Professional Opossum Removal Services
You found one under the deck. Or in the crawl space. Maybe in the attic.
And right now you're wondering how big of a problem this actually is.
Virginia opossums have a reputation as slow, harmless scavengers. That reputation is misleading.
An opossum nesting inside a structure brings fleas, ticks, and mites with it. It soils insulation. It chews wiring and framing. And it will stay through the entire winter without leaving on its own.
Our professional opossum removal service gets the animal out, addresses the nest, and seals the entry point so the next one can't follow the same path in.
Ready to get rid of the problem? Free inspection — same-day response across Knoxville & East Tennessee.
Signs You Have an Opossum Problem
- Noises in the Attic or Crawl Space: Opossums are slow, deliberate movers and tend to produce a heavy shuffling or thumping sound rather than the rapid scurrying you'd hear from squirrels or rats. Activity is most common at night.
- Strong, Musky Odor: Opossum droppings, urine, and the animal's natural scent glands produce a distinctive, unpleasant odor. A persistent smell coming from the crawl space, under a deck, or inside a wall cavity is a strong indicator.
- Disturbed Trash or Pet Food: Opossums are opportunistic feeders that will raid unsecured garbage cans, compost bins, and outdoor pet food bowls, often leaving behind a mess that is hard to miss.
- Nesting Material in Unusual Places: Opossums collect leaves, insulation, and soft debris to build nests. Piles of this material in the attic, crawl space, or behind stored items in a garage or outbuilding are a clear sign.
- Visual Sightings Near the Home: Opossums are nocturnal but sometimes spotted at dusk or dawn. Seeing one repeatedly near your foundation, deck, or crawl space access points suggests it has established a den site nearby.
Our Opossum Removal Process
Opossums are relatively easy to trap compared to more cautious wildlife, but the entry point and nesting area still need to be properly addressed to prevent a repeat problem. Our process covers the animal, the nest, and the access point.
- Free Inspection: We locate where the opossum is nesting, identify all potential entry points into the structure, and assess any damage caused by nesting or waste accumulation.
- Humane Trapping & Removal: We set and monitor cage traps at active entry points and travel routes. Once trapped, the opossum is removed and relocated away from your property in compliance with TWRA guidelines.
- Nest & Waste Cleanup: We remove nesting material and advise on sanitation of affected areas. Opossum droppings can harbor parasites and bacteria, so cleanup is an important step: not just for odor, but for health.
- Entry Point Exclusion: We seal the access point the opossum used to enter, as well as any secondary vulnerabilities we identify, to prevent re-entry by this or another animal.
- Prevention Warranty: Our work is backed by a warranty so you can have lasting peace of mind.
Dangers of Opossums in Your Home
Here's what most homeowners don't find out until after the fact.
A single opossum can soil a section of attic insulation to the point of requiring full replacement. The droppings harbor parasites and bacteria, including leptospirosis and Salmonella. Cleanup is not optional, and it's not something a shop vac handles.
Opossums also carry fleas. Not a few. An established nest introduces a significant flea population into the home that will outlast the animal if the nesting material isn't removed. Pets and people in the house are at risk.
A female with a litter of joeys turns a single-animal problem into a much larger one fast. They don't hibernate. Once one establishes a den in or under your home, it stays until something removes it.
Why Choose Wills Wildlife Control?
- Complete Service, Not Just Trapping: We address the nest, the entry point, and the conditions that made your property attractive, the entry point, and the conditions that made your property attractive, so the problem stays solved.
- Licensed & Insured: Fully certified by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), so every removal is legal, documented, and done right.
- Local Experts, Not a Franchise: We're Knoxville-based with over 30 years of combined experience. We know local wildlife behavior, local terrain, and local regulations.
- Fast Response: Most jobs are scheduled same-day or next-day, because an animal inside a structure shouldn't be left to nest any longer than necessary.
- 5-Star Rated: Over 90+ verified Google reviews with a perfect 5.0 score from homeowners across East Tennessee.