What kind of damage do opossums cause in an attic or under a
house?
Opossums can cause significant damage to the attic and under the
house, and the most prominent damage is the deposition of their
waste materials. As wild animals, opossums will require nesting
materials when hiding in the attic and under the house, and they can
get some of these nesting materials within the attic. Opossums are
known to excrete a lot of waste materials, and these can be
unsightly inside the attic. The animals are capable of turning the
attic to their toilet, and the turds they leave behind can be very
large. Opossum waste materials are known to stink a lot, and can
even cause diseases.
When in the attic, Opossums can tear up the air duct, especially
when the animal has been trapped. Most opossums will use their sharp
teeth and claws to tear and break air ducts and every other thing
around the material. When the air duct is torn, it will require a
replacement immediately. Opossums are known to be great climbers,
and they grow large quickly, therefore, they must not be allowed to
stay inside attics for too long. Aside from damaging the air ducts,
opossums are also known to damage insulators and electric wires
around the attic. When insulators are wire cables are damaged
through cuts, there is an increased risk of fires accident that can
lead to the burning of the entire property.
One of the mistakes people make when trying to remove Opossums from
under a house or attic is blocking their exit point. When you block
the animal’s exit point, you give it the opportunity to cause more
damage. It is far better to allow the animal exit its entry point to
the attic before blocking it. Since Opossums are capable of
inhabiting the entire attic, the possible way to get rid of them is
to set traps because they are known to run into traps readily. When
setting traps, make sure you use bait, which could be fruit, nut, or
seeds. Opossums caught in lethal traps must be disposed of
immediately as heir carcasses are known to deteriorate and stink
quickly. Opossums that are trapped alive must also be relocated,
some thousands of kilometers away from the trapped position.
Trapped Opossums must not be fed, and if possible, they should be
transferred to animal rehabilitation centers where they can be
properly integrated into their communities and given medical
attention.
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