Opossums in the Walls – Prevention & Removal

We usually find opossums under porches or sheds or nesting in the crawl space or attics. If an opossum is inside the attic or crawlspace, it might explore the wall voids of the house.

It is always surprising to notice signs of an animal inside the walls. Animals like opossums or raccoons are drawn to the tight confines to create a nest to give birth. Act quickly if you notice signs of an opossum inside the wall. They are good climbers, but they can also get stuck there.

How to Identify an Opossum in the Wall

If you have noticed strange noises coming from the walls or smelling a musky odor, those are good signs of an opossum in the wall.

• Opossum noises: scratching and thumping at night is a good sign of an opossum.
• Opossum odors: Opossums create a distinctive, musky smell that comes from their scent glands, which they use to mark their territory. Also, you might notice the foul smell of feces and urine.

If it’s trapped, it may need professional removal to avoid damage or a dead animal in your wall.

How Do Opossums Get into Walls?

It is always surprising to hear signs of an animal inside your walls. Animals like opossums or raccoons get inside your walls from the attic. Opossums are great climbers, and they can climb trees near your house or scale the siding of your home.

Opossums can also get into the walls from the crawl space. They may have entered through a foundation vent or broken vent, then climbed into the wall void.

Opossum in the Wall Concerns

Having an opossum in the wall poses a health risk to people in the home. While contracting rabies is not a danger as they rarely carry the disease, opossums can spread leptospirosis, e-coli, and salmonellosis. The pests can carry parasites like fleas in their fur are vectors for even more.

Opossums in the wall will cause damage. Their climbing can cause damage. They can use insulation to create nests. Opossum nesting habits also generate unpleasant odors, and the pests may discharge a foul-smelling fluid when frightened.

Opossum Repellents

If the opossum is stuck inside the walls, no repellent or deterrent will evict the opossum!

There are over-the-counter products that claim positive results but rarely work effectively. These products include ultrasonic pest repellers, sachets with scents such as peppermint that are unpleasant to opossums, predator urine, motion-activated lights and sounds, and more.

These products have limited results as opossums become used to these tactics and are smart enough to realize they don’t pose a danger to them.

Opossum Removal & Control Services

A professional wildlife removal company has the experience and expertise to quickly, effectively, and humanely remove opossums from the walls. In certain circumstances, we need to create an opening in the wall to get rid of the opossum.

After the opossum has been removed, the experts at Critter Control identify the entry points and install exclusions to keep opossums out.

Opossum Exclusions:

• Plugging any gaps along the foundation
• Covering vents with metal vent covers
• Attaching metal flashing or quarter-inch hardware cloth to protect other openings that must be maintained for airflow or exhaust

After finding opossums in the walls, contact Critter Control for safe, professional removal.

Opossum Prevention and Habitat Modifications

When there are opossums in the walls of a home, they likely got there by climbing a tree near the residence. Trimming branches that touch the house can prevent invasion, as well as wrapping the bottom two feet of the trunk with metal flashing.