What gap can possum get through?

DEAR JOAN: I noticed the other day that one of the vent screens under my house had been tampered with and a very small hole had been created. I suspect something has either crawled in or out. How large of a hole do certain critters need to pass through?

Table of Contents Show

• 1. Opossum Damage: Damage to the Building Exterior
• 2. Disappearing Pet Food
• 3. Frequent Animal Vocalizations
• 4. Loud Scratching Noises
• 5. Pervasive Unpleasant Smells
• When to call for professional opossum removal (wildlife control)
• Common Locations for Opossums:
• Opossum in house
• Opossum in attic
• Opossum in garage
• Opossum in crawl space
• Opossum under deck
• Opossum on roof
• How big of a hole can a opossum fit through?
• Can a possum go through a small hole?
• Can possum get through chain link fence?
• Can possums get through chicken wire?

Gary Cullen

Bay Area

DEAR GARY: The general rule of thumb is that if an animal can fit its head through a hole, it can get the rest of its body through.

A cat can get through an opening just 3 inches wide. A squirrel needs only 1½ inches. A raccoon can get through a space 4 inches wide. The reason this seems so improbable is that their bodies just look too darn big to fit. But that’s all show — a lot of hair or fur covering a very scrawny little body.

Now here comes the part that could give some people nightmares. Mice need a hole only about a quarter-inch wide and young, slender rats can zip through a space as small as a half inch. We’re talking the size of a dime for mice and a quarter for rats. Not all rats can fit through a space that small. Older, plumper rats need a about an inch.

Some people say rats and mice are so good at this because they can collapse their rib cages, but that’s a myth. These animals simply are sleek, cylindrical creatures accustomed to navigating narrow spaces. And as with other animals, if their heads fit, their bodies will follow.

If you have a concern about visiting animals, I’d replace the screen as soon as possible.

DEAR JOAN: Several days ago, I saw a flying insect with a black, shiny, elongated body of considerable size, roughly 1½ inches long and half an inch wide; the belly side looked bulbous.

The bottom of the body was a little tilted upward. It had a head and feelers.

When it first flew near me, I really thought it was a small hummingbird. It flew into a cobweb but immediately had the strength to get out of it. I came inside.

Can you throw some light on this?

Jean Corp

Half Moon Bay

DEAR JEAN: It’s very difficult to determine what type of insect you saw from just a description. The insect world is massive.

After consulting some experts, my best guess would be a tarantula hawk wasp or some sort of beetle.

Anyone else have a guess?

Home for the holidays

In the spirit of the season, South Bay animal shelters are working together on a special adoption campaign now through the end of December.

All adult pets will be adoptable for $12.

The participating shelters are City of San Jose Animal Care Center, Humane Society Silicon Valley, County of Santa Clara Animal Care and Control, Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority, Palo Alto Animal Services and Towncats of Morgan Hill.

All of the shelters are operating at maximum capacity and are counting on the community to give a pet a loving home for the holidays.

Go to www.sheltersfirst.org, the joint website for the groups, and view all of the adoptable animals.

When introducing a pet to a new home during the holidays take the time to be with them and provide a quiet place for them when things get a little too festive — all things you should do when you have an established pet as well.

Contact Joan Morris at . Follow her at Twitter.com/AskJoanMorris.

Joan Morris is the pets & wildlife columnist for the Bay Area News Group. She also writes about gardening and is the founder of Our Garden, a demonstration garden in Walnut Creek. Morris started her career in 1978 as a reporter for a small New Mexico newspaper. She has lived in the Bay Area since 1988.

If you have opossums in your home or inside another building on your property, the infestation should be immediately apparent. These animals are loud and less confined to nocturnal schedules than some rodents, so they are usually quite visible, even during the day. Should your infestation be a group of opossums, you may notice any combination of the following five signs.

1. Opossum Damage: Damage to the Building Exterior

Because opossums usually enter a building by climbing, you may notice exterior damage first. Often, opossum damage takes the form of torn up shingles and ripped soffit on your rooftop. An opossum infestation may also impact your siding, eaves, and gutter system.

