How to deal with possum family?

I have a funky concrete pad outside of my garage side door that has a gap underneath it. There’s a hole on the side that has allowed some possum to move in. I counted at least 3 youngins and I thought I saw the momma just after sunset today.

What’s the best way to go about removing these? Trap one by one and seal hole afterwards? Looks like the young are old enough to move about, so I’m not too worried about one getting stuck underneath - but if anyone has experience removing possum I would appreciate your advice!

Video for context. And if these guys were elsewhere on my property (I live deep in the woods) I wouldn’t worry, but this abuts my home and I don’t exactly know with 100% certainty that they can’t wriggle in somehow.

in Connecticutby johnsonutah

78%

14d

Pruedrive

The 860

14d

I’d name them and leave them be, but that’s me.

Intelligent_Town_622

14d

Don’t even try. It’s impossumble.

pilcase

13d

I would probably wait until after they've grown up and then gone off to find their own territory. After that - if mother remains - contact animal control (they definitely remove things like skunks, squirrels, raccoons, groundhogs, and possums) or if you want to do it yourself, buy a havahart trap, put some catfood out, hopefully catch the possum instead of something else, fill in the gap, then release on your property.

The last part is really important because it is illegal to relocate an animal because of potential rabies spread. It's also considered inhumane because their chances of survival in a completely foreign territory is really low based on studies done.

Or alternatively - fill in the gap when the mother isn't there and the babies have left.

Environmental_Log344

13d

Ironic about rabies. I read somewhere on Reddit that possums do not get rabies.

johnsonutah

13d

Thanks - any sense for how old these ones may be based on the video? / how long until they move on out?

I’ll probably wait this out a few weeks but may reach out to a local wildlife rehabber in the meantime

pilcase

13d

Babies usually stay in the mother's pouch for 2.5 months and then weaned at 3 months. By 4.5 months they are independent.

If I were to take a wild guess - 4-6 weeks at most if you're seeing them independently crawl around. Hard to tell their size from the video without a good reference, but they are usually 7-9 inches long from nose to butt at 4 months.

Their lifespan is really short - 1-2 years in the wild. 3-4 domesticated.

yudkib

13d

1-2 years?!?! Wow that’s crazy

pilcase

13d

Yep for an animal their size - remarkably short.

Jahweez

13d

I do nuisance wildlife control in CT. I’ve never trapped an oppossum on purpose, they are very unproblematic. I also doubt they are getting into the house, thats probably just where mom birthed and raised her young. They will likely move on in a few weeks as the young grow older and more independent. If one or more remains and you want to evict them, either hire someone or buy a one way door and do it yourself. Install one way door, wait a week, take it down, fill in hole.

User deleted comment

14d

johnsonutah

-2

14d

Because they may be able to get into my house or basement, and because I’ve been planning to seal up this hole with some new concrete. Sure as shit when I looked under there to make sure nothing had nested, these fellas were there

dirtsequence

-9

13d

They really don't eat ticks.

PlayerOneDad

13d

Dunno why this is being downvoted. This has been debunked, but opossums are still great.

Scarecrow_Kayak

13d

The original study was based on captive possums, and ticks that fell off vs remained on them, and concluded that possums eat ticks that get on them through grooming, the estimated numbers from this got greatly exaggerated.

The debunking studies measured stomach contents and looked for tick parts and said after not finding significant evidence of remnants concluded that they aren't a preferred food source.

Both studies seem to be pushing way too far in one direction, the only real deduction is that possums groom themselves and eat ticks on them in the process, how many that would ultimately be can't really be definitively said. But the fact they are naturally resistant to Lyme disease and rabies due to their body temperature means anything they do eat is a win for us.

PsyrusTheGreat

🍰

The 860

13d

I'd leave them, for free rodent and tick defense. They'll move on on their own once they grow up.

Purple_Grass_5300

14d

Ignore them

SuperSaiyanAssHair

13d

Throw bags of shit in there.

MarineC88

13d

extremely underrated comment

Flimsy-Field-8321

13d

Possums are a force for good in the world! They are not aggressive to humans at all, and keep ticks and rodents at bay. I would name them and provide cat food. Or call these guys: https://ferncroftwildlife.com/

Mtsteel67

13d

possums are good to have around, they eat a lot of ticks and other insects.

wait till they are grown and fill that area in.

Some people even keep them as pets.

lilith_-_-

14d

They like cat food. If you give them a couple months they’ll be gone

RunnyDischarge

13d

I call the big one Bitey

Toxicotton

13d

Rats or opossums, and you MUST pick one.

SoxMcPhee

12d

How about you leave the the Frick alone?

SoxMcPhee

11d

I have to come back to this. These creatures have only 2- 3 years only and this investment creep wants them gone. You are gross.

johnsonutah

11d

Lmao this is my primary residence and decided to let them be until they are a few months older, at which point they will vacate anyways.

Seek help

Porschenut914

14d

animal control or DEEP?

johnsonutah

14d

I’ll reach out - I think our animal control only deals with your typical domesticated animals. I think there may be some dedicated animal rehabbers though who can provide advice too

SoxMcPhee

-1

12d

Hopefully they all tell you to get bent.

hanzo1356

14d

Lure with food or such maybe so they come out and quickly block off entry back in?

dirtsequence

-1

13d

Had some in my basement and we trapped them and put them in the woods across the street.

jawells630

-4

Fairfield County

13d

Looks more like opossums to me :) Try spreading chili powder in there. I remember reading somewhere they will avoid areas where you spread it. Seems like a cheap enough solution to give it a shot.

jackrimbeau

-3

14d

Seems like something a professional would need to handle.

MarineC88

-3

13d

honestly, if you want them gone forever, go to any walmart and get a pellet gun, fixes the problem forever, trust me

SoxMcPhee

12d

I'm sure more than on person has thought the same about you.

MarineC88

12d

idk what the problem is tbh, i mean you dont HAVE to shoot them but if they want them gone. The poster asked for options, we give them options, and shooting them is an option.

SoxMcPhee

12d

Eat a bullet?

MarineC88

11d

*pellet

slowwolfcat

-5

Fairfield County

14d

this is a view of what ?