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If you need opossum removal, Quick Kill Exterminating Co. has been handling opossum problems across Chicago’s North Shore and northwest suburbs since 1990. The Virginia opossum is North America’s only native marsupial, and it is a common presence in our service area. While opossums are generally non-aggressive, they become a genuine nuisance when they take up residence in or around your home.
Opossums sheltering under your deck, inside your garage, or in your crawl space create sanitation problems and attract secondary pests. In addition, they occasionally die in inaccessible spaces — creating severe odor issues that require professional help to resolve.
Opossums are nocturnal, nomadic animals that travel widely in search of food and shelter. Unlike raccoons and squirrels, which establish fixed den sites, opossums use multiple shelter locations on a rotating basis. As a result, they may shelter under porches, decks, sheds, and stoops one week, then move to an open garage or crawl space the next.
These animals eat nearly anything — pet food left outdoors, garbage, fallen fruit, garden vegetables, insects, and carrion. Properties with accessible food sources tend to see more opossum activity. They travel along river corridors, creek banks, fence lines, and connected backyards. In suburban settings, their home range can cover several blocks.
Although opossums do not hibernate, they become less active during the coldest winter months. Their hairless ears, tails, and feet make them vulnerable to frostbite. In fact, it is common to see opossums in the Chicago area with visible frostbite damage during late winter.
Opossums are most active from spring through fall. Breeding occurs primarily between January and July, and females can produce two litters per year. Each litter averages six to nine young. Consequently, opossum populations can grow quickly in neighborhoods that provide easy access to food and shelter.
The most common complaints involve droppings, odor, and secondary pests. Opossum droppings accumulate in denning areas and attract fleas, ticks, and flies. Furthermore, these droppings can contain pathogens including leptospirosis and salmonella.
One of the most frequent opossum removal calls we receive involves dead animals. Opossums occasionally die in wall voids, crawl spaces, or other enclosed areas. This creates an intense odor that worsens over one to two weeks. Locating and removing a dead animal from an enclosed space often requires professional inspection and sometimes minor access work to reach the remains.
In garages and sheds, opossums rummage through stored items, knock over containers, and leave droppings on surfaces. While they rarely cause the structural damage that raccoons or squirrels inflict, their presence is unsanitary. Their defensive posture of hissing and baring teeth also startles homeowners, even though opossums rarely bite.
We begin every opossum removal job with an inspection. During the inspection, we identify where opossums are sheltering, map their travel routes, and locate any food sources attracting them to your property. Based on these findings, we install trap sets in locations optimized for opossum travel patterns.
A licensed technician checks traps daily, removes captured animals, and monitors the situation until activity stops. For opossums denning under structures, we follow up with exclusion work to prevent future access.
After opossum removal is complete, we install buried barriers around porches, decks, sheds, and stoops. These barriers use the same heavy-gauge galvanized steel mesh system we use for skunk exclusion. The mesh extends vertically along the structure’s perimeter and turns outward horizontally underground. As a result, opossums and other ground-dwelling wildlife cannot dig under or around the barrier.
Our exclusion work comes with a two-year warranty covering materials, installation, and any trapping needed in the sealed areas.
If an opossum or any other animal has died inside a wall void, crawl space, or enclosed area of your home, we provide professional location and removal services. We use inspection techniques and our knowledge of animal behavior to find the remains quickly. After removal, we sanitize the affected area and address lingering odor.
The sooner you call, the easier this process is. Odor problems worsen significantly during the first one to two weeks, so prompt action saves time and cost.
While professional opossum removal and exclusion are the most effective solutions, you can also reduce activity by eliminating attractants. Bring pet food indoors at night and secure garbage cans with locking lids. Pick up fallen fruit from trees and close garage doors at dusk.
However, these steps alone will not eliminate opossum visits entirely. Properties near river corridors and wooded areas will always see some activity regardless of preventive measures. For lasting results, professional trapping and exclusion are necessary.
Are opossums dangerous?
Opossums are generally non-aggressive and prefer to avoid confrontation. When threatened, they may hiss, bare their teeth, or play dead. Despite their defensive appearance, they rarely bite. However, they carry parasites including fleas and ticks, and their droppings may contain harmful bacteria.
Do opossums carry rabies?
Opossums are largely resistant to rabies due to their unusually low body temperature. This makes it difficult for the virus to survive in their bodies. While not impossible, rabies in opossums is extremely rare compared to raccoons, skunks, and bats. That said, they can carry other diseases including leptospirosis and salmonella.
Why do opossums keep coming to my property?
Opossums are attracted by accessible food and shelter. Pet food left outdoors, unsecured garbage, fallen fruit, and accessible spaces beneath structures all draw them in. Reducing these attractants helps lower activity. However, properties near river corridors and wooded areas will always see some opossum presence.
An opossum is living in my garage. What should I do?
Do not attempt to corner or handle the animal. If you can safely leave the garage door open overnight, the opossum may leave on its own. Opossums are nomadic and frequently change shelter locations. If it persists, call us and we will trap and remove it professionally.
There is a terrible smell in my wall. Could it be a dead opossum?
Yes, this is one of our most common calls. Opossums occasionally enter wall voids or crawl spaces and die there. The resulting odor intensifies over one to two weeks before gradually fading over several more. Professional removal and sanitation is the fastest way to resolve it. Call us as soon as you notice the smell.
What is “playing possum”?
When severely frightened, opossums enter an involuntary catatonic state that mimics death. They go limp, their breathing slows, and they may emit a foul-smelling fluid. This state can last from a few minutes to several hours. An opossum that appears dead in your yard may simply be in this defensive state. If you are unsure, leave it undisturbed and check again later.
How much does opossum removal cost?
Cost depends on the specific situation — whether we are trapping a live opossum, removing a dead animal from an enclosed space, or installing exclusion barriers. We provide a free inspection and estimate for every job. Call (847) 724-1511.
Call Quick Kill Exterminating at (847) 724-1511 or request a free quote online for professional opossum removal across Chicago’s North Shore and northwest suburbs.