Where Do Possums Hide In Houses? A Comprehensive Guide

Have you noticed strange noises coming from inside the walls or attic of your home? Do you catch glimpses of beady eyes and bushy tails scurrying across floors or peeking out from cabinets? If so, you may have some uninvited house guests – possums that have found their way inside and made themselves at home.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Common hiding spots for possums in houses include attics, crawl spaces, walls, cabinets, garages and sheds, under porches, and in dense gardens or landscaping close to the home.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover all the prime real estate possums look for when scoping out human homes to settle into, signs that possums have moved in, how to locate exactly where they are hiding, removal and prevention tips, and answers to frequently asked questions about these crafty marsupials that treating your place like their own personal possum palace.

Favorite Indoor Hangouts and Hidey-Holes

Attics and Crawl Spaces

Possums love attics and crawl spaces because they are warm, quiet, and dark. An attic provides plenty of nooks and crannies where possums can hide during the day and stash their nesting materials. Possums may climb in through holes in the roof, gaps around chimneys, compromised vents, or even open windows.

Once inside the attic, they’ll seek out insulation to build their nests. Female possums may give birth and raise their young in attics as well. It’s best to seal up any entry points and install wire mesh over vents to keep possums from moving in.

Inside Walls and Between Floors

Possums can sometimes find access to the space inside walls and between floors from the attic or basement. They may enter through small gaps or chew their way in. These voids provide seclusion and protection for possums to rest in.

They often construct dens lined with insulation or other materials pilfered from around the house. The noises possums make at night while moving around in wall spaces can be alarming for homeowners! It’s advisable to seal up any holes permitting entry from attic, basement, or outdoors.

The Garage or Shed

Possums frequently take up residence in garages, carports, sheds and other outbuildings. They may find a way in through dilapidated walls or under poorly-fitted doors. Garages tend to be cooler than attics in summer, yet warmer in winter.

The clutter found in many garages and sheds offers plenty of hiding spots as well. Possums may even build nests on shelves or in boxes. It’s important to tightly seal any gaps around doors or foundations.

Eliminating clutter and food sources like pet food can also make these areas less attractive to possums.

Locating Their Nest Site

Listen for Sounds of Activity

One of the best ways to locate where possums are nesting in your home is to listen for sounds of their activity. Possums are generally nocturnal animals, so you’ll want to listen closely at night when they are most active.

Pay attention for scratching, rustling, or thumping noises coming from walls, attics, crawl spaces, or other hidden areas. Possums may also vocalize with hisses, growls, or screeching sounds on occasion. If you can isolate the source of possum noises, it will lead you right to their nesting spot.

Search for Droppings and Stash Sites

Possums frequently leave telltale signs of their presence through droppings, known as scat. Possum poop tends to be cube-shaped and dark brown in color. Look for droppings along baseboards, in crawl spaces, attics, garages, under porches, or near potential entry points into the home.

Possums also stash uneaten food in sheltered areas near their nest. Search for piles of nuts, berries, pet food, or trash that may indicate a possum hideout nearby.

Check for Damage and Entry Points

As possums search for a way into your home, they may cause some damage in the process. Look for holes in soffits or roof vents, ripped screens on windows or doors, or openings around chimneys as possible entry points.

Possums may also tear open areas under roof shingles to gain access to attics for nesting. Vent covers that have been knocked loose or holes chewed through walls are further signs a possum may have found its way inside your house.

Closely checking these areas can reveal where a possum accessed the home to build its nest.

By listening for possum activity, looking for signs like droppings or stashes, and inspecting for damage, you can often locate their nesting spot for removal. Just be sure to use humane methods and precautions when dealing with wildlife in your home.

Deterring Possums and Sealing Up Access

Use Bright Lights, Sounds, and Smells

Possums dislike bright lights and loud noises, so these can be effective deterrents. Try installing motion-activated lights or sounds near potential entry points. Some great options are flashing strobe lights, ultrasonic pest repellers that emit high-frequency sounds, or radios tuned to talk radio stations.

