Ignoring an opossum problem may seem easy, but that will only create chaos. Opossums are known to cause damage to properties and cause other pest problems. These nuisance animals often shelter in crawl spaces, attics, sheds, or beneath porches.
At Gregory Pest Control, our opossum removal service targets the root of the issue. We combine expert trapping techniques with long-term exclusion strategies to help resolve the problem. Whether opossums are tearing insulation, knocking over trash cans, raiding chicken coops, or leaving messes behind, our technicians know how to remove them—and help keep them from returning.
In North and South Carolina, opossums are a common part of the environment. Their activity increases at night, especially in suburban and rural areas. These regions offer the shelter and food the opossums look for. Our possum pest control services are tailored to the local climate and wildlife patterns. Our technicians understand how these animals behave and how to prevent them from returning once removed. Since no two properties are the same, our approach considers the layout of your home or business, as well as seasonal changes in wildlife activity.
Opossums are marsupial mammals that grow to approximately the size of a large house cat with long pink snouts, rat-like tails, and coloring that is usually an ombre of blacks, grays, and whites. They reproduce like most marsupials, having approximately 15-25 newborns n each year. These babies are born in nests their parents have built in pre-made structures like homes, logs, garages, and the like.
When it comes to their diet, opossums are opportunistic omnivores that will eat just about anything. They consume fruit, vegetation, insects, fish, birds, and the contents of your cupboards.
Spotting an opossum directly can be tough since they're nocturnal. Homeowners usually hear them before seeing them. If you hear scratching or rustling after dark or see knocked-over garbage bins, there's a good chance you're dealing with an opossum. You might notice torn ductwork, scattered insulation, or strange smells from their urine and droppings. Even one visit can leave behind clear signs, especially in quiet, undisturbed areas.
Look for signs near trash cans, gardens, or pet food areas. They may also leave behind distinctive tracks, and opposable thumbs on their hind feet make them easy to identify. Nesting materials like leaves, insulation, or paper may indicate they've settled in. Opossums sometimes return to the same nesting spots, especially if conditions haven't changed.
While usually not aggressive, opossums can carry parasites and bacteria that may pose a health risk. Their droppings and urine can contaminate insulation or building materials. When startled, they may hiss, show their teeth, or pretend to be dead, a defense mechanism that gives them their reputation for "playing possum." This behavior may seem harmless, but the waste and damage they leave behind is not.
These animals can also cause damage and opossum damage can be serious. These nocturnal animals often enter crawl spaces and low attics. By creating entry holes they also allow other animals inside. They can damage air-conditioning units, insulation, vapor barriers, and cause costly problems. Additionally, they’re also known to carry fleas, ticks, lice, and occasionally disease-carrying parasites posing potential risks to any homeowner they encounter.
Opossums are opportunists. If they're on your property, it's because there's something they want; food, water, or shelter. Trash cans with loose lids, pet food left outdoors, compost piles, or fallen fruit are common attractants. They also seek quiet, dark spaces for denning. Garages, sheds, crawl spaces, and attics offer easy shelter, especially when left unsecured.
If you have overgrown shrubs, open vents, or gaps in your crawl space, it creates easy access points for opossums. They'll move in and start nesting in areas where they won't be disturbed. Once they find a spot, they tend to return, especially if food is nearby. Repeat visitors often follow the same path and grow bolder over time.
Our technicians are ready to help rid your lawn of unwanted opossums.
The easiest way to prevent opossums from entering your home is through discouragement. Since they’re scavengers, your best option is to remove potential food sources by keeping garbage cans consistently cleaned out, debris away from any entry points in your home, and putting fences up around any home gardens or the like.
Please note that before you take any measures to control or remove opossums from your property, it is recommended that you check local regulations. In many states, opossums are protected. If you’re unsure about your situation, it’s recommended that you contact pest control professionals to schedule an evaluation.
Our team at Gregory offers expert possum pest removal services. Our opossum control service goes beyond the basics, and we don't rely on guesswork. We look at the entire property to determine why the animal showed up in the first place. We provide a full solution, from cleaning up attractants to sealing gaps and securing crawl spaces. We set humane traps in strategic locations. After trapping, we remove the animals and take steps to stop them from returning.
Our goal isn't just to remove what you see; it's to prevent unseen problems.
Whether you're a homeowner or run a business, opossums can be a headache. They can disrupt outdoor dining areas, damage inventory, or create a mess near loading docks and dumpsters. We provide possum control solutions for commercial spaces that minimize disruption to your daily operations.
Gregory's team works discreetly and on your schedule. We understand that wildlife issues can impact your reputation and revenue, so we act fast to inspect, remove, and prevent future activity. Our commercial solutions are tailored to the space you manage, whether a warehouse, restaurant, or retail storefront.
Stopping opossums from returning starts with understanding what drew the animal in. After we've handled your initial opossum problem, we help you take steps to keep them from returning. This includes storing trash securely with tight lids, picking up fallen fruit, and keeping pet food indoors. Compost piles should be well-contained and located away from the home.
Maintaining your yard is also essential. Keep shrubs trimmed, remove stacked wood or debris, and close off any crawl spaces, attic entries, or vent openings. If a possum found its way in once, it will try again unless you change the conditions that made your property inviting.
Prevention is a team effort. Our technicians help identify vulnerable areas around your home or business and recommend durable, chew-resistant materials to seal entry points. We also suggest reinforcing gaps around pipes and vents. These measures not only keep opossums out but help protect your property from other wildlife as well.
If you’ve searched for opossum removal near me, you know finding someone who handles both trapping and prevention is key. Gregory Pest Control does both. We remove the animal, seal off entry points, and help protect your space long-term. We've helped homeowners and businesses across the Carolinas protect their properties with customized plans and long-term support.
Whether you're dealing with a single opossum or recurring wildlife issues, our team brings years of experience and local knowledge to each job. We're licensed to handle wildlife, and we know how to do it in a way that respects your property and meets state regulations. Every service includes education and follow-up steps to help reduce future risk.
Just because pests are unavoidable doesn’t mean they’re unstoppable. Schedule a service, give us a call, or request a quote today.
If you're ready to call on pest control, ask Gregory Pest for expert opossum control. We'll schedule an inspection, explain our findings, and develop a plan based on your home or business's needs. We don't believe in one-size-fits-all service. Every property deserves attention.
Our solutions are effective, humane, and backed by local expertise. Whether you're facing possums under the porch or wildlife in your crawl space, we'll tailor our work to your problem.
If you have an opossum on your property, it’s best to call wildlife removal professionals. At Gregory Pest Control, we provide humane trapping and prevention services tailored to your space.
Opossums should be removed using safe, humane traps by trained technicians. Removal must follow local wildlife laws in many areas, so professional help is strongly recommended.
Not usually. If your home offers food or shelter, possums will likely return or stay.
Possums sometimes play dead as a defense tactic. If a possum is lying still but breathing or has a faint odor, it may just be pretending. Leave it alone and check again later.
Opossums are very unlikely to carry rabies. Because their body temperature is low, the rabies virus usually cannot survive in them. This means the risk of getting rabies from an opossum is much lower than from most other wild animals.
If you see an opossum during the day, it is not always a reason to worry. Sometimes they are active outside their normal nighttime hours. Stay back and do not try to touch it. If the opossum appears injured or confused, or keeps coming near your home, contact us so a trained technician can check it out.
It is not a good idea to try to move wildlife on your own, and in North and South Carolina, it may even be against the law. Our trained technicians remove opossums in a humane way and always follow local rules. It is safest to let professionals handle it.