OPOSSUM REMOVAL

Opossum Removal in Central Florida

An opossum (possum) living under the house, in the crawl space or in the attic? We remove it humanely, young included, and close the way in.

Under houses, decks and sheds
Openings closed with mesh

Call (844) 264-6254

Same-Day Service
Free Inspection

4.7· 503 Google reviews

4.7 Google Rating
Same-Day Service
Free Inspection
Sealed for Good

How do I get rid of an opossum under my house in Florida?

Remove what draws it (pet food, trash, fallen fruit), make sure the opossum is out, then close the opening with wire mesh. If it won't leave, it can be live-trapped and released only on site or on approved land in the same county. Removing one doesn't stop the next. Call (844) 264-6254.

Nearly immune to rabies
Remove food first
Wire mesh on gaps
Strict release rules

Signs

Signs you have an opossum

Opossums are mostly out at night, so the signs usually show up by morning. More on opossums in the attic.

A gray, cat-sized animal at night

Pale to dark gray fur, a pointed snout, small bare ears and a long, hairless tail. FWC notes it's normal to see one in daylight too, and not necessarily a sign it's sick.

A gap under the house or deck

Torn skirting, a pushed-in foundation vent, or a hole under a shed, porch or A/C pad with a worn path leading to it.

Raided trash and pet bowls

Opossums eat almost anything. Tipped trash, empty pet bowls left outside and dropped fruit gone overnight are classic signs.

Bumping under the floor

Shuffling or thumping under the floor or in the crawl space at night, when an opossum comes and goes.

A bad smell

FWC notes a threatened opossum may play dead and give off a foul smell. Pets that corner one under the house often bring the smell back with them.

Missing eggs or chickens

FWC lists sleeping chickens and their eggs among the things opossums take at night.

Why it matters

Opossums are helpful, just not under your floor

Opossums do useful work. FWC says they clean up dead animals much like a vulture, eat ticks they find while grooming, and can even eat venomous snakes because they're at least partly immune to the venom. UF/IFAS describes them as nearly immune to rabies. Living under your home is still a problem:

Mess and smell. Droppings, urine and nesting material build up under the floor or in the insulation.
Damage. Torn screens and vents where they push their way in.
Pets and chickens. A cornered opossum hisses, growls and may bite. FWC also notes opossums take chickens and eggs at night.
Horses. FWC says opossums are one of the main sources of the parasite that causes EPM in horses. Barn owners should cover feed and keep wildlife out of hay storage.

How we remove opossums

Our opossum removal process

Opossums in Florida have their young mostly from February to June, and a mother carries them in her pouch, then on her back. The plan has to account for the babies.

1
Find the den and the openings
We locate where the opossum sleeps and every gap it uses, under the house, deck, shed or in the attic, and check for a mother with young.
2
Get them out
Often the simplest way is to wait until the opossum leaves for the night and then block the opening. Where it won't leave, it's caught in a live trap checked at least every 24 hours. A mother with young is removed with her babies.
3
Release legally
A captured opossum may only be released on the property where it was caught, or on land of 40 acres or more in the same county with the owner's written permission.
4
Close it off
Once we're sure every opossum is out, torn screens, vents and gaps are blocked with wire mesh, as FWC recommends.

Florida rules

What Florida allows for opossums

Opossums are native and can be removed as nuisance animals when they cause or are about to cause damage, threaten public safety, or cause a problem in, under or on a building (rule 68A-9.010).
Live traps must be checked at least once every 24 hours. Any other animal caught by mistake has to be let go right there.
A trapped opossum can be released on site, released on 40+ acres in the same county with written permission, or humanely killed. Nowhere else.
New FWC trapping rules start December 31, 2026. They change trap check times, allow remote (camera) checks, and require most people who trap to complete FWC's annual registration and training, which FWC says is at no cost. A homeowner using one regular-size cage trap (door up to 20 by 28 inches) on their own property, to catch nuisance or non-native wildlife, doesn't need registration, training or reporting. Nuisance animals moved off site must be released or put down within 12 hours of the trap check, down from 24. Details at MyFWC.com/TrappingRules.
Steel traps need an FWC permit, and shooting one at night needs a Gun and Light at Night Permit. Leave both to professionals.

Read FWC's Living with Opossums and our posts on opossums in attics and opossums under the house.

Keep them out

Keeping the next opossum out

FWC is blunt about it: removing one or more opossums doesn't stop others from using the same spot. The lasting fix is closing the openings and taking away the food.

