Opossums are threatened by plastic owls.

Customer Opossum Email: I have had possum problems in the past, and I suspect that the poop I'm finding on my lawn is from a possum. Stinky! I have used cat and dog repellent to discourage the behavior, but I don't think that it is working, as I have found poop since applying the stuff. It is not coming from a dog, as the lawn area is completely fenced and gated, and there are no marks on the gates indicating that an animal is scaling the gates to get into the lawn area. I don't think it is from a cat, because it looks and smells different than cat poop. So, only critter left is a possum, and we have them in droves here in So. Cal. Any suggestions for discouraging the behavior? Thanks. Beth Cypress CA

My Answer: You can't really keep a wild opossum from pooping on your lawn, unless you want to start a program of trapping and removing the offending culprits. It might only be one or two animals.

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