Opossums in or under buildings.
Occasionally an opossum will find a suitable den site in or under a building. Opossums normally occupy a den site for only two or three consecutive nights. However, during the mating and nesting season, females are attracted to warm, dry, dark, easily defended areas, and will remain longer if the setting remains favorable. Should you choose to remove the animals, We can handle every step of the process for you just call and speak with an Animal Evictor Representative today or you can attempt to complete the process yourself using the steps below.
1. Seal all openings except the main opossum entrance. Use sturdy wire mesh (1/4-inch hardware cloth or similar materials) to screen vents near ground level in houses and other structures.
Tightly seal holes in foundations or under porches to prevent opossums from entering.
2. To determine entry points, you can use "tracking patches" of a fine layer of sand, talcum powder, or dust placed at suspected entrances. Wadded up newspaper lightly stuffed into the entry hole also works great. Opossums will push the paper out of the way when exiting.
3. After dark, when the opossum has left seeking food they will leave tracks at the den entrance. Inspect the powder or the dislodged newspaper for exiting opossum tracks.
4. Once an opossum has left the building, immediately seal the entrance with a hardware cloth "one-way door". (You will not want to permanently exclude at this point, not being sure of the number of opossums present.) The one-way door can be made from 1/2 -inch hardware cloth that is attached over the opening, and hinged at the top and left loose on the other 3 sides. It should be larger than the opening so that it cannot swing inward. The opossum will push it open to leave, but cannot re-enter.
5. Put a layer of powder on the inside and outside of the door after the one-way door has been installed for two to three nights. Any footprints should be outside the door with none inside. This means the opossum is out. If you have any doubt, then smooth out the dirt on both sides of the door with your hand or a tool, reapply the powder and observe. Once a couple of days have gone by with no footprints, the opossum is probably gone. Another way to check is to open the door and shove a few pieces of wadded up newspaper into the opossum’s entrance. If the paper stays in place for two to three nights, then the opossum is gone.
6. Once you are sure all opossums are out, permanently seal the opening.
To try and drive an opossum away, consider harassing the animal. Lighting up the den site with battery operated flashing lights and adding a portable radio can cause an opossum to seek a more suitable habitat.
An opossum’s dexterous paws make it possible for it to open various types of fasteners, latches, and containers.Enclose poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) in a secure outdoor pen and house. Opossums will eat poultry and their eggs if they can get to them. Note: Other killers of poultry include coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, feral cats, dogs, bobcats, weasels, hawks, owls, other poultry, and disease.
To prevent opossums from accessing birds in their night roosts, equip poultry houses with well-fitted doors and secure locking mechanisms. An opossum’s dexterous paws make it possible for it to open various types of fasteners, latches, and containers.
To prevent opossums from accessing poultry during the day, completely enclose outdoor pens with 1-inch chicken wire placed over a sturdy wooden framework. Overlap and securely wire all seams on top to prevent opossums from forcing their way in by using their weight. To prevent opossums from reaching in at ground level, surround the bottom 18 inches of the pen with smaller-mesh wire.
Fence orchards and vegetable gardens. Opossums can easily climb wood or wire fences, or bypass them by using overhanging limbs of trees or shrubs. Wire fences will need to have a mesh size that is no wider than 3 inches to keep young opossums out.
Protect fruit trees, bird feeders, and nest boxes. To prevent opossums from climbing fruit trees, poles, and other vertical structures, install a metal or heavy plastic barrier. Twenty-four-inch long aluminum or galvanized vent-pipe, available at most hardware stores, can serve as a premade barrier around a narrow support.
Alternatively, a funnel-shaped piece of aluminum flashing can be fitted around the tree or other vertical structure. The outside edge of the flared metal should be a minimum of 18 inches away from the support. Cut the material with tin snips and file down any sharp edges.
