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Atlanta Opossum Removal

A mother opossum and her babies in a trap after being removed from a house by a wildlife removal company.

Opossums are rather odd-looking animals that are sometimes described as looking like they were assembled from "God's spare parts." They're medium-sized mammals, usually predominantly white or gray in color, with canine-like jaws, rat-like prehensile tails, and hands and feet whose tracks somewhat resemble those of a miniature human. They also have opposable "thumbs" on their hind feet, and females have pouches in which they rear their young. The opossum is the only marsupial native to North America.

In nature, possums preferentially live in trees; but they're also comfortable living on ground level. Opossums can be found in any part of a house from the basement or crawl space to the attic, as well as in garages, sheds, and other buildings. Opossums are also happy eating our food (or our pets' food), and often rummage through human garbage looking for leftovers. They'll eat pretty much anything, dead or alive, both in nature and in human-occupied areas.

In fact, the opossum's adaptability is the secret to its success. They have very few set habits or absolute needs. They are flexible in their approach to life and live without complaints in a wide variety of settings, making do with whatever nature -- or people -- provide. They live pretty much anywhere, eat pretty much anything, and go about their business.

Interesting Facts about Opossums

Probably the most well-known bit of information about possums is their peculiar habit of "playing dead" when confronted or attacked. Most biologists don't believe that this behavior is completely voluntary. It seems to be an involuntary reaction -- something like fainting -- over which possums have little or no control.

We do know that playing dead is something that opossums do after more typical methods of confronting the threat -- growling, snarling, snapping, screeching, and so forth -- have failed. When playing dead, opossum's faces look frozen in a snarl, and they secrete a foul-smelling fluid from their anal glands, presumably to discourage predators from eating them. Most carnivores won't eat meat that smells rotten.

Another interesting thing about opossums is that although they have extraordinarily strong immune systems and are resistant to most diseases, they also have very short life spans. This isn't just because of their habit of walking across roads and getting run over by cars. They just have very rapid senescence, which means they age very quickly.

Opossums as Nuisance Animals

In nature, opossums are somewhat beneficial because they do consume their share of rodents. But because they're omnivorous, they can be a nuisance in gardens and on farms, where they sometimes eat the crops. In homes, they're a nuisance mainly because they make a mess and scare people. And although they very rarely attack, it does happen sometimes when they're cornered.

Like other wild animals, opossums also harbor their fair share of parasites such as fleas and ticks, some of which can transmit diseases to humans and pets. Their droppings can also harbor bacterial and fungal pathogens that can become airborne, and some of which can cause human illnesses.

One place you definitely don't want opossums is around a stable. Possums are known to be involved in the transmission of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), a serious disease affecting horses and other equines. Opossums around horses are a wildlife-control emergency.

Another possible health threat worth mentioning is that opossums have remarkably strong immune systems and are largely resistant to many common diseases, including rabies. But that doesn't mean that they can't transmit it. The results of several studies suggest at least the possibility that opossums infected with rabies can continue to live out their normal life spans, during which they theoretically could infect humans or other animals.

Opossum Removal and Control

Like most of the wildlife control that we do, opossum control typically consists of trapping and removing the opossum from your attic, crawl space, garage, or wherever else they've gotten into; and then sealing up your house to keep opossums and other wildlife out. Opossum exclusion will also keep many other animals, such as raccoons and skunks, out of a home.

Sometimes, however, all we need to do is remove the animal, either by trapping or by hand, and relocate it. This is the case when, for example, an opossum gets into a garage or basement because the door was left open. In that case, the obvious solution (once we remove the opossum) is to keep the door closed when it's not in use.

Please contact us if you have a problem with opossums or any other nuisance wildlife.

Opossum Control Gallery

Here are a few pictures of opossum-removal work we've done in Atlanta and the Metro Area.

