Opossums get a bum rap. Often seen as pests and accused of everything from knocking over garbage cans to killing chickens, these quiet marsupials are rarely a threat and easily sent on their way.
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No matter how big or small your outdoor space, you can create a haven for local wildlife. By providing basic needs like water, food and shelter, you can make a difference in your own backyard.
What are common problems and solutions with opossums?
Opossums are often accused, but rarely responsible for getting into garbage cans or gardens. They're certainly game to stop by and clean up the mess left by other wayward critters though! They're also often accused of killing chickens, something that happens very rarely. Most people complain about opossums just being there, rather than for any problems they cause.
Opossum are not aggressive. Their open-mouthed, defensive hissing is merely a bluff to look vicious. And if that doesn’t work, they play dead when really scared. Far from being a nuisance, opossums can be beneficial for your garden by eating snails, slugs, insects and sometimes even small rodents. They’ll even clean up spilled garbage and fruit that has fallen off trees.
If there is an opossum in your backyard, don't worry. They aren’t a threat and more than likely will be moving on in a short while. The best way to keep them from visiting is to have tight-fitting lids on garbage cans and not to leave any pet food outside overnight.
How can I keep opossums out?
The best way to keep opossums from denning under a deck or patio is to make sure they can't get there in the first place by keeping any holes filled.
If you suspect a mother opossum has already moved in, wait until she leaves her den (two hours after dark is generally a safe time). Then, loosely close the opening with netting, straw or other fibrous material. This will ensure that an animal trapped inside can clear the path to escape, but one outside will not disturb the blockage to get back in.
Opossum moms take their kids wherever they go, so there's not much chance that any babies will be left behind. But always check for youngsters before closing the opening. If the hole has not been disturbed for two or three nights, it’s safe to assume that no one is inside and the hole can be properly filled. For permanent exclusion, we recommend putting in an "L" footer.
Every now and then, an opossum will get into a house through a pet door. Encourage them to leave by closing the doors to all rooms and opening the doors to the outside. Opossum are usually not aggressive, so you may be able to help them on their way by gently nudging them with a broom.
Do opossums carry rabies?
People often mistake the open-mouthed hissing and drooling behavior of opossums as a sign of rabies. However, this is just a bluffing behavior that opossums use as a defense mechanism. In fact, rabies is extremely rare in opossums, perhaps because they have a much lower body temperature compared to other warm-blooded animals.
