Ah, the beloved opossum, with its naked rat-like tail, rows of 50-odd razor-sharp teeth in its long snout, and awkward tiny ears. Wait, did we say “beloved”? We must have meant “reviled.” Besides failing miserably in the “cute” competition, opossums are easily one of the least liked mammals in the United States.
Opossums may be ugly, but what they lack in looks they make up for in being surprisingly intelligent. Recent studies have shown that opossums are far better at remembering where food is hidden than are rats, cats, or even dogs. This should come to no surprise to any number of pet owner who found an opossum or two ravaging a pet’s outside food bowl in the middle of the night. Thankfully, they aren’t overly-aggressive, or they really would be some of the most unpleasant animals in North America.
However, this does not mean that opossums aren’t capable of showing aggression. Like raccoons, they are certainly willing to defend their young when threatened by an aggressive, or even just curious, dog in the backyard. Unlike raccoons, they are not common carriers of diseases like rabies. Despite their low likelihood to spread diseases or attack without provocation, they are still an unpleasant and potentially dangerous household guest to have around.
For this reason, if you need to get rid of opossums in your Sacramento-area home or business, Specialized Pest Patrol is happy to humanely trap and remove them from your property.