Left pointing arrow. Right pointing arrow.
The left two-thirds of the rusty metal foundation vent is missing, and the huge gap allowed opossums into the crawl space of a stone house in Lithonia, Georgia.
How the opossums got into this Lithonia home
A triangular gap in the stone wall where an electrical wire passes through that allowed a young opossum into a house in Oxford, Georgia.
Opossum gap through a stone wall in Atlanta
A foundation vent cover is completely missing from the rectangular opening in a brick wall which allowed opossums to get into the crawl space of a house in Decatur Georgia.
How opossums got into this house in Decatur
A gap about six inches high between the floor joists of an extension where they meet the foundation allowed opossums into the crawl space of a house in Newnan Georgia.
Opossum gap under an extension in Newnan
A brick that was removed from the foundation for unknown reasons left a rectangular gap that allowed opossums into the crawl space of a house in Atlanta Georgia.
Man-made opossum gap into a house in Atlanta
An adult opossum climbing a tree with the intention of getting into the attic of a house in Newnan Georgia.
Opossum in a tree outside a house in Newnan
Young opossum standing sideways in the far end of a cage type trap after being removed from a house in Atlanta.
Young Opossum Removed from a House in Atlanta
Opossums pushed aside the hardware cloth that a handyman used to try to seal them out of the crawl space of a house in Marietta Georgia.
Handyman possum-proofing attempt in Marietta
An opossum in a cage type trap sitting on the tailgate of a pickup truck after being removed from the crawl space of a house in Atlanta.
Opossum removed from a crawl space in Atlanta
A foundation vent cover that simply fell out of the foundation allowed opossums into the crawl space of a house in Cartersville Georgia.
How opossums got into this Cartersville home
Man applying sealant to bricks in front of two traps to force an opossum in the crawl space of a Douglasville Georgia home to enter the traps.
Opossum removal from a crawl in Douglasville
Opossum dropping near a French drain through the brick wall and into the crawl space of a house in Marietta Georgia.
Opossum evidence in a crawl space in Marietta
The foundation vent has fallen out of the wall and is laying on the ground in front of the hole that allowed an opossum into a Marietta Georgia home.
How an opossum got into this house in Marietta
Young opossum in a cage trap awaiting relocation to the wild after being trapped and removed from a house in Atlanta.
Young opossum removed from a house in Atlanta
Young opossum with a fierce expression being held in the gloved hand of an animal control technician after being removed from the attic of a house in Atlanta.
Young opossum removed from an attic in Atlanta
Missing and loose bricks in the foundation need to be repaired to keep opossums out of the crawl space of a house in Atlanta.
Opossum entry gap into an Atlanta crawl space
Live opossum inside a cage type trap sniffing at the ground and awaiting relocation after being removed from the attic of a house in Johns Creek Georgia
Opossum removed from a house in Johns Creek
The foundation vent on a brick house in Ellenwood Georgia is completely missing which allowed opossums to get into the crawl space of the house
How opossums got into this house in Ellenwood
Young adult opossum in a cage trap snarling at the camera after being removed from the attic of a house in Johns Creek Georgia
Opossum removed from a house in Johns Creek
A softball sized hole has rotted out of a metal foundation vent cover which allowed an opossum to get into the crawl space of an Atlanta home
How a possum got into this crawl space in Atlanta
Opossum poop in the crawl space of a house in Atlanta
Opossum droppings in a house in Atlanta
Gap of about four inches in the foundation where an electrical conduit passes through allowed a young opossum into the crawl space
Opossum entry point into an Atlanta home
Foundation vent was taken out of a cinder block foundation wall of an Atlanta home and opossums got in through the opening
Opossum entry gap in Atlanta
The insulation has been torn from the framing and there are droppings from an opossum in the attic of a house in Atlanta
Opossum made a mess in an attic in Atlanta
The door of a garage in Marietta Georgia is propped up on two bricks and the opossum simply in under the door
How opossums got into a garage in Marietta
Opossums got into a house in Atlanta because a row of cinder blocks right under the bottom of the siding were removed
How opossums got into an Atlanta crawl space
Young opossum in a cage trap after being removed from a house in Atlanta
Opossum removed from a house in Atlanta

 

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Spending this Sunday resting up for a big week ahead.
by Chad W.
Sep 10, 2023 08:32:59 am.

Another happy customer in Atlanta. House sealed. Traps set. Got it done before the storms came in.
by Chad W.
Aug 30, 2023 02:30:26 pm.

Finished up an exclusion before it for too hot outside. Perks of getting up early and getting started.
by Chad W.
Aug 26, 2023 11:03:43 am.

Resting up for another full week of critter ridding.
by Chad W.
Aug 20, 2023 06:11:58 pm.

There is nothing like waking up and looking forward to going to going to work. I love my job and am blessed to be in the position I’m in.
by Chad W.
Aug 19, 2023 07:28:21 am.

Headed to Birmingham to do a raccoon quote. Got another raccoon quote in irondale. Squirrels will be active soon. Call Ridacritter for your free exclusion quote.
by Chris Scott
Aug 18, 2023 09:57:39 am.

A dentist office in Stone Mountain has a dead animal smell that needs checked out this morning
by Chad W.
Aug 16, 2023 07:11:34 am.

Sun’s out in Marietta. Getting hot
by Chad W.
Aug 14, 2023 02:51:31 pm.

