Keeping Your Home Safe: Effective Opossum Removal and Control Tips

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.

Call 317-847-6409  For Opossum Control Service in Indianapolis Indiana
Call 317-847-6409 For Opossum Control Service in Indianapolis Indiana

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.

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A Homeowner’s Guide to Controlling Opossums Effectively
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Why Opossums are a Threat to Your Property

A Homeowner’s Guide to Controlling Opossums Effectively

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.

Call 317-847-6409  For Opossum Removal Service in Indianapolis Indiana
Call 317-847-6409 For Opossum Removal Service in Indianapolis Indiana

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.

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Understanding the Behavior of Opossums in the Wild
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Understanding the Behavior of Opossums in the Wild

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!

Call 317-847-6409  for Opossum Removal in Indianapolis Indiana
Call 317-847-6409 for Opossum Removal in Indianapolis Indiana

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.

Related Posts:

Best Strategies to Get Rid of Opossums Around Your Property
Are Opossums a Critter Control Problem in the Fall and Winter?
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Why Opossums are a Threat to Your Property

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.

Indianapolis Opossum Control 317-847-6409
Indianapolis Opossum Control 317-847-6409

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!

Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis, Indiana
Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis, Indiana