanup services and restoration and repair for animal damages, and can even provide insurance claim work. Start with a free estimate or advice, today!