They are usually active only at night.

Customer Opossum Email: Hi David, I have possum (plural?) that are destroying the foundation of my house. I saw one twice, but I think I may also have rats. I have tried everything with the exception of standing outside with a gun. (And I’m a pacifist.) Okay, I haven’t tried trapping them either, because I don’t know what I’d do if I caught one. I tried the moth balls, and it seemed to have worked for about a week, but last night I heard someone was back. It doesn’t seem to matter what I block the holes with-they dig under & around it. They have ripped out pipes underground, and can get in the tiniest spaces, but I’m sure you know all that. How would you get rid of them? Can you make sure they won’t come back? Will it cost an arm & a leg? Any info you can get me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much. Lisa

My Answer: I would get rid of them via trapping and removal, if you can't find a way to install a thick steel fence by the foundation of the house to prevent the digging.

If you need wildlife control services in your hometown, click for the National Directory of Wildlife Trappers that I've carefully compiled in every US city.

Click to go back to my full opossum removal photo gallery. Visit my opossum removal journal blog! Lots of great opossum stories!

The opossum, also commonly called the possum, is actually named the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), and it is the only marsupial native to North America. Possums have several unique traits. Most people know that they sometimes "play possum" which is a form of playing dead, and they also know that opossums can hang from their tails. But possums are unique in many other ways - they have a low body temperature that prevents many viruses and diseases from affecting them, that tail is prehensile (they can grip things with it) they have opposable thumbs, and they have 50 teeth, the most of any land mammal. They are very opportunistic and good climbers, which causes them to commonly break into decks, sheds, and attics, where they cause considerable damage, leave a lot of droppings, and they often die and stink in these areas. Thus, opossums are considered pest animals by many people, which is why I remove them. If you want to learn more, please read my How To Get Rid of Opossums page.

AAAnimal Control is a privately owned wildlife removal and pest control business, located in Orlando Florida. I deal strictly with wild animals. I am not an extermination company, but a critter removal and control specialist. The above photos are some of the many that I've taken in the field over my years of work. Please email me if you have any questions about the above photographs, or any questions about wildlife problems or opossum control issues.

Wildlife Photographs by David     Email me with questions: david@aaanimalcontrol.com     Residential & Commercial     Licensed & Insured