Opossum Removal Palm Beach
If you have an opossum problem in the Palm Beach area, call AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches. We are a family-owned and operated company with over 20 years of experience in this field. We provide humane, safe solutions for removing these animals from your home or property.
In the state of Florida, there are two types of the opossum that you may find in your yard: Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and Common Opossum (Monodelphis Domestica). The Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial in North America and is easily identified by its long, hairless tail. Common ones are smaller than their Virginia cousins and have fur that ranges in color from gray to black.
Both of these creatures can be destructive, as they often dig through trash cans and are known to get into garages and attics. They can also be dangerous, as they may attack people when provoked or feel threatened.
If you think that one of these creatures may be living in your home, you should call a professional wildlife removal company immediately. Do not try to remove the animal on your own as this can be dangerous. Wildlife removal companies have the experience and knowledge to safely remove these animals from your yard.
At AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches, we use humane trapping methods to capture the animal and remove it from your property. We also offer prevention services, such as installing chimney caps or closing up any openings that may be providing access to your home.
If you’re having problems with an opossum in Palm Beach, call AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches today! We’ll take care of the problem and get rid of these pests!
Opossum Biology
Opossums have many distinguishing features that set them apart from other animals. For instance, they have an extremely long and flexible nose that is used to poke around in small spaces. They also have a very short tail that appears scaly and leathery, rather than furry like most other animals. In addition, they are omnivorous creatures who eat both meat (including insects) as well as fruit, nuts, seeds, and vegetables.
Females of the species also have 13 nipples, which is the most of any mammal in North America. This allows them to have a maximum of 13 baby possums at one time! The young cling to these nipples until they are ready to venture out on their own.
These animals are known for “playing possum.” When threatened or in danger, an opossum will often pretend to be dead. This is a defense mechanism that helps them avoid being eaten by predators.
Opossum in the Attic
One of the most common complaints that we receive from homeowners is about opossums in the attic. These creatures often find their way into attics through pet doors or open windows, and they can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time.
Opossums are known for their destructive behavior as they will often dig through your insulation, tear up your wiring, and even defecate and urinate on your belongings. They can also be dangerous as they may attack pets or people who try to remove them from the attic.
Opossum in the Yard
Opossums can also be destructive in the yard. They often turn over the soil in search of insects, grubs, and roots. This can destroy the grass and create holes in your lawn. They also often bring trash bins back into your yard, creating an awful mess. In addition, opossums are known for their foul odor, which can be quite strong and unpleasant.
Opossums are nocturnal so you’ll never see them after dark but if you see bare patches of soil in your yard, evidence of overturned trash cans, or an awful smell coming from your property- you may have an opossum problem.
Fencing and proper yard upkeep can help deter opossums from entering your property. These are most commonly made of wood and plastic and have no openings. You can also add pavers around the edges of gates if they aren’t closing automatically to prevent opossums from crawling underneath.
Diseases That Can Be Transmitted by Opossums
Opossums are known to carry and spread several diseases. Some of these diseases can be transmitted to humans or pets if an opossum bites, scratches, urinates on you, or comes into contact with your body fluids. In severe cases, it could even lead to death. Here are some of the more common ones:
- Leptospirosis
- Tuberculosis
- Relapsing Fever
- Spotted Fever
- Toxoplasmosis
- Coccidiosis
- Trichomoniasis
- Chagas Disease
Opossums may seem like small adorable animals, but they can bring some very nasty diseases into your home. Leptospirosis and Salmonella are particularly hazardous and can lead to permanent health problems. These two should be enough to convince you how dangerous contact with opossums can be and consider getting professional help.
How to get rid of opossums
Store-bought traps often will work to catch opossums. You lure them with a bit of pet food, fruit, peanut butter, or meat and then trap them inside. One thing to remember is to not trap them during their mating season, as this can result in separating the mothers from their young.
This will lead to dead baby possums left in the attic creating a terrible smell and a very sticky situation!
Professional Opossum Removal in Fort Pierce
DIY opossum removal may seem like a good idea as opossums are not that big but these animals are actually quite dangerous when threatened and cornered. They have sharp teeth and claws which can do more than just scratch those who try to get them out of the attic.
