Opossums Pest or Misunderstood

If you reside in the South, you have seen your fair share of opossums. Even in suburban locations, opossum populations stay quite healthy in this area. High populations lead to opossums pushing closer and closer to individual concentrations to better endure.

With their silver-grey fur and exposed tails, they can sometimes seem like overgrown rats. They tend to reside between 2-4 years in the wild, making them some of those shortest-lived mammals of their size. Opossums are omnivorous and will eat almost anything (which is the reason why they love your garbage). You’ll most often see opossums busy at night since they’re nocturnal.

Why They Are Pests

Opossums are ultimately pests since they utilize human-provided tools to survive when people would normally prefer they not. Opossums eat almost everything, so scavenging for garbage or stealing your pet’s food that is left outside are especially easy ways for them to sustain themselves. Along with trying to locate food, opossums often find shelter and warmth in colder months, causing them to find their ways into attics, under decks and to sheds. This may cause a scary and undesirable encounter for you, your kids or your pets.

Broadly , opossums aren’t very dangerous. That having been said, opossums are wild creatures with very sharp claws and teeth, and they’ll attack you or your pets whenever they feel particularly threatened. Never corner an opossum or some other wild creature as their only way away from you’re through you. Do not let your pets following opossums either; the opossum might not win that fight, but be assured that they will fight and your pet will suffer for that. If you run into an opossum in or near your house, please, do not attempt to remove yourself; call an expert wildlife removal staff.

Can They Carry Disease?

Opossums have excellent immune systems, but they can take various parasites and diseases-after all, they can and do eat garbage and carrion. Internal parasites can usually be passed through contact with opossum droppings, and external parasites (especially, fleas) can be passed through intimate proximity. Opossums rarely carry rabies, with only 1 in 800 animals mathematically contaminated, but you still do not need that 1 in 800 opossum to bite you, your kids or your pets.

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