Do Opossums Carry Ticks?
Like many other pests, opossums are known to attract parasites such as the black-legged tick, which is the primary carrier of Lyme disease. Late summer is prime time for ticks, and opossums could be infested with hundreds of them.
The Long-Standing Battle between Opossums and Ticks
Opossums do a great job attacking ticks that pester them. Since the animals thoroughly groom themselves, they kill thousands of ticks per season, quelling the spread of Lyme disease. However, since their success rate is high but not perfect, opossums in the yard can still increase tick populations.
Potential Concerns and Prevention
In addition to issues with opossums and ticks, homeowners should be concerned with the pests on their property for other reasons. Opossums can be aggressive, scavenge in trash cans and yards, and are known carriers of tularemia and leptospirosis.
Prevention
As with many other pests, exclusion and habitat modification are the best ways to prevent an opossum infestation:
- Block openings and holes that could be used as entrances to decks, porches, and outdoor structures.
- Clean up all fallen fruit and outdoor food, making sure pets eat inside.
- Keep trash cans tightly sealed to remove attractive smells and restrict access.
- Trim overgrown vegetation and eliminate wood piles for denning.
All of these tips can deter some opossums and ticks from the home, but the pests may still find their way onto yards. In this case, it is best to leave safe and effective removal to the professionals at Critter Control.
Learn more about Oppossum Removal.
Get them out.
Keep them out.®
Experience wildlife or pest issue? We can help! Complete this form and your local Critter Control® office will contact you to assist.
Best Bat Removal
Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in
Tulsa!
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.
Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.
Because
bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious
bat droppings.
Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.
She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!
Service:
Bat Removal
We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.
He found evidence of a mice infestation, provided a referral and they are helping us as well. Great service, very informative, very professional! We are very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone who has any issues with any critters!
Quicklinks