2. Disappearing Pet Food

Opossums are particularly drawn to cat food. If you have cats, especially any outdoor cats, you may notice that their food disappears more quickly when you have an opossum infestation. If you suspect an opossum infestation, take measures to protect your cats who could become injured in a fight with an opossum.

3. Frequent Animal Vocalizations

Opossums have a wide range of vocalizations, including hissing and shrieking. Mother opossums also make clicking or lip smacking sounds to call their babies. If you notice these noises when inside a building, chances are you have an infestation or a single opossum trapped inside.

4. Loud Scratching Noises

As opossums nest, they make lots of ripping, scuttling, and scratching noises. These noises can sound similar to rats or mice, but you will likely notice that the noises seem louder because they're created by a bigger animal.

Additionally, you may notice scratching across a wider area with an opossum infestation than with any other rodent problem because opossums do not stick solely to the edges of the attic space.

5. Pervasive Unpleasant Smells

One of the most distinct signs of an opossum infestation is the smell. Opossums defecate more frequently than most mammals and their droppings can be as large as a house cat's. These wet droppings can soak into insulation and building materials, causing a distinctly unpleasant odor.

Opossums can also become trapped by wiring or other architectural elements and may die there. If you have a dead opossum in your attic, you'll know by the strong smell of decay.

When to call for professional opossum removal (wildlife control)

If you find yourself with an opossum in the house, please call a professional wildlife removal technician immediately. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice which can spread to the surrounding areas of the home. Also, opossums are hosts for cat and dog fleas, especially in urban environments. Therefore it is best to professionally remove an opossum from your house, garage, deck, attic or crawl space as quickly as possible. 

Common Locations for Opossums:

Opossum in house

Opossums are curious little beasts and can't see very well. An open door or window may be an invitation for an opossum to enter your home. In our wooded neighborhoods here in the Seattle area, homes are built in opossum habitat and are close enough to be tempting shelters. You may find an opossum in your home, especially if you have a "doggie door" for your pets.

Opossum in attic

Attics are warm and dry places of refuge for opossums. Many homeowners who live in or near wooded areas come across opossums in the attic, and it can be a scary surprise. It is important to check for possible entry points all through your home to ensure that once the opossum is removed, none will return in its place. An opossum in the attic can be very dangerous, and it is advised to hire a professional to remove it safely.

Opossum in garage

When we open and close the garage door, we may be inviting unexpected guests. An opossum may wander in to your garage and find a wonderful array of dark places to hide. There may even be access to food or water. It is not unusual to find an opossum living in unattached or even attached garages. You may be able to scare it away, but it would be safest to hire a wildlife expert and eliminate the problem for good.

Opossum in crawl space

Just like the attic, but easier to get to most of the time, crawl spaces make lovely homes for opossums. If you hear shuffling or scratching in your floors, you may have an opossum in your crawl space. Hire a professional wildlife removal expert to crawl down and carefully inspect your crawl space for damage, especially the germ-ridden urine or feces left behind.

Opossum under deck

Probably the easiest part of your home to infest is your deck. There are usually large gaps for easy entry, and it provides shelter from the elements. A professional wildlife removal expert will inspect your homes decks carefully to see if you have an opossum occupant. This is another good situation to let the professionals handle, because an angry opossum can and will bite, and many opossums carry rabies.

Opossum on roof

Opossums are great climbers. If you have trees near your roof, you probably have opossum traffic on your roof. Many construction companies don't completely seal off the home when building a new house, and many roofing companies don't look for opportunities to use successful pest-proofing "exclusion techniques" to keep wild animals of all kinds out of your home.

For more helpful insights into pest behavior, contact our experienced exterminators in Seattle.

How big of a hole can a opossum fit through?

Can a possum go through a small hole?

Can possum get through chain link fence?

Can possums get through chicken wire?