I work from home and just let the dog outside to do her business and I've noticed she's been sniffing at the same spot in the deck recently. Well, not 5 minutes ago I figured out why- there's a possum holed up under there. And just Monday night I saw a possum along the back fence.

No big deal at all and I'm not worried about trapping, removing, or killing it. I know they can be beneficial in keeping down roaches and ticks in the yard.

But I can't find any spot along the house or deck with bigger than about a 3" gap and no holes that have been dug under the deck.

I know mice and rats can squeeze through what seem to be impossibly small spaces but is the same true for possums? Just something I've never spent any time contemplating.

I wouldn't think a opossum can squeeze into a tight fit like that, sure that there isn't a way from them to climb up or down something and get into the area?

Also, they don't eat ticks.

I'm just a big fan of how a possum's defense mechanism is to act like it has rabies.

OnlyForNow said:

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I wouldn't think a opossum can squeeze into a tight fit like that, sure that there isn't a way from them to climb up or down something and get into the area?

Also, they don't eat ticks.

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Yeah, the deck is really simple- it's 8' out from the foundation of the house and about 20' wide and the support structure are a 2x8 frame. It's basically resting on the ground and not elevated at all. I dug out the ground and used bricks to level it and I can't find a single spot where there's a hole dug underneath or gap between a supporting 2x8 and the ground of more than just a few inches. Same for the space between the house/foundation and the deck.

As for the ticks, I'd always heard they eat ticks but a quick Google after your post says it's mostly a myth. They do eat them but not a significant portion of their diet according to what I saw. Learn something new every day I guess.

Ya those stupid facebook posts about them eating 1,000 of ticks a day is a flat lie.

If they find a big gorged female, sure, but it aint what they are looking for.

They are egg eaters, HUGE nest robber of all birds.

Depends on how big of a possum it is. With many small mammals, if they can get their head through a gap or hole then they can usually squeeze their body through somehow.