A predator guard can be secured around trees, pipes, posts, and other structures to keep opossums from climbing. It can be made from a piece of aluminum flashing or sheet metal, held together with wire, nails, or screws, and painted to blend in. Regularly pick up fallen birdseed and fruit to prevent attracting opossums.
1. Seal all openings except the main opossum entrance. Use sturdy wire mesh (1/4-inch hardware cloth or similar materials) to screen vents near ground level in houses and other structures.
Tightly seal holes in foundations or under porches to prevent opossums from entering.
2. To determine entry points, you can use "tracking patches" of a fine layer of sand, talcum powder, or dust placed at suspected entrances. Wadded up newspaper lightly stuffed into the entry hole also works great. Opossums will push the paper out of the way when exiting.
3. After dark, when the opossum has left seeking food they will leave tracks at the den entrance. Inspect the powder or the dislodged newspaper for exiting opossum tracks.
4. Once an opossum has left the building, immediately seal the entrance with a hardware cloth "one-way door". (You will not want to permanently exclude at this point, not being sure of the number of opossums present.) The one-way door can be made from 1/2 -inch hardware cloth that is attached over the opening, and hinged at the top and left loose on the other 3 sides. It should be larger than the opening so that it cannot swing inward. The opossum will push it open to leave, but cannot re-enter.
5. Put a layer of powder on the inside and outside of the door after the one-way door has been installed for two to three nights. Any footprints should be outside the door with none inside. This means the opossum is out. If you have any doubt, then smooth out the dirt on both sides of the door with your hand or a tool, reapply the powder and observe. Once a couple of days have gone by with no footprints, the opossum is probably gone. Another way to check is to open the door and shove a few pieces of wadded up newspaper into the opossum’s entrance. If the paper stays in place for two to three nights, then the opossum is gone.
6. Once you are sure all opossums are out, permanently seal the opening.
To try and drive an opossum away, consider harassing the animal. Lighting up the den site with battery operated flashing lights and adding a portable radio can cause an opossum to seek a more suitable habitat.
An opossum’s dexterous paws make it possible for it to open various types of fasteners, latches, and containers.Enclose poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) in a secure outdoor pen and house. Opossums will eat poultry and their eggs if they can get to them. Note: Other killers of poultry include coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, feral cats, dogs, bobcats, weasels, hawks, owls, other poultry, and disease.
To prevent opossums from accessing birds in their night roosts, equip poultry houses with well-fitted doors and secure locking mechanisms. An opossum’s dexterous paws make it possible for it to open various types of fasteners, latches, and containers.
To prevent opossums from accessing poultry during the day, completely enclose outdoor pens with 1-inch chicken wire placed over a sturdy wooden framework. Overlap and securely wire all seams on top to prevent opossums from forcing their way in by using their weight. To prevent opossums from reaching in at ground level, surround the bottom 18 inches of the pen with smaller-mesh wire.
Fence orchards and vegetable gardens. Opossums can easily climb wood or wire fences, or bypass them by using overhanging limbs of trees or shrubs. Wire fences will need to have a mesh size that is no wider than 3 inches to keep young opossums out.
Protect fruit trees, bird feeders, and nest boxes. To prevent opossums from climbing fruit trees, poles, and other vertical structures, install a metal or heavy plastic barrier. Twenty-four-inch long aluminum or galvanized vent-pipe, available at most hardware stores, can serve as a premade barrier around a narrow support.
Alternatively, a funnel-shaped piece of aluminum flashing can be fitted around the tree or other vertical structure. The outside edge of the flared metal should be a minimum of 18 inches away from the support. Cut the material with tin snips and file down any sharp edges.
A predator guard can be secured around trees, pipes, posts, and other structures to keep opossums from climbing. It can be made from a piece of aluminum flashing or sheet metal, held together with wire, nails, or screws, and painted to blend in. Regularly pick up fallen birdseed and fruit to prevent attracting opossums.
This information was provided by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Russell Link, and Michael Holmquist
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