Here at Animal Capture Wildlife Control we specialize in opossum removal and opossum trapping!  We come out to your location and do under floor inspections and attic inspections for the opossums while they are still in the attic and under floor. We also set up humane traps for the opossum and remove them from your property.  Opossums are very dangerous animals and should only be handled by professionals. They also carry fleas, ticks, and many diseases.  Here at Animal Capture Wildlife Control we respond to opossums it attics, opossums in under floors, opossums in trash cans, opossums on roofs, and opossums that come in your home through the cat door.

BIOLOGY

Opossums are the only marsupials (pouched mammals) in North America. They breed from January through November and produce two litters per year. The undeveloped young are born 13 days after mating. They crawl to the female pouch (marsupium) and attach themselves to one of the 7 – 13 teats. Development continues in the pouch for 7 – 8 weeks. Young opossums will stay with the female until they are weaned at about 4 months-of-age. Except for females with young, opossums are solitary animals. Opossums are omnivores and eat a wide variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat, eggs, insects, carrion, pet food, and garbage. They are found in many different habitats from woodlands to highly developed residential areas. In urban areas, they have been found living in attics, garages, chimneys, woodpiles, under houses or decks, or in any place that offers protection. Although they are very common in urban areas, opossums are not often seen due to their nocturnal habits.

DISEASE

Opossums are carriers of many diseases: tuberculosis, relapsing fever, herpes virus, tularemia, salmonella, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, Chagas Disease, yellow fever, and rabies (rarely). They are important reservoirs for leptospirosis (hemorrhagic jaundice) in wildlife and humans. Leptospirosis is transmitted through the urine and feces of infected animals. Humans frequently pick up the disease by eating unwashed produce or windfall fruit or by putting unwashed hands to their mouth (gum, cigarettes, etc.). Opossums are also heavily infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice which are known carriers and transmitters of disease.  For more information on opossums check out our website at animalcapturewildlifecontrol.com