Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘playing possum?’ Playing possum is a reference to the defense mechanism employed by possums, or opossums, in an attempt to convince predators that they are already dead. If you smell a nasty smell or hear scurrying during the nighttime hours, you may have an opossum and it is definitely not playing possum.

Signs of a Problem

Some signs that you may have an opossum problem include the following:

• Nocturnal scraping and shuffling sounds
• Disruptions in your trash cans, compost pile, or garden from feeding
• Missing pet food
• Opossum tracks with long finger-like marks
• Signs of messy eating

Any or all of these signs may point to an unwanted opossum in your home or business. It is now time to call for the quick response of a Critter Control wildlife technician.

In the Meantime

While you are waiting for the technician to arrive, make sure that you do not approach any opossums that you may come across as they carry diseases that can be transferred by a scrape, bite, or scratch to humans. If you feel as though you would like to do something to help the technician, just pay attention to the areas in which you hear the scraping and shuffling sounds so you can point the technician in the right direction.

Cleanup and Damage Repair

Because opossums are such messy animals, they can create quite a bit of damage to your home. After the opossum has been recovered and relocated, our professionals can help develop a plan for cleanup, repair, and prevention of future unwanted opossum guests in your home. We offer comprehensive animal control, relocation, and repair to our clients, making them happy homeowners again once the opossum or other nuisance animal has been dealt with. Call us today to learn more about our services.