Sun’s out in Marietta. Getting hot
by Chad W.
Aug 14, 2023 10:59:56 am.

Headed to Birmingham to seal a bottom transition that snake are entering through. We have a big bat exclusion in sylacauga today.
by Chris Scott
Aug 11, 2023 09:45:07 am.

Installed some crawlspace vent covers in Cartersville then checked out some gutters in Big Canoe
by Chad W.
Aug 09, 2023 02:13:17 pm.

Villa Rica to get some materials, Cartersville to screen some crawlspace vents, then Big Canoe to clean out a gutter for a customer. Busy day
by Chad W.
Aug 09, 2023 06:04:59 am.

Started with bats I Talbotton Ga, Bats in the attic in Manchester Ga. Now to Tyrone Ga for rodents in a home.
by Jason Arruda
Aug 01, 2023 12:52:34 pm.

On the way to Brookhaven this morning to seal a rental house
by Chad W.
Aug 01, 2023 06:42:56 am.

Taking this Sunday to rest up for a big week. Gonna be a hot one
by Chad W.
Jul 30, 2023 08:20:46 am.

Mountains this morning to check out some carpenter bee and woodpecker damage then to Atlanta to trap a raccoon that’s trying to break in
by Chad W.
Jul 18, 2023 06:42:06 am.

Mountains this morning to check out some carpenter bee and woodpecker damage then to Atlanta to trap a raccoon that’s trying to break in
by Chad W.
Jul 17, 2023 06:12:21 am.

Headed to Tuscaloosa. Going to quote a client that has rats and bats. Got a few traps to check around the Birmingham area. Then to Lincoln for a flying squirrel quote.
by Chris Scott
Jul 13, 2023 08:23:51 am.

Villa Rica this morning to pick up some material then to Cartersville to look at a house with problems in the crawlspace
by Chad W.
Jul 12, 2023 05:50:08 am.

Quoting exclusions today, Tifton Ga bats this morning and more bats in Americus Ga this afternoon. Bats in the attic, bats in the house!
by Jason Arruda
Jul 11, 2023 01:35:50 pm.

Headed to Loganville Ga this morning to seal a house and install ridgeguard. Then to Duluth to check some traps
by Chad W.
Jul 11, 2023 06:30:46 am.

Another happy customer in Duluth Ga
by Chad W.
Jul 09, 2023 11:27:57 am.

Atlanta this morning to seal a house and do some ridgeguard. Then to Cleveland Ga to seal some carpenter bee holes
by Chad W.
Jul 07, 2023 06:46:37 am.

In Anniston to look a customer’s chimney. I believe he has chimney swifts nesting in the flue pipe. Going to Leeds after that to set some mouse traps. Couple stops in Birmingham for squirrels and rats later today.
by Chris Scott
Jul 05, 2023 09:10:06 am.

Another good day in the critter industry in the south ga region. Time to call it a day.
by Jason Arruda
Jun 28, 2023 05:53:20 pm.

We will be going around removing traps and deodorizing now that we have stopped all critter activity. Love seeing happy customers!
by Brandon C.
Jun 28, 2023 06:41:28 am.

Atlanta bound this morning. Taking down some funnel traps and deodorizing attics
by Chad W.
Jun 28, 2023 05:36:17 am.

Started off today having to get a new phone. At the end of the day we have more Exclusions lined up. Customers from Williamson Ga to Macon Ga. Also saw some clients in Sharpsburg and Peachtree City.
by Jason Arruda
Jun 27, 2023 04:01:52 pm.

Headed to Lilburn Ga for a bat quote
by Chad W.
Jun 20, 2023 01:41:56 pm.

Got a few stops in Albany Ga today.
by Jason Arruda
Jun 20, 2023 10:34:47 am.

Rainy day isn’t going to stop production. Lawrenceville, Tucker, Atlanta.
by Chad W.
Jun 19, 2023 07:15:41 am.

Warm Springs Ga bats, Newnan Ga rats just to start off today.
by Jason Arruda
Jun 15, 2023 11:18:36 am.

The Atlanta, Georgia office of Rid-A-Critter provides opossum removal and control in all of Metro Atlanta including the City of Atlanta and the communities of Berkeley Lake, Buckhead, Cartersville, College Park, Conyers, Decatur, Douglasville, Duluth, Dunwoody, Fayetteville, Hull, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, Lithonia, Loganville, Mableton, Marietta, McDonough, Newnan, Norcross, Peachtree City, Powder Springs, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Stone Mountain, and Vinings. We are fully licensed and insured.

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