Opossum Removal in Austin

FUN FACT

Opossums are the only marsupials native to North America. They have a remarkable ability to "play dead" when threatened, a defense mechanism known as "thanatosis."

Schedule Your Opossum Removal Call (512) 764-5804

Identification

Opossums are easily recognizable by their hairless, rat-like tails and their white, pointed faces. These nocturnal creatures are omnivores, eating a variety of foods including insects, fruits, vegetables, and even carrion. They are often found in wooded areas, but can also thrive in urban environments.

Signs of Infestation

Trash Issues: Overturned or ripped garbage cans.

Property Damage: Damage to gardens and fruit trees as opossums forage for food.

Dens: Nests in burrows, under decks, or in hollow logs.

Excrement: Concentrated areas of opossum droppings, often found near den sites.

Yard Damage: Eating bugs found along ground, opposums can damage your grass with small holes.

Breeding Season Opossums breed in late winter and early spring. After a brief gestation period, the mother gives birth to a litter of up to 20 young. The newborns are tiny and underdeveloped, completing their development in their mother’s pouch.

Ecosystem Role Opossums play a crucial role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations and acting as scavengers, helping to clean up dead animals. They also serve as prey for larger predators.

Prevention Strategies Secure Your Trash: Use heavy-duty trash cans with tight-fitting lids or store garbage securely.

Eliminate Food Sources: Remove pet food, birdseed, and fallen fruit from your yard.

Seal Entry Points: Inspect and seal gaps or holes in your home’s foundation and around utility lines.

Use Repellents: Follow instructions for commercial opossum repellents.

Habitat Modification: Trim back overgrown vegetation around your home to reduce potential hiding spots.

Scare Tactics: Employ motion-activated sprinklers or loud noises to deter opossums.

Prickly Pear’s Approach

Inspection: Identify signs of opossum activity and potential entry points.

Exclusion: Implement barriers and seal entry points to prevent opossum access.

Humane Removal: Safely and humanely remove opossums from your property.

Follow-Up: Regularly monitor and adjust strategies to keep opossums away.

Conclusion
While opossums are fascinating creatures, they can sometimes become a nuisance. Prickly Pear offers professional services to manage opossum activity and protect your property. If you suspect an opossum problem, contact us for expert assistance.

Opossum (Possum) Removal in Austin: Under Decks, in Attics, in Garages

Opossums are the most common wildlife we remove in Central Texas. They’re not aggressive and they don’t dig much, so they look for spaces that are already open: under a deck, behind a lattice skirt, under a mobile building, inside a garage, or in an attic reached from an overhanging tree.

How we remove opossums

Find the den. We check crawlspaces, decks, sheds and the roofline and set a camera if needed to see where the animal is coming and going.
Trap and remove. Opossums trap easily, and we check traps on a set schedule so animals aren’t left waiting.
Check for young. Females carry their babies in a pouch and later on their back. We look for young before closing anything off.
Seal the space. Decks and sheds get a buried hardware cloth barrier; attic gaps and vent openings get metal or screen so the next opossum can’t use them.

Signs of an opossum

Pet food disappearing from a porch or garage overnight
Strong odor and droppings near a deck or crawlspace
Rustling under the floor or in the attic at night
Small hand-like footprints with an opposable rear toe

Opossum questions we hear

Is an opossum playing dead, or actually dead?

Often it’s playing dead. It can stay that way for minutes to hours. Leave it alone and keep pets away; if it’s still there later, call us.

Do opossums carry rabies?

It’s uncommon. Their main health risk to a household comes from droppings and fleas, which is why we clean up the den area after removal.

Why opossums keep showing up

Pet food left outside, open trash, fallen fruit and compost piles are what draw opossums in, and an open space under a deck or shed is what keeps them there. Fixing both is the long-term answer. We point out every attractant and opening during the visit so the next opossum moves on.

We remove opossums across Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Hutto, Georgetown, Leander and Cedar Park.