Appearance
Tear up insulation, damage ductwork, and create messes in crawl spaces and under decks.
Can injure pets when cornered and attract fleas and ticks.
Knock over trash cans, scatter garbage, and eat pet food left outdoors.
Droppings accumulate in nesting areas, creating odors and potential health concerns.
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Outdoor pet food is a top opossum attractant. Remove all bowls before nightfall.
Use locking lids on trash cans and seal compost bins to eliminate easy food sources.
Identify where opossums access under structures and share this with your technician.
Pick up fallen fruit from trees — a major opossum attractant in Bay Area properties.
Take photos of five-toed prints or droppings to help confirm species and activity patterns.
Leave handling to your technician. They have proper equipment for humane capture.
Tap a card to learn what it means for your home — and what ATCO does about it.
Opossums are tick-eating machines — but that still doesn't mean they belong in your crawl space. Humane exclusion removes them safely.
Schedule ConsultationWhen cornered, an opossum hisses and displays all 50 teeth — but they rarely bite. Playing dead is their real defense mechanism.
Schedule ConsultationA Virginia opossum's body temperature is too low for the rabies virus — it's essentially rabies-immune. But they can carry leptospirosis. Remove them.
Schedule ConsultationTheir low body temperature blocks the rabies virus — but they still carry leptospirosis and parasites. Professional removal is smart.
Schedule ConsultationRemove the attractant (pet food, open compost) and an opossum will typically move on within 24 hours. ATCO shows you exactly how.
Schedule ConsultationWe humanely exclude, relocate when required, and seal entry points — no poison, no traps left unmonitored.
Schedule ConsultationOverturned trash cans, scattered garbage, and large droppings near your home are common signs. You may also hear scratching or thumping sounds under your deck, porch, or in crawl spaces at night.
Unsecured garbage, pet food left outdoors, fallen fruit, and compost piles are top attractants. Opossums also seek sheltered denning spots like open crawl spaces, woodpiles, and gaps under decks or sheds.
Opossums carry fleas and ticks that can transfer to your pets. Their droppings and urine accumulate in nesting areas, creating foul odors and potential bacterial contamination. They also damage insulation and ductwork in crawl spaces.
Opossums den under decks, porches, sheds, and in crawl spaces. They also nest in woodpiles, dense brush, and overgrown areas near your foundation. Any dark, sheltered spot close to food sources becomes a potential den.
Opossums are active year-round in California. They breed from January through July and may have two litters per year. You're most likely to notice them in late winter and spring when mothers seek warm, protected denning sites for their young.
If opossums have denned under your home, are returning nightly despite removing food sources, or you find droppings accumulating in crawl spaces, professional trapping and exclusion is the most effective and humane solution.
Keep trash cans sealed and bring pet food indoors at night. Opossums follow easy meals.
Install hardware cloth around deck and porch openings. Bury it a few inches underground to prevent digging.
Collect fallen fruit regularly. Fruit trees are a major opossum attractant in Bay Area yards.
Motion-activated lights or sprinklers discourage opossums from setting up camp near your home.
Regular pet waste cleanup prevents attracting more opossums and wildlife, breaking the cycle of repeated visits.
Clear woodpiles, leaf piles, and dense brush near your foundation. Opossums seek dark, sheltered spots close to food.
Poisoning opossums is inhumane and illegal in many areas. It puts pets, children, and other wildlife at risk.
Opossums rarely carry rabies — their low body temperature makes them resistant. They're generally gentle and non-aggressive.
DIY trapping can separate mothers from joeys, stresses the animal, and may violate local wildlife regulations.
If they keep returning, there's an attractant on your property. Address the food source rather than chasing them away.
Active at night, searching for food in gardens, garbage, and pet bowls.
Eat almost anything: insects, fruits, small animals, garbage, and carrion.
Nest under decks, porches, sheds, and in crawl spaces for shelter.
Locate entry points, den sites, and assess opossum activity extent.
Live traps with regular checks to minimize stress.
Seal all access points with heavy-duty materials to prevent return.
Remove waste, sanitize affected areas, and eliminate attractants.
Effective removal methods that are gentle on the animals.
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