While largely docile and most likely looking for food and shelter, opossums can actually cause significant stress to your Auburndale home or business and to those who dwell within. That’s because many who notice the critters taking up space around or inside their home or office will ignore the problem because of the critter’s peaceful nature. However, a family of opossum can grow significantly and cause a great deal of damage in a short matter of time. That is why it is best to remove them before their breeding season begins. While evicting these creatures may seem like a daunting task, the professionals at Critter Control® of Polk County are prepared to handle the job.
How Opossums Access Your Auburndale Property
About the size of a large housecat, opossums have sharp claws that make it easy for them to navigate exterior fencing around your Polk County property. With these claws, opossums climb fences, open trashcans, and dig beneath structures including your porch, shed, and home looking for a dark and cold resting place to nest. They also like to root in flowerbeds and fruit and vegetable gardens in search of food. Not only can this cause severe damage and destruction to your property, but it can also be just the beginning of an infestation if it is not taken care of right away.
If opossums manage to infiltrate your warm and inviting attic, then they will quickly nest and begin to breed. Once that process has started, it will be increasingly difficult to remove them from your property. An ongoing opossum infestation can result in lingering damage, annoying sounds, and unpleasant smells, and risks such as:
- Contaminated food
- The toxic, ammonia-like odor from urine and feces
- Risk of disease from fleas, ticks, droppings, or bites
- Shredded insulation
- Soiled walls, floorboards, and plywood
- Chewed crossbeams
- Uncontrollable noise
5 Common Opossum Deterrents
The best defense is a good offense, which is why some home and business owners attempt preventative measures to keep opossums and other wildlife away from their property. Deterrents that elicit sounds and smells often can drive a pest away while imposing figures like a plaster owl can scare away would-be vermin intruders. For opossums, the following preventative steps have been used to keep them away from residential doorsteps:
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Pets
The presence of a domesticated pet can intimidate an opossum family away from your home.
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Pet hair
Simply scattering cat or dog hair around your property can deter an opossum visit.
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Mothballs
The smell that mothballs emit has been known to keep opossums and other pests at bay.
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Ammonia
Carefully spreading ammonia around your property can drive opossums, and other guests, away.
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Garlic Cloves
Apparently, opossums dislike the smell of garlic and are repelled by strategically placed cloves.
While the above methods may help provide temporary assistance in keeping opossums from accessing your home, they are largely inefficient at solving an existing opossum problem. If you are dealing with a nuisance opossum problem, then rely on the professional wildlife removal services of Critter Control® of Polk County. Our licensed technicians are equipped with the tools and expertise to get rid of opossums in an efficient, safe, and humane way.
Your Auburndale Opossum Removal Experts
At Critter Control® of Polk County, we strive to help keep your home or office clear of all unwelcomed wildlife. If you do happen to come in contact with an opossum or any type of wildlife around or near your Auburndale property, back away from the animal and contact us right away. Our trained wildlife technicians can locate, identify, and pinpoint exactly where creatures are entering or exiting your home and permanently solve the problem using our humane CritterSafe® practices.
To schedule a free consultation, contact Critter Control® of Polk County today at 863-204-2815.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Why do opossums come on residential properties?
Opossums are attracted to pet food, garbage, fallen fruit and accessible shelter. Crawl spaces, sheds and decks can be ideal hiding spots.
- Are opossums dangerous?
Opossums are not aggressive animals and will tend to stay away from any conflict. But they can be defensive if they feel cornered or if they are protecting their young.
- Do possums live under my house?
Yes. Opossums often make their home under porches, decks, sheds and crawl spaces. These places protect from predators and the weather.
- How do I know if I have an opossum infestation?
Homeowners may hear noises at night, see tracks or droppings, find overturned trash cans, or see opossums around the property after dark.
- How to get rid of opossums on my property?
To deter opossums, secure trash containers, remove outdoor food sources, and block access to potential shelter sites. Professional exclusion services provide additional security.
