Nightly Neighborhood Nuisance

Nov 10, 2015

It's not uncommon to see opossums running through your backyard or neighborhood. Opossums are small, house cat-sized animals that have coarse, grayish fur, a pointed face and round, hairless ears and a long, hairless tail. Their feet resemble small hands with five widely spread fingers.

Opossums may visit vegetable gardens, compost piles, garbage cans, or food dishes intended for dogs or cats. They also eat fresh meat and carrion and often feed on road kills.

In urban and suburban areas, opossum can become a nuisance as they often get into fights with dogs and cats and can inflict serious injury. Opossums carry several diseases such as tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis and Chagas disease. They may also have flea infestations and be a host for dog and cat fleas.

Read more about opossums in the newly revised UC IPM Pest Note: Opossum by Dr. Roger A. Baldwin of the UC Davis Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology.

By Anne Schellman
Author - Master Gardener Coordinator

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