Gaps under the house, deck, porch and shed closed with sturdy wire mesh
Foundation vents and torn screens closed with wire mesh
Trash secured, pet food brought in at night
Bird seed and fallen fruit cleaned up
Chickens and eggs shut in at night
Droppings and nesting under the house or in the attic pointed out in the inspection

Cost

What opossum removal costs depends on

Where it's living

Under a deck or shed, in a crawl space, or up in the attic.

Mother and young

A family takes more care than a single adult.

How many openings

One gap in the skirting, or a whole perimeter to close.

Den location

Under a deck or porch, or up in the attic.

There's no charge for the opossum inspection, and the price comes before the work.

Areas served

Opossum removal in 8 counties

Opossums live in cities, suburbs and farm country alike. We cover Central Florida and the counties around it.

- Pinellas County
- Clearwater
- Dunedin
- Tarpon Springs
- Hillsborough County
- Brandon
- Plant City
- Lutz
- Carrollwood
- Town 'n' Country
- New Tampa
- Keystone
- Greater Northdale
- New Port Richey
- Land O' Lakes
- Dade City
- Hernando County
- Spring Hill
- Citrus County
- Crystal River
- Lecanto
- Sumter County
- Bushnell
- Ocala
- Dunnellon
- Summerfield
- Lakeland
- Bartow

- St. Petersburg
- Palm Harbor
- Largo
- Pinellas Park
- Tampa
- Riverview
- Odessa
- Westchase
- Citrus Park
- Temple Terrace
- Cheval
- Lake Magdalene
- Pasco County
- Trinity
- Hudson
- Wesley Chapel
- Brooksville
- Weeki Wachee
- Inverness
- Homosassa
- Pine Ridge
- Wildwood
- Marion County
- Belleview
- Silver Springs
- Polk County
- Winter Haven
- Haines City

Reviews

What customers say

4.7· 503 Google reviews

★★★★★
Highly recommend! Had an issue at work with opossum removal, pro wildlife removal rapidly responded. Steve was professional, kind and efficient! He went above and beyond to ensure we all felt safe so we could continue on to have a great day. As an employer who works with many vendors for various things, I can honestly say that his effort, kindness and dedication were clear. Truly one of a kind.
Jessica Reynolds
Google review
★★★★★
I would highly recommend this company!!! The technician (Nelson Burgess) came out within an hour to remove a deceased opossum. It was a mama and he looked in the pouch and rescued the only surviving baby. So thankful for the quick service and the compassion to look for any surviving babies. I'm so thankful I chose this company.
Scarlett M
Google review
★★★★★
Brandon came out of his way to help remove a raccoon who had decided to use my front door mat for nap. Brandon was very polite and professional. He removed Ralph without issue and pretty quickly.
Cassandra Bronzo
Google review

Opossum removal questions

Do you handle possum control in Tampa?

Yes. Opossum control in Tampa works the same as anywhere else we cover: find where the possum gets in under the house, the deck or into the attic, get it out, young included, and close the opening with wire mesh. Call (844) 264-6254.

Do opossums carry rabies?

It's rare. UF/IFAS describes opossums as nearly immune to rabies. In Florida, rabies mostly comes from raccoons and bats, but wash any animal bite or scratch and see a doctor. A frightened opossum hisses, growls and may bite, so don't handle one.

I saw an opossum in the daytime. Is it sick?

Not necessarily. FWC says opossums are mostly nocturnal but may be active during the day, which is normal behavior and not by itself a sign of illness.

The opossum looks dead. What do I do?

It may be playing dead. FWC says not to pick it up. Leave it alone, or gently move it to a quiet spot with a shovel, and it will probably get up and leave on its own within minutes to a few hours.

When do opossums have babies in Florida?

UF/IFAS says most young are born between February and June, though breeding can continue into November. UF/IFAS says females usually have one or two litters a year, and FWC says the young ride on their mother's back once they leave the pouch at about 80 days.

Can I trap the opossum and take it to the woods?

Only to land you're allowed to use. Florida lets a trapped opossum be released on the property where it was caught, or on 40 acres or more in the same county with the landowner's written permission. Traps have to be checked at least once a day.

How do I keep opossums from coming back?

Take away food and shelter. Secure trash and pet food, pick up fallen fruit, and once you know the opossum is out, block the openings under the house with wire mesh. FWC suggests a motion-activated sprinkler at the entrance to discourage one from going back in.