You can also try leaving strong smells around like mothballs, ammonia-soaked cotton balls, or predator urine from foxes or coyotes (available at garden stores). Just be sure to keep these away from food areas and anywhere kids or pets could access them.

Install One-Way Doors or Funnels

One simple solution is to install a one-way door or funnel over potential entry points like vents, chimneys, and holes. These devices allow possums to leave but not re-enter. To DIY, cut a hole in the middle of a piece of wood and fit plastic funneling material over it pointing outward.

Or you can purchase ready-made one-way doors for possums online or at hardware stores.

Here are some tips when using one-way doors and funnels:

• Make sure babies aren’t trapped inside before sealing exits.
• Monitor the door nightly to remove any obstacles and ensure possums can exit.
• Let the funnel remain in place for a few days after the last sighting before sealing it up permanently.

Close Up All Possible Entryways

The only foolproof way to keep possums out of your house is by permanently closing up any openings they could use. Go around the exterior and look for gaps, holes, or damage around roof edges, eaves, attic vents, crawl spaces, and foundations. Use wire mesh, caulk, wood, or metal to seal up holes.

Expanding foam is also great for filling gaps and cracks. Cover vents and chimneys with sturdy screens.

Be careful when sealing openings, as you don’t want to trap any animals inside. Also try not to block necessary ventilation that could lead to moisture and mildew issues down the road. If you’re unsure about permanently sealing any areas, start with a temporary solution like stuffingwith steel wool until you can monitor if possums return.

With diligence and patience, you can successfully get rid of possums in the house and prevent new ones from getting in. And remember, try humane deterrents first before resorting to trapping or exclusion methods. Possums are generally harmless creatures just looking for shelter.

frequently asked questions

Why do possums want to live in my house?

Possums are attracted to houses because they offer warmth, shelter, and access to food sources like pet food, trash, compost bins, and gardens. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, possums have adapted well to living around human habitats.

Possums may choose to live in the attic, crawl spaces, garages, sheds, under decks, or in holes or openings in the structure of your home. Any dry, sheltered area near a food source is desirable habitat. Mother possums in particular seek out dens in houses to safely raise their young.

Should I be concerned about diseases?

While possums do carry some diseases like leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis and Chagas disease, the risk of transmission to humans and pets is extremely low according to wildlife experts.

Possums groom themselves frequently like cats and aren’t typically hosts to fleas either.

That said, it’s always wise to take precautions and not handle wild animals. As with any wild animal, avoid contact with feces, urine, saliva or blood. Use gloves, mask and protective clothing if cleaning areas possums have inhabited or remove droppings or nesting materials.

What’s the best way to catch and remove a possum?

It’s best to contact a professional wildlife control expert to humanely trap and remove possums. Home remedies like loud music, ammonia-soaked cotton balls, or strobe lights are not proven to be effective.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, body-gripping traps that kill possums should always be avoided, along with poisons. It recommends:

• One-way exclusion doors that allow possums to exit an enclosed space but not re-enter
• Live traps baited with fruit or cat food that are then covered with a light sheet or towel to calm the animal once inside

The trapped possum can then be safely transported at least 10 miles away and released in a rural, wooded area.

How can I keep possums from coming back once removed?

Preventing possums from returning involves exclusion and removing what attracted them in the first place. The Humane Society recommends:

Taking away food, water, and access points makes a house less appealing habitat. Persistent possum problems may require calling in a professional wildlife control company to ensure permanent exclusion.

Conclusion

We hope this guide gave you thorough understanding of the hide and seek game possums play when they move into human homes. With some detective work and animal-proofing measures, you can evict your possum roomies and prevent whole families of them from indefinitely squatting on your property.

While possums certainly can cause nuisance issues, in the end they are just trying to survive like all species. With some compassion and humane removal tactics, you can coexist with these quirky marsupials even when they occasionally find their way indoors.