When English naturalist John Lawson explored what is now North and South Carolina in 1700-1701, he was in awed by what he described as one of the strangest creatures he had ever seen. “It is,” he wrote, “the Wonder of all the Land-Animals.”
You’ve probably seen it, too. Probably right in your own back yard. It’s an opossum, or, if you prefer, ’possum.
One of Florida’s most common mammals, the opossum is indeed a wonder. It is North America’s most well-known marsupial
, related to kangaroos because it rears its young in a fur-lined pouch, which makes it unique among Florida mammals. Just as unique is its rat like, prehensile tail that helps it climb trees, hold onto branches and carry bundles of leaves to build a den.
No less strange is its body. The size of a large house cat, the opossum has beady eyes, a pink, snout-like nose and a mouth with 50 sharp teeth (the most of any North American mammal). Its hind paws resemble human hands. Its thick, gray fur always looks disheveled.
All of this has made the opossum one of America’s most studied and written-about creatures. It has inspired countless folk tales and phrases, such as “playing ‘possum,” which comes from its behavior of feigning death when threatened.
Possums are usually harmless. Aside from being funny-looking, they usually don't bother anyone. But when an opossum takes up residence in your attic, garage, shed, barn, or other building and doesn't leave on its own within a few days, then opossum control needed. 'Possum trapping should be followed by exclusion to keep opossums out in the future.
Most damage caused by opossums occur during the winter and early spring. They will destroy soffits, tear off shingles, damage crawl space vents and take off sewer vent caps just to gain access to your home. Once inside they will destroy insulation and wires to modify the house to their liking. Opossum droppings pose another threat altogether. Their droppings may contain a variety of diseases harmful to pets and humans.
If you think you have an opossum problem, contact a reputable wildlife removal professional like Miller’s Rodent and Wildlife Solutions to have the opossum humanely trapped and relocated. Call Miller’s Rodent and Wildlife Solutions at 941-302-6009 today to schedule your inspection.
Comments