Opossums in the Kitchen - What to Do Next

Coming across an actual live animal in your house is no longer a new thing - we've all been there. Whether it's a rat, a mouse, or something larger than that, such as an opossum or a skunk, these critters are overstepping the mark all over the place, not just in America, but all over the globe. 

Opossums are one of the biggest species in the United States, an animal that cannot jump, but can climb really well, dig pretty well, and eat more than you'd ever think was imaginable for a creature that isn't actually that big at all. It measures up to about the same size as the average house cat. 

If you've ever been up against a particularly angry house cat, you'll know that the scenario is never usually pleasant, with scratches and bites all over your arms. The same is probably going to happen if you come up against a feisty opossum, although there is a chance that the animal will turn to its primary defence mechanism, which is to play dead. 

Bearing that in mind, do not approach the animal. An opossum in your house is going to be even more scared than you are, and animals act in very unpredictable ways when they are scared, even house pets. Anger, aggression, whatever it needs to do is what that opossum will do to get out of that situation, and if you are in the firing line, good luck to you. 

If you can get the opossum confined to one space or room, that's great. The more locked-in you can get the animal, the better. The last thing you will want is for it to go bezerk all around the rest of the house, upsetting the kids, other family members, and your dog, so if you can shut the door and leav it in one room, do that. Do not attempt to approach the animal or confine the animal to a container unless you have full arm, hand, and upper torso protection. It will bite and scratch to break free of your clutches, and it has up to fifty sharp teeth in that mouth. You're not going to want to let your hands or any other part of your body get too close. 

If the opossum in the kitchen or home is a one-off situation, likely induced by an open back door and pie on the countertop, opening the back or front door or even a window might just encourage the critter to scamper off. If you can't be sure that it is a one-off, however, you will want to think twice about chucking the animal out the back door. One opossum rarely moves into a home; it is almost always a female with around 5 to 20 joeys either on her back, in her pouch, or in the nest. You must do your investigations before you close the case - are there other signs of opossums or opossum damage? Is there a chance that there could be more? 

An expert opossum removal operator will be able to tell you. After a home inspection, you will be given a full report that includes not only potential damage spots - areas where wild critters could get inside - but also current damage spots, whether or not they have been sealed/filled and with what materials, and also the best modifications or changes you can make to prevent the problem from ever returning once he or she has gone. At least then, you will know that the opossum that was in your kitchen has definitely gone, under the watchful eye of the professional you hired, and that there won't be the pitter-patter of little tiny opossums surprises in a few weeks.



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