Opossums in the Triangle
Virginia opossums are North America's only marsupial — they carry their young in pouches just like kangaroos. In the Raleigh-Triangle area, opossums are extremely common and generally beneficial animals. A single opossum can eat up to 5,000 ticks per season, and they're naturally resistant to most snake venom, making them valuable members of the local ecosystem.
Despite their benefits, opossums become a nuisance when they move under your deck, into your crawlspace, or beneath your shed. Their droppings and urine create odor problems, and a dead opossum under a structure produces an extremely unpleasant smell that can last weeks.
Do Opossums Carry Rabies?
One of the most common questions we get is whether opossums carry rabies. The answer is that it's extremely rare. Opossums have a lower body temperature than most mammals, which makes it difficult for the rabies virus to survive in their system. While no wild animal is completely immune, the risk of rabies from an opossum is significantly lower than from raccoons, bats, or foxes.
That said, opossums can carry other diseases and parasites including leptospirosis, tuberculosis, and fleas. This is why professional removal is recommended rather than attempting to handle them yourself.
Common Opossum Problems
- Living under decks and porches — opossums seek dark, sheltered spaces to nest, especially in cooler months
- Crawlspace intrusions — they enter through damaged foundation vents or gaps in skirting
- Garbage raiding — opossums are opportunistic feeders and will tear into trash bags and bins
- Dying under structures — creates a severe odor problem that requires professional dead animal removal
- Garden damage — they dig through mulch and flower beds searching for grubs and insects
Signs of Opossum Activity
Opossums are nocturnal, so you may not see them directly. Look for large, irregularly shaped droppings (similar in size to cat droppings), tracks with a distinctive thumb-like rear toe, torn garbage bags, and digging in garden beds. You may also hear scratching or hissing sounds at night from under your deck or porch.
Our Opossum Removal Process
Rapid Wildlife Removal uses humane live-cage traps to capture and relocate opossums. After removal, we identify and seal the entry points that allowed access to crawlspaces or under-deck areas. For recurring problems, we can install exclusion barriers that permanently prevent opossum access.