Problems Caused By Opossums Are Greater Than You Think
Problems caused by opossums are many. Opossums, also known as possums, are marsupials that are native to North and South America. They are known for their unique physical characteristics, such as their hairless tail and opposable thumbs, but they are also notorious for causing problems for homeowners in Henrico, Richmond, Midlothian, Glen Allen and Charlottesville Virginia. In this blog, we will discuss some of the problems that opossums can cause for homeowners and how to get rid of them.
Property Damage Caused By Opossums
Opossums are notorious for causing property damage. They can dig through trash cans, tear up gardens, and even damage the structure of a home. They are particularly fond of attics and crawl spaces, where they can build nests and cause significant damage to insulation, wires, and other structural elements.
One of the best ways to prevent property damage from opossums is to eliminate the factors that attract them to your property in the first place. Make sure that your trash cans are secure, and avoid leaving pet food outside overnight. You can also install barriers, such as mesh or wire fencing, to keep opossums from digging in your garden or accessing your home.
Health Risks From Opossums
Opossums can also pose a health risk to homeowners. They are known carriers of several diseases, including leptospirosis, tuberculosis, and salmonella. They can also transmit fleas and ticks to pets, which can cause further health problems.
To minimize the health risks associated with opossums, it is important to avoid direct contact with them. If you do encounter an opossum at your Central Virginia home or business, do not attempt to touch or handle it. Instead, contact a professional wildlife removal service like us to handle the situation.
Noise And Disturbance Caused By Opossums
Opossums are nocturnal animals, which means that they are most active at night. If an opossum has taken up residence in the attic or crawl space of your Henrico, Glen Allen, Richmond, Midlothian or Charlottesville Virginia home, you may hear scratching, rustling, and other noises that can be quite disruptive.
To address noise and disturbance caused by opossums, it is important to identify the source of the problem. If an opossum has taken up residence in your attic or crawl space, you will need to take steps to remove it. This may involve setting traps or using repellents to encourage the opossum to leave your property.
Odors And Messes Caused By Opossums
Opossums are not particularly clean animals, and they can leave behind quite a mess. They may defecate and urinate in and around your home, leaving behind unpleasant odors and stains.
To address odors and mess caused by opossums, it is important to clean up any messes as soon as possible. Use a disinfectant to kill any bacteria or other harmful organisms that may be present. You can also use odor-neutralizing products to eliminate any unpleasant smells.
Pest Control For Opossums
Opossums are not the only pests that can cause problems for homeowners and businesses. They can also attract other pests, such as rats and raccoons, that can cause further damage to your property.
To address pest control issues caused by opossums, it is important to take a proactive approach to pest management. This may involve using traps, repellents, or other pest control methods to eliminate opossums and other pests from your property.
Humane Opossum Removal
If you need to remove opossums from your property, it’s important to do so in a humane and effective way. Here are some steps you can take:
- Identify the problem: Before you can start removing opossums, you need to know where they are and what they’re doing. Look for signs of damage, such as chewed wiring or insulation, or listen for noises at night.
- Seal up entry points: Once you’ve identified the opossum’s location, you need to seal up any entry points to your home or property to prevent further access. Caution: Make sure that all of the opossums have been removed before sealing any entry point. Trapping animals inside a home could lead to you requiring dead animal removal services.
- Use humane traps: Live traps are the most effective and humane way to remove opossums from your property. You can purchase or rent these traps from many hardware or home improvement stores. When setting traps, it’s important to use appropriate bait, such as fruit or peanut butter, and to check the traps frequently to ensure that the opossum is released in a timely manner – It is against the law in Virginia for unlicensed people to transport wildlife and no one is allowed to relocate opossums.
- Call a professional: If you’re not comfortable trapping and removing opossums on your own, or if the problem is particularly severe, you may want to consider calling a professional wildlife removal service like us. We are professionals who have the expertise and equipment to safely and humanely remove opossums from your property.
Conclusion
Opossums can cause a variety of problems for homeowners, from property damage to health risks. To address these issues, it is important to take a proactive approach to pest management. This may involve eliminating factors that attract opossums to your property, setting traps or using repellents to remove them from your property, and taking steps to prevent them from returning in the future. If you are experiencing problems with opossums or other pests, contact our professional wildlife removal service at (804) 457-2883.
You can find additional information on how to get rid of opossums from our sister website.