Understanding Opossums in the Raleigh Area
Opossums are the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in North America. Many people also refer to them as possums. These unique animals have a prehensile tail and an opposable thumb that help them climb and grip objects. Our Raleigh, NC opossum removal services help homeowners and businesses throughout the Triangle deal with these common wildlife visitors.
Opossum Reproduction and Behavior
Opossums typically give birth early in the year, with litters born between January and March. Baby opossums stay in the mother’s pouch for several months before they emerge. As many as 20 young can be born to a litter, but only half of them usually survive long enough to leave the pouch. Once they emerge, the baby opossums will ride on the back of the mother as she travels to forage for food. If the babies fall off during these travels, they are then on their own. This is why very young opossums are often seen without the mother throughout Raleigh neighborhoods.
Opossums are omnivores and eat a wide variety of food, including insects, small rodents, fruits, vegetables, and carrion. They will inhabit burrows, areas under decks, crawlspaces, outbuildings, and occasionally attics. However, they are more often found in crawl spaces and lower areas of buildings compared to other wildlife species.
Opossum Removal Services in the Raleigh Area
Our Raleigh, NC opossum removal services extend throughout Wake County and surrounding communities, including:
We serve properties throughout the Triangle area, including homes near wooded areas along the Neuse River, Lake Johnson, Umstead State Park, and Crabtree Creek greenways where opossum activity is common. Properties along major corridors like I-40, I-440, Highway 70, and Capital Boulevard also frequently experience opossum problems as these animals travel between natural habitats and residential areas.
Do Opossums Carry Rabies?
One of the most common questions about opossums involves rabies. Despite their somewhat unusual appearance, opossums are actually very docile animals. An important fact that many people do not know is that opossums rarely carry rabies. Their lower body temperature makes them less susceptible to the rabies virus compared to other mammals like raccoons, skunks, and bats.
When confronted, opossums will hiss and open their mouths wide in a defensive display. However, this is mostly bluff behavior. If the threat persists, they will quickly roll over and appear to be dead, which is where the phrase “playing possum” comes from. This involuntary response can last from a few minutes to several hours.
Problems Caused by Opossums
Crawl Space Damage
When living under a house or in a crawl space, opossums create significant messes. They establish large latrines where they repeatedly defecate and urinate in the same location. The droppings and urine produce a horrible smell that can permeate into living spaces above. Properties in older Raleigh neighborhoods like Oakwood, Mordecai, and Cameron Park with accessible crawl spaces commonly experience opossum problems.
The ductwork and insulation in crawl spaces can get destroyed by opossum activity. Vapor barriers often need to be replaced after opossum infestations due to contamination and damage. This type of damage is especially common in homes throughout the Five Points, Boylan Heights, and College Park areas where many structures have accessible crawl spaces.
Health and Sanitation Concerns
While opossums rarely carry rabies, their waste can still create health concerns. Opossum droppings may contain parasites and bacteria that can affect humans and pets. Proper cleanup and sanitization are essential after opossum removal to eliminate these health risks.
Short Lifespan and Dead Animal Removal
Opossums do not have a long lifespan in the wild, typically living only 2 to 4 years. Because of this short life expectancy, many dead opossums are found in buildings and crawl spaces. A deceased opossum creates terrible odors and attracts flies and other insects.
Our Opossum Removal and Exclusion Process
Our Raleigh, NC opossum removal services include dead animal removal and odor control to address certain situations. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Complete Property Inspection
Our experienced technicians conduct a thorough inspection of your property to identify all signs of opossum activity. We look for entry points, tracks, droppings, disturbed insulation, damaged vapor barriers, and nesting areas. Common entry points include broken crawl space vents, gaps under decks, openings in foundation walls, and spaces beneath sheds and outbuildings.
Step 2: Humane Trapping and Removal
We use proven trapping methods to safely capture opossums. Our traps are checked regularly to ensure captured animals are removed promptly. All opossum removal is conducted according to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission regulations. We handle each animal humanely throughout the entire process.
Step 3: Complete Exclusion Work
After removing all opossums, we seal every entry point to prevent future animals from entering. Opossums can squeeze through surprisingly small openings, so thorough exclusion is critical. We use durable materials including heavy-gauge screening, metal flashing, and concrete to secure crawl space vents, foundation openings, and gaps under structures.
Step 4: Damage Repair and Restoration
We repair all damage caused by opossums, including replacing torn vapor barriers, removing contaminated insulation, repairing damaged ductwork, and fixing broken crawl space vents. If structural repairs are needed, we can handle those as well or coordinate with appropriate contractors.
Step 5: Complete Cleanup and Sanitization
Opossum waste must be properly removed and the affected areas thoroughly cleaned. We remove droppings, contaminated materials, and nesting debris. We then sanitize all surfaces to eliminate odors and reduce health risks. If insulation replacement is needed, we can provide that service as well.
Step 6: Dead Animal Removal
If a deceased opossum is present, we locate and remove the carcass, clean the affected area, and apply odor neutralizing treatments. Dead animal removal requires special handling to protect health and eliminate odors that can last for weeks without proper treatment.
Why Opossums Choose Your Property
Several factors attract opossums to residential and commercial properties in the Raleigh area:
Food Sources: Pet food left outside, accessible garbage cans, compost piles, fallen fruit from trees, and gardens all attract opossums. Properties near restaurants along Hillsborough Street, Glenwood Avenue, and downtown Raleigh often experience increased opossum activity due to accessible food waste.
Water: Opossums need water sources. Properties near Crabtree Creek, Walnut Creek, Rocky Branch Creek, and other waterways throughout Raleigh see higher opossum traffic.
Shelter: Crawl spaces, areas under decks and porches, sheds, and outbuildings provide ideal shelter for opossums, especially during colder months and breeding season.
Access: Broken crawl space vents, gaps in foundations, and openings under structures give opossums easy entry to sheltered areas.
Preventing Future Opossum Problems
Our Raleigh, NC opossum removal services include prevention recommendations to help keep opossums away:
- Secure all garbage cans with tight-fitting lids
- Remove pet food from outside areas at night
- Keep compost bins fully enclosed
- Repair broken crawl space vents and foundation openings
- Install lattice or screening under decks and porches
- Eliminate brush piles and debris near structures
- Pick up fallen fruit from trees regularly
- Store firewood away from buildings
Why Choose Our Raleigh, NC Opossum Removal Services
With more than two decades serving the Triangle area, we understand opossum behavior patterns specific to our area. We know which neighborhoods experience the highest activity, what times of year are busiest, and the most effective removal techniques.
Complete Wildlife Solutions
While we specialize in opossum removal, we provide comprehensive wildlife control for all types of animals including raccoons, squirrels, bats, snakes, and more. We handle everything from initial removal to complete restoration and prevention.
Guaranteed Exclusion Work
We stand behind our exclusion services. If opossums return to sealed entry points, we come back to address the problem. Our goal is to provide lasting solutions that keep opossums out permanently.
Contact Us for Professional Opossum Removal
We can safely trap and remove opossums and provide complete damage repair and seal all entry points to ensure they do not return. Call us today for opossum removal in Raleigh, Cary NC, Garner NC, Chapel Hill NC, Durham NC or anywhere in the Triangle for prompt and humane removal.
Triangle Wildlife Removal & Pest Control, Inc provides expert Raleigh, NC opossum removal services throughout Wake County and surrounding areas. Our experienced technicians respond quickly and solve your opossum problems with proven, effective methods.
Call us today at (919) 661-0722 for professional opossum control services.
