Opossum Under the House: How to Get It Out

An opossum under the house is usually a temporary visitor looking for shelter. Remove nearby food, wait until it leaves at night, then close the opening with sturdy mesh so it cannot get back in.

The key is timing. A quiet, methodical approach gives the animal a clear way out and keeps you from closing it inside a pier-and-beam foundation, mobile home skirting, or crawl space. Start with food and access points, then consider trapping only if the simpler approach does not work.

Why are opossums under the house?

The space beneath a house can offer shelter from cold weather and a quiet place to settle. Pier-and-beam homes, mobile homes, and houses with crawl spaces may have openings that make this sheltered area easy to enter.

Food nearby can make the property more attractive. Pet bowls left outside and fallen fruit give an opossum a reason to linger, then the protected space under the house gives it a convenient place to retreat. Removing those food sources makes the shelter less useful.

Is an opossum under the house a problem?

Often, the visit is temporary and the opossum moves on. Still, it is worth paying attention. An animal moving through a crawl space can tear insulation or ductwork wrap, and it may leave droppings behind.

Check what you can see without putting yourself into a tight or uncertain space. Look for disturbed material near the opening and note whether the animal returns after dark. If the area is difficult to access or you cannot tell what is happening, a wildlife control professional is the practical next call.

How do you get it to leave?

Work from attraction to access. Make the area less inviting, confirm the opossum has gone, and only then complete the repair.

• Remove food and pet bowls: Pick up outdoor pet bowls and fallen fruit so there is less reason for the opossum to stay near the house.
• Find every opening around the foundation: Walk the full perimeter and identify each place an animal could get beneath the house. Do not assume the opening you noticed is the only one.
• Loosely block the main opening and check if it is pushed out: Place a light, temporary block at the suspected exit. If it is pushed outward overnight, that is a useful sign the animal left through that opening.
• Use light and noise near the opening at dusk: Put light and ordinary household noise near the entrance as evening approaches. The goal is gentle disturbance, not cornering or frightening the animal.
• Seal permanently only after it has left: Once you are confident the space is empty, close the opening with sturdy mesh and secure the other gaps you found.

Do not rush the last step. A permanent repair is useful only when the animal is outside and every practical entry point has been addressed. Recheck the perimeter after sealing so a missed gap does not undo the work.

What if it is a mother with young?

In spring and summer, young may be inside even if you see only the mother coming and going. Do not seal the opening while they may still be under the house. Waiting is often the calmer option, and a wildlife control professional is the right choice when you cannot confirm that the space is empty.

When should you trap?

Consider a live trap when the opossum will not leave or keeps returning after food has been removed and access points have been assessed. Check local trapping and relocation regulations before you set a trap, and call a professional if the rules or the situation are unclear.

An opossum may play dead after capture. Give it quiet time before deciding that it is hurt, and avoid adding noise or handling that could increase stress. The purpose of trapping is to resolve the access problem humanely, then seal the space so another visit does not restart the cycle.

How can OcuTrap help with a recurring visitor?

If trapping becomes necessary, confirmation matters. OcuTrap sends a real-time photo alert at the moment of capture, so you can see whether the animal is the opossum or a neighbor's cat. Remote trap and door control from the app also lets you release a non-target animal without a site visit.

OcuTrap uses cellular connectivity, which works where Wi-Fi does not reach, including yards and remote parts of a property. One app can monitor any number of traps across properties, whether the user is a homeowner, wildlife control professional, TNR program, or property manager.

Get the space under your house back by removing the attraction, confirming the animal has left, and sealing the access points for good. See how smart, humane live capture can support the process at ocutrap.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I seal the opening as soon as I see the opossum leave?

Do not permanently close the opening until you are confident the opossum is outside. A temporary, loose block can help because an animal leaving at night may push it outward. Check the area again before installing sturdy mesh, and remember that young may be inside during spring and summer.

How can I tell whether the crawl space is empty before repairs?

There is no need to force a quick repair while you are unsure whether the space is empty. Remove outdoor food, use gentle light and noise near the opening at dusk, and watch for signs that the temporary block moved outward. If you cannot confirm the opossum has left, call a wildlife control professional.

Can I relocate an opossum caught under a mobile home?

Check local trapping and relocation regulations before deciding what to do with a captured opossum. Requirements can differ, so do not assume relocation is allowed or appropriate. If the rules are unclear, or if you are uncomfortable managing a live trap, contact a wildlife control professional.

What should I do if the trap catches a neighbor's cat?

Confirm the animal before taking action. OcuTrap sends a real-time photo alert at the moment of capture, helping you see whether the trap caught the opossum or a neighbor's cat. Its app provides remote trap and door control, including the ability to release a non-target animal without making a site visit.