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Opossum Removal in Rockford, IL

Opossums under porches, sheds, decks, or crawlspaces? We provide safe humane trapping, removal, and complete entry point sealing across Rockford.

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Opossums in and Around Rockford Properties

The Virginia opossum is a year-round resident in the Rockford area. Adaptable and omnivorous, opossums move through suburban neighborhoods in search of food — raiding trash cans, garden produce, compost, and pet food left outside. They are primarily nocturnal, though they are sometimes seen in the late afternoon.

Opossums don’t dig their own dens — they find existing ones. A space under a deck or porch, an open crawlspace vent, a gap in a garage foundation, or even an uncovered window well can become temporary or extended shelter for an opossum. They may also use brush piles, woodpiles, or other debris on the property as shelter.

Opossums are one of the few wild animals that genuinely play dead — “playing possum” is an involuntary response to extreme stress, not a deliberate strategy. An opossum found lying still and unresponsive is likely in this state and should be left alone until it recovers, rather than assumed dead.

Signs of Opossum Activity

Trash cans disturbed or overturned at night
Opossum tracks — five toes with an opposable “thumb” on the rear feet
Evidence of feeding near garden beds, fruit trees, or compost
Movement sounds under the deck, porch, or in the crawlspace
Opossum sightings in the yard at night or early morning
Open garage or shed where an opossum has moved in
Nesting material accumulation in a sheltered corner
Hissing sounds when the animal is cornered or startled

Property and Situation Concerns

Opossums are less destructive than raccoons and less of a nuisance than skunks in terms of spray risk. However, they create their own set of problems when they move into or under a structure.

An opossum that has established a den under a deck will leave behind fecal and urine contamination in that space. Like other wildlife, opossums can carry external parasites including fleas and ticks. Females carry their young on their backs until the young are weaned — a female with joeys that becomes trapped under a structure creates a more complex removal situation.

Opossums that get inside a garage or shed can damage stored items, contaminate surfaces with waste, and create a significant noise disturbance at night. They can also injure themselves if they become trapped in unfamiliar spaces.

Removal and Prevention

Live trapping is the standard approach for opossum removal. Opossums are generally trap-responsive and the process is typically straightforward. After removal, the access point needs to be excluded to prevent re-entry by the same or another opossum.

Preventative measures include securing trash can lids, removing accessible food sources (pet food, fallen fruit), and screening the space under decks and porches with buried wire mesh. Eliminating brush and debris piles near the structure removes alternative shelter options.

For spaces under decks and porches, the same exclusion approach used for skunks — buried wire mesh around the perimeter — is effective for opossums. See our Wildlife Exclusion page for more detail on this process.

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Opossum Removal FAQ

Not necessarily. Opossums enter an involuntary catatonic state in response to extreme stress — this is what “playing possum” refers to. The animal may appear dead, even smell unpleasant, but will typically recover and move away on its own after a period of time. Unless the animal is in a location where it poses a hazard, leaving it alone is appropriate.

Opossums are generally non-aggressive and will flee from people and pets given the opportunity. Cornered opossums may hiss and show their teeth, but attacks on people are rare. They can injure a pet that corners them or attempts to attack. Opossums are also resistant to rabies due to their lower body temperature.

Leave a clear exit path (open the garage door) and the opossum will typically leave on its own after dark. Remove food sources that may be attracting it. If the opossum returns repeatedly or becomes established, call for professional removal. Don’t corner or attempt to handle the animal.

The same opossum, if relocated, typically doesn’t return. However, the site will remain attractive to other opossums if the access point isn’t excluded. Proper exclusion of the space under the deck or the foundation gap is the step that makes removal permanent.