How To Keep Opossums Out Of Your Yard, According To Experts

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With its rat-like tail and hairless ears, the humble opossum doesn’t get a lot of respect. But North America’s only native marsupial, or pouched animal, plays a valuable role in nature. “Opossums are opportunistic omnivores,” says Sheldon Owen, PhD, wildlife extension specialist atWest Virginia University. “They eat everything from plants to garbage to carrion, providing essential ecological cleanup services.”

Worms, frogs, crayfish, insects such as grubs,cockroaches and beetles, snakes, birds,mice, fruit, nuts, pet food, and compost are all on the menu for opossums. They even may raid a chicken coop when the opportunity presents itself, says Owen.

Generally, this curious-looking creature that’s about the size of a cat rarely causes problems for the homeowner. “It may dig in your yard looking for bugs, but they’re not strong diggers like armadillos,” says Michael Mengak, PhD, Certified Wildlife Biologist and professor,Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. “Or it may move in under your crawl space, porch or shed.”

• Sheldon Owen, PhD, is a wildlife extension specialist at West Virginia University.
• Michael Mengak, PhD, is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and professor, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources at the University of Georgia.
  

Not particularly. When cornered,an opossum may screech, hiss like a cat and bare its teeth–it has 50, which is much more than most mammals! But it’s generally docile and would rather run away, says Owen.

If faced with a threat it can’t escape, it will