Opossum Control & Removal for Richmond

Biology and Habits

Opossums are very unique animals. They hold the distinction of being the only marsupial (pouched mammal) in North America, and – with fifty teeth in their mouths – also hold the distinction of having the most teeth of any North American land mammal. Opossums are active at night.

They will eat just about anything that can even be remotely considered food. They are very fond of carrion, insects, pet food, fruit, and bread. They commonly get into trash cans and dumpsters looking for a meal. They will patrol the streets looking for road killed animals to make a meal of.

They breed in late winter and again in summer. After a 13 day gestation, a litter of tiny babies is born. They crawl through the mother’s fur and into a pouch on her belly where they nurse and continue their development for another 7-8 weeks. Once they emerge from the pouch, they will remain with the mother for several more weeks, often riding on her back as she makes her nightly rounds.

Baby opossums leave the care of their mothers while still very small. Baby opossums only 6 or 7 inches long are already living entirely on their own. Many do not survive. Opossums get around this problem by having a lot of young. Litter sizes of 6-12 are common.

Damage and Hazards

Opossums are more of a nuisance than a real danger. They are very common in urban and suburban settings, and we even get a few calls each year to remove them from downtown!

Opossums will readily move into crawl spaces and attics to use them as dens. They will also live under decks and sheds. Baby opossums born in crawl spaces may crawl up through holes cut in the floor for the kitchen pipes and forage for food inside the house. Opossums under the house may damage insulation and sometimes cause foul odors.

They will eagerly eat any pet food left out and are known to enter pet doors to get a meal. Many people who encounter an opossum at night are surprised when the opossum does not run away, and are concerned that this may be a sign of illness. It is, in fact, normal opossum behavior.

Opossums are very slow (top running speed is about 7 miles per hour) so their defense is to open their mouths as wide as possible, hiss, sometimes emit a foul odor, and in extreme cases, play dead.

They will defend themselves if attacked, and occasionally an overly zealous dog will be injured after encountering an opossum.

Rabies is not usually a problem with opossums.

Control

Opossums are not wary and are easily lured into cage traps. In the case of opossums living in a building, it is important that all possible entryways into the building be found and secured to prevent new opossums from reentering in the future. Opossums can be kept from getting under sheds and decks by installing fencing around the bottom edges and burying the fence underground. Pet food should not be left out where opossums can get it.

Trash containing food should be put into tight cans. Compost piles should be kept free of food scraps. Even with these precautions, opossums may come around on occasion. Just remember that they are very plentiful in our neighborhoods, and for the most part are gentle, harmless animals.

Testimonials

Neil
3/26/2024
Great communication and quality repairs. They trapped a squirrel attic resident and repaired damage and added some vent screens on the roof. Kenzie is a pro and kept me updated on all the steps along the way.
Mary
3/25/2024
Bryan did a fantastic job. He removed an injured raccoon from our hedge. He arrived early and took care of the situation swiftly and safely. I highly recommend Bryan and his company.
Caitlin
3/22/2024
Tom came out and removed a family of racoons from an attic in one of our rental properties. He was timely, communicated promptly and also had solutions to present. I'd recommend Critter Control.
Stan
3/21/2024
Tom and team were extremely professional and pleasant. They tarped my floors and protected my home from any damage. Highly recommend.
lisa
3/21/2024
Critter Control was very easy to work with. They came right out and identified the problem of a raccoon in my attic. They told me the plan to take care of the problem and explain everything to me. Very friendly and professional.
Eric
3/20/2024
Kenzie was very kind and helpful in setting us up with a plan to get rid of the mice in our home.
Ernest
3/18/2024
Birds had punched a hole through the facia in our home and were beginning to nest. We also had wasps beginning to nest under our siding. Tom investigated and fixed whatever we thought were a problems. Overall good job! Thanks
Andy
3/15/2024
Reliable and helpful. Raymond was so nice to me and pleasant today. I’ve been with you guys a long time. No complaints!
Andrew
3/15/2024
They did what they said they would do. Price was fair and their service was outstanding. I couldn’t have been happier with the technicians they sent out or the people I spoke to over the phone. Quality people all around and a company that stands behind their word.
Alexandra
3/13/2024
They have saved me from both raccoons and squirrels. Very convenient and easy to work with. I hope I don't have to call them again (because I hope I never have another wild animal problem again). However, if I do, I can rest easy knowing where to find professionals who know their stuff.
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