Welcome to a quick guide to wildlife control in Rhode Island, with a particular emphasis on opossums. While some might think that opossums are cute, there’s no denying that these animals don’t belong in our backyards.
But if you start to notice opossums in your yard or somewhere else on your property, it’s difficult to know what to do next. After all, these aren’t like insect pests. You can’t just run after them with a fly swatter and call it a day.
If you’re struggling with opossums on your property or just want to learn more, then you’re definitely in the right place. This article will describe common opossum behaviors, cover the problems they can cause, and suggest prevention strategies for keeping these pests far away from your backyard. Let’s get started.
Opossum Behavior And Habits: Understanding Their Traits And Patterns
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a wildlife expert to understand why opossums do what they do. Like any other creature, opossums seek shelter, food, and water. Opossums can live in burrows, inside hollow tree trunks, or in rock formations. They can also sneak into attics and basements.
Opossums are nocturnal, so you’re much more likely to see them active at night unless roused from their shelter. Also, unless you see a mother opossum with her joeys, opossums will usually be on their own.
Food is one of the most common reasons why opossums enter our yards. Opossums can eat a wide variety of things, from fruit to vegetables to insects. Your backyard may provide all three.
Put simply, if your home no longer offers opossums shelter, food, or water, they’ll be forced to look somewhere else.
The Impact Of Opossums: Property Damage And Health Concerns
Opossums in Rhode Island are unique pests in many ways, but something that makes them similar to other types of pests is the fact they can cause both property damage and health risks.
In terms of health risks, opossums can spread a number of different diseases, such as toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and leptospirosis. They don’t have the same hygiene standards as ours, so they can easily contaminate surfaces and spaces.
But opossums can also cause serious property damage to Lawrenceville homes in the course of their daily activities. For example, opossums, due to their size, can cause serious damage to your home when trying to get inside. They also might damage fences when trying to run across. Of course, opossums can also tear apart building materials inside your home to build their nests.
The good news is professional wildlife removal can mitigate and prevent these problems by removing opossums as quickly and efficiently as possible, but we’ll have more info on control at the end of the article.
Proactive Opossum Prevention Strategies: Safeguarding Your Property
Deterrence is always preferable to wildlife trapping.
To help you prevent opossums from making their homes near your home, we’ve compiled some highly useful prevention strategies to try out:
- Install fences around vulnerable gardens that are at least four feet tall.
- Make sure there are no entry points to your home. Block off vents, ducts, and other openings.
- Use motion-activated sprinklers during the warmer months to deter curious opossums.
- Check that your garbage cans close tightly and stay closed overnight.
- Spray the area around your home and garden with a basic mixture of water and peppermint oil. The scent discourages opossums from coming near.
Each and every one of these tips will make your home far less likely to attract an opossum in the future.
Professional Opossum Control Services: Why Choose Expert Assistance
Rhode Island wildlife removal is the best path forward if you’re experiencing an opossum problem. There’s simply no replacing the efficiency and expertise of professional pest control companies.
Pest control providers can also provide inspections to confirm or refute an opossum presence on your property. If present, professionals can safely remove the opossum so that your home can go back to normal.
If you need wildlife control services for opossums, get in touch with us at Big Blue Bug Solutions right away. We’ll be happy to help.