What problems do opossums cause?

Opossums may not seem like a deadly threat at first glance, but there are many potential risks to Triad-area homeowners from living in close proximity to these little marsupials. Because opossums are nocturnal, most people only become aware of them when they see their pet’s food dish emptied or their trash can knocked over the next morning. 

But beside these relatively minor annoyances, there are actually the larger threats of property damage and disease posed by opossums. 

Property damage

Opossums are very adaptable and can live in all kinds of different environments. One of these options, though, is in your home! No, they aren’t likely to move into the spare room. But they are commonly found in the crawl space, attic, garage, basement and other places where they are unlikely to be bothered. 

When they are present, their waste can cause damage to insulation, wiring and drywall. They may even destroy stored possessions in your attic or garage, possibly even family heirlooms. Keeping them far away from your things is ideal. If they don’t set-up shop in or around your home, they still may chew through trash cans, dig up gardens and otherwise disturb your property.

Risk of disease:

Opossums are scavengers, which means they have very few qualms about eating dead animal carcasses, going through disgusting garbage and picking up bacteria and viruses that could put your family at risk. 

A short list of these diseases includes parasites like toxoplasmosis, bacterias like leptospirosis, and protozoa microorganisms like coccidiosis or sarcocystis neurona. These contaminants don’t just sound scary, they can cause you and your loved ones to become very sick if not quickly and properly treated. Children, pregnant women, the elderly and pets are especially at risk.  

Opossums that live within the walls of a home, even just in a crawl space or garage, are likely to be spreading some of these germs to the inhabitants. And the longer they stay around, the greater this risk is. Even just the fleas and ticks opossums carry can transfer to pets and be carried into the house, often with diseases from the opossums. . 

Don’t live with opossums. Get help!

As you read above, it’s not safe to you, your property or your loved ones to have opossums living in close quarters. It may not seem like a big deal if they are just eating from the trash every once in a while, but if they move in, the risk of disease and property damage become much greater. The good news is you don’t need to just accept this. You also don’t need to search around the internet to become an amateur opossum-exterminator. There are professionals who know how to do this the right way. 

Call Critter Control of the Triad at 336-370-0445 to learn more. We cover Guilford, Alamance and Forsyth counties in the greater Triad area of North Carolina. Our daily work is safely, effectively and affordably eliminating problem pests — including opossums — from people’s properties. Reach out and let’s discuss how we can help.