Fall is here! What comes to mind? Pumpkin lattes, foliage, and rodent control wait what?!
Yes, you read that right! As soon as the weather starts to feel cooler and temperatures start to drop, it’s time for you as a homeowner to begin preparing for, or at least think about, rodent control.
Texas is big, and it has a good dose of wildlif and it’s something you need to pay attention to as a homeowner.
Why?
Because without preparation, wildlife and rodent season can be a dangerous combination for your property.
When rodent season takes its toll in Texas, opossums are one of the most common perpetrators.
And unprotected properties are their hotels.
Below we dig into five things you need to know about opossums.
- Easily Misidentified
Thanks to their striking resemblance to large house cats, the Opossum (or popularly “possum” here down south) may go under your search radar, especially in the dark, if you’re not familiar with what one looks like.
However, looking closely, possums spot dark gray bodies, a white face, and a pink nose. Their teeth, numbering 50, is the most of any land-living mammal.
Further, opossums also pride opposable limbs, a feature only seen in humans and primates. This mobility structure allows them to thrive in both wooded areas and urban settlements.
So, why worry about opossums taking refuge in your property?
Well, because they are built for the wild, and like any other wild pest, you don’t really want them close.
2. A Disease Threat
While possums will not bring parvovirus, distemper, or feline hepatitis into your homes as dogs and cats do, they are still a potential disease threat.
In urban environments, for instance, possums are habitats for cat and dog fleas.
Plus, they can transport tuberculosis, spotted fever, and leptospirosis to wherever their trip takes them.
3. They Are Tough To Repel
These pesky creatures are aided by opposable limbs, put to good use in climbing hard-to-reach areas.
Although opossums are not notorious for staying long in property, their short-lived presence can cause havoc in more ways than one.
In addition, opossums are tricky creatures, reputed for playing dead on sensing an enemy close by, meaning you may have a hard time tracking their movements in your property.
4. They Are Not Picky Eaters
Opossums do not select what they eat. Anything available works.
And so, ridding your home of insects, worms, and food crevices is an excellent first step to building an impenetrable fortress ahead of Opossums season.
In urban areas, these critters treat themselves to pet food and trash left outdoors. Fruits and nuts are also welcome delicacies.
5. But They Can Be Controlled
Opossums are not entirely harmful to urban life. As a matter of fact, the Wildlife Rescue League identifies these critters as excellent scavengers.
If you have opossums in your home, they are likely helping you get rid of other rodents, insects, and carrion.
On the flip side, they are a nuisance themselves as they will cause chaos in your home, running around trying to build a nest and snack on anything they choose.
But good news is, they can be controlled.
The following tips should get you started controlling Opossums.
- Dispose of trash properly not outdoors
If you have garden crops and fruit nearby, ensure to pick them when they are ripe to ward off possums, and don’t leave rotten ones anywhere accessible to critters.
If not, opossums will see this as a good invite. Remember, they don’t reject meals.
- Clear access routes
These include brush piles, holes under concrete slabs, and any visible burrows providing entry into your property.
Lock pet doors tight, especially at night since pet doors are also occasional access routes for possums.
- Turn to traps
Opossums are not evasive creatures, making traps another uber-effective way to rid them of your property. A fish-flavored canned cat food may work as bait to help capture while you wait for a rodent control professional to take it away.
If you didn’t know much about opossums before, or are unsure how to eliminate them from your home, we hope you’ve found this article helpful.
Leaving rodents unattended could spell disaster for your priced property.
As you already know, you can take the DIY route, but as with any other rodent season threat, your best step is prevention.
Unfortunately, fully ridding your home of opossums and other rodents can be both challenging and time-consuming.
Enter the Experts
With a truckload of tasks queued up at work and family time already suffering, chasing critters is unlikely an exciting activity.
For the busy homeowner, having the experts come in is the way to go for the best rodent control solutions.
This way, you go into rodent season without fearing exposing your property to wildlife and their nuisance.
Third Coast Home and Commercial Services can help you with rodent control in your home, freeing you to spend more time on things you love.
We have over a decade of experience providing thorough inspections in thousands of homes and providing homeowners with peace of mind and rodent-free properties.
Whether you are simply looking to take preventative measures or are currently battling wildlife and rodentsin your property, we will provide a tailored strategy for you.
Our goal is to help you take control of your property and drive rodents to where they are meant to be – in the wild.