If a possum gets stuck in your house

Hey everyone, welcome to my blog where I share my experiences with wildlife and how to deal with them. Today I want to talk about what to do if a possum gets stuck in your house. Yes, you heard me right, a possum. Those furry creatures that look like giant rats with long tails and pointy noses. They are actually marsupials, not rodents, and they are native to North America. They are also nocturnal, which means they are active at night and sleep during the day.

How Did The Possums Get In?

You might be wondering how a possum can get into your house in the first place. Well, there are several ways. They can squeeze through small openings, such as vents, gaps under doors or windows, or holes in the walls or roof. They can also climb trees and jump onto your roof, then find a way into your attic or chimney. They are attracted by food sources, such as garbage cans, pet food, bird feeders, or compost piles. They might also be looking for a warm and cozy place to nest, especially if they are pregnant or have babies.

So what do you do if you find a possum in your house? First of all, don’t panic. Possums are not aggressive animals, and they will not attack you unless they feel threatened or cornered. They might hiss or show their teeth, but that’s just a bluff to scare you away. They might also play dead, which is a natural response to stress or danger. They will lie on their side, close their eyes, and drool, pretending to be dead until the threat is gone.

Create a good exit route!  

The best thing to do is to leave the possum alone and let it find its own way out. You can help by closing all the doors except for the one that leads outside and turning off the lights and making some noise to scare it away. You can also use a broom or a towel to gently guide it towards the exit but be careful not to touch it or hurt it. You should wear gloves and long sleeves to protect yourself from scratches or bites.

Call an Exterminator for Help

If the possum is stuck in a place where you can’t reach it or get it out, such as inside a wall or under a floorboard, you might need to call a professional wildlife removal service. They have the tools and expertise to safely and humanely trap and relocate the possum without causing any damage to your property or harming the animal.

Possums can cause some problems if they stay in your house for too long. They can leave droppings and urine that can stain and smell bad. They can also chew on wires, pipes, insulation, wood, or other materials that can cause fire hazards or structural damage. They can also carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, or salmonella, or parasites such as fleas, ticks, or mites.

Seal out The Possum

To prevent possums from getting into your house again, you should seal any openings that they can use to enter. You should also remove any food sources that might attract them, such as garbage cans, pet food, bird feeders, or compost piles. You should also trim any branches that touch your roof or walls and install metal flashing or mesh around your chimney or vents.

Possums are not bad animals, and they play an important role in the ecosystem by eating pests and carrion. However, they are not meant to live in your house, and they can cause some trouble if they do. I hope this blog post has helped you understand what to do if a possum gets stuck in your house. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more wildlife tips!