Animal Rangers, FL Opossum Information - Florida Wildlife Control Services

Opossum Information Sheet
Florida Opossum Removal and Control Services

Trained opossum control and opossum removal experts are needed when a colony of opossums (or possums, as they are more
commonly known) live in an area they shouldn’t be such as a home or business.

How to spot an opossum: When opossums are threatened, they will play dead, which is an involuntary response. When an opossum
becomes unconscious, they excrete a bad-smelling odor and their mouths start to foam. The opossum remains unconscious for
anywhere between 30 minutes to 4 hours. Opossums are about the size of a house hold cat, their nose is pointy and long. They
have very long whiskers on their heads. Their ears are very thin, and they have long prehensile tails. Contrary to popular culture,
opossums do not regularly hang from trees with their tails. Opossum feet are perfect for climbing. Opossum toes, except the
opposable thumb on the hind foot have claws.

Where are opossums found? Opossums are found in a large varied number of environments, from the suburbs and urban areas to
forest environments. Opossums tend to raid garbage and garbage cans and be a pest in urban and suburban areas. The usually
spend the daylight house resting in nooks in trees, or hollow logs, and they even burrow underground to create homes. Opossums
eat practically anything, which is why it’s important to keep a handle on garbage and other edible refuse around your home and
property to prevent opossum infestation.

Opossum reproduction and breeding: Opossums are a rare animal in that they are marsupials, like kangaroos, and hold their young
in a pouch. Female opossums can have up to 10 offspring.

Ways to deter and prevent opossums:

•        Don’t leave out food or make food readily available outside, including pet food.
•        Don’t’ leave openings to the house, garage, or any other structure on the property uncovered.
•        If you have fruit-bearing trees on your property, be sure to collect the fruit that has fallen on the ground regularly.
•        Cover all garbage cans and waste bins at night time.
•        If there are structures in the property such as wood piles, or brush piles, be sure to clear them as soon as possible.

Important to note is the incidents of rabies in possums are extremely low. However, it is possible for an opossum to contract the
rabies virus, it is believed that the body temperature of an opossum is too low to sustain the virus for a prolonged period of time.
Additionally, the possum can carry fleas, ticks, and other parasites that can be transmitted to household pets.

Opossums can make their homes underneath houses or structures such as sheds. Safe, humane removal of opossums should be
done by a trained opossum removal and opossum control specialist.

Possum prevention is also important, as our trained professionals will examine the property and cover holes, tunnels, or nooks in
the land or structures which could harbor future colonies of possums.