What to Do If You Find an Opossum on Your Property
Opossums on your property are usually temporary visitors providing natural pest control. Learn when to let them be, how to encourage them t…
Opossums · North Alabama · Forty Years
Opossums in North Alabama — Removal, Damage, Prevention
If you're reading this, something is happening that suggests opossum. The signs are below, the damage is below, and the way we get them out — and keep them out — is below.
Licensed Alabama NWCO · Family-owned · Insured · Credentials →
About opossums in North Alabama
Opossums look intimidating but rarely fight — they play dead. They do, however, leave waste, attract flies, and tear into pet food and trash. We trap and relocate where appropriate and seal every access point.
Biology & behavior
Opossums are North America's only marsupial. Adults weigh 4–14 lbs, are typically transient, and rarely fight — they play dead. They consume large quantities of ticks and small rodents.
When this happens
Year-round activity; denning under decks and porches peaks in spring (joeys in pouch) and fall (winter shelter-seeking).
What's included on a opossum removal job
- Live trapping and removal
- Crawlspace and shed exclusion
- Waste cleanup and sanitation
- Trash and pet-food prevention advice
Signs you may have opossum activity
If two or more of these match what you're seeing or hearing, call us — we can usually identify the species over the phone before sending a truck.
- Scratching under deck at night
- Opossum visible near trash
- Hissing or play-dead behavior
- Flies clustering near crawlspace
- Torn pet-food bags
- Feces near porch
Damage we typically find
The longer opossums stay, the more the bill grows. These are the patterns we see on inspection:
- Trash disturbance
- Minor crawlspace soiling
- Pet-food raiding
- Fly attraction from feces
- Deck-skirting damage
When damage involves insulation or contamination, see our attic restoration process — that's how we leave the space safe to live in.
Health & safety risks
Low. Opossums have a body temperature unfriendly to rabies and are rarely rabies-positive in Alabama. Primary concerns are flies and feces.
Concerns we plan around on this species: low rabies risk , fly borne , leptospirosis rare .
How a opossum job runs
- Inspection. Roofline, soffits, vents, foundation, crawlspace. Every entry point gets documented before anything else happens.
- Removal. Species-appropriate method — never one-size-fits-all. Live traps, buried hardware cloth exclusion under decks and outbuildings, sealed trash and pet-food containers.
- Sealing. Hardware cloth, metal flashing, or matched replacement materials. No foam-only "fixes" that fail in six months.
- Cleanup. Droppings, nesting material, contaminated insulation — handled with the right gear and disposal.
- Follow-up. We return to confirm the exclusion held and address anything missed.
Where we run possum trapping jobs
The North Alabama towns below see this work most often. Pick the nearest for local context — entry points and timing vary by town.
Related species we also handle
Many calls that start as opossums turn out to involve more than one species — or share entry points with these:
Authority & regulation reading
FAQs
Common opossum questions
We handle squirrels, raccoons, bats, skunks, snakes, birds, moles, armadillos, and other nuisance wildlife common to Alabama homes.
Yes. All removal methods are humane and designed to safely evict animals without unnecessary harm whenever possible.
Yes. We locate and seal entry points to prevent animals from returning after removal.
Absolutely. Attics and crawlspaces are common nesting areas, and we specialize in safely removing wildlife from these spaces.
Yes. Our exclusion work focuses on preventing future infestations, not just removing the current animals.
Yes, but methods may vary to protect young animals while still resolving the issue safely and legally.
From the blog
Read more on opossum
When to Call Professional Wildlife Control Services
Learn to recognize situations where professional wildlife control is essential rather than optional, protecting your family's safety, …
Understanding Seasonal Wildlife Activity Patterns
Discover how wildlife behavior changes throughout the year and learn to align your prevention strategies with seasonal patterns to protect …
How Much Does Wildlife Removal Cost in Alabama?
Wildlife removal in Alabama typically runs $300–$1,800 depending on species, location, and damage. Here's an honest breakdown of what drive…
Need opossum help in North Alabama today?
Most jobs scheduled within 24–48 hours.
→