Not to mention they can transmit several illnesses to people such as the plague and toxoplasmosis, which can be quite severe and even deadly.
It’s best to leave wildlife removal in Fort Pierce to the professionals at AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches. We have the experience, knowledge, and equipment to safely remove these pests from your yard. We’ll also make sure no other wildlife can take their place by sealing up all entry points.
We’ll clean up the mess the opossums left behind and make sure your yard is free of their odor. Our wildlife specialists are also master carpenters who will repair interior and exterior damage caused by the opossums.
Exclusion and Live Trapping
To keep the opossums from creating a home out of your deck or patio, we use a combination of exclusion techniques and traps. We do this by making sure the area around your deck or patio is secured and then creating a hallway that leads to a live cage. Once the possums are caught, we’ll remove them and seal any remaining entry points so they can’t come back. In Florida, transporting and releasing possums is illegal so the critter needs to be euthanized.
Lethal Traps and Hunting
Hunting is another way to get rid of opossums but it’s not always successful and can be quite cruel. In fact, most possums aren’t killed on the first try leaving them to wander in unwanted places like your crawl space or basement. They’ll die there and leave you with a bad smell that’s hard to get rid of.
Hunting opossums is only legal at night and you can only use either a .22 firearm or a .410 shotgun. This method is a lot messier than simply living to trap or excluding them.
Attic Clean Up and Re-Insulation
Opossums in attics can pose some serious health risks to humans. Not only do they leave their droppings and urine everywhere, but their fur and blood can also be contaminated with diseases like the plague, toxoplasmosis, and rabies.
They will leave these dangerous messes in your insulation creating a perfect breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and other pests. Our experts have special commercial insulation removal equipment that allows us to safely remove all the soiled insulation without contaminating your home. Your attic will be free of any animal feces, dust, and debris. We will then replace the insulation with a fresh new layer.
We will also use biohazard fogging to remove any harmful organisms that may have surfaced after the opossums were removed. This creates a clean environment free of any health risks.
Why are opossums in my attic?
Opossums are attracted to attics because they offer them safety, shelter, and food. They like to live in dark, quiet areas where they can feel secure and build a nest. The attic is also a great place to find food as it’s usually warm and has plenty of insects and rodents. Opossums will eat just about anything, including pet food, garbage, and even dead animals.
Opossum Damage
Opossums are not usually dangerous or aggressive, but they can cause some serious damage. They are considered nuisance wildlife for a reason. Opossums will often get into a house in search of food and shelter from the weather. They’ll chew through drywall, insulation, and wires to stay warm or find food. Not only does this create an unsafe living environment for you and your family, but it also puts you at risk of electrical fire hazards that could be fatal if not addressed quickly.
Outside opossum damage is just as bad: They’ll dig up flower beds, destroy gardens by eating plants whole and even leave droppings on sidewalks where people walk barefoot in the summertime!
The best way to avoid these problems is to make sure that all potential points of entry outside your home are properly sealed. For exterior issues, make sure that your home’s foundation and roof are in good shape to avoid excessive amounts of moisture coming into contact with the wood. You should also make sure that any overhanging branches or leaves are regularly cleaned up. The accumulation of dead leaves can provide shelter for small animals like opossums, which will inevitably chew holes in the siding and board up
Wildlife Removal in Fort Pierce, Florida
Don’t let opossums take over your home or yard. Call the professionals at AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches for safe and humane opossum removal in Fort Pierce and anywhere in Palm Beach County, Florida. We have nuisance wildlife management specialists who are experienced in getting these critters out of your home for good. You can trust nuisance wildlife rangers to get the job done right at a price you can afford.
AAAC Wildlife Removal Palm Beaches is a full-service wildlife removal company that offers a wide range of services to get these pests out of your home for good. We offer dead animal removal, nuisance wildlife control services, snake removal, insect pest control, rat removal, raccoon removal, bat removal, coyote removal, wildlife exclusion, rodent removal, control of wild animals, palm beach raccoon removal, squirrel removal, and many more. We are licensed and insured and have been in business for over 20 years.
We proudly offer these services in the surrounding areas of west palm beach, palm beach gardens, royal palm beach, riviera beach, lake worth, and anywhere else in Palm Beach County, Florida.
