Opossums in Southern Maine:
Identification, Prevention, and Control
Opossums are a common sight throughout Southern Maine, especially in the wooded and suburban neighborhoods of Biddeford and Saco. These nocturnal marsupials frequently den under decks, in crawl spaces, and in attics of older homes while searching for food and shelter. If you see a grayish animal with a long tail at night or notice tipped trash cans and small digging holes, get your free inspection today.
What Are Opossums?
Opossums in Southern Maine are the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), the only marsupial native to North America. They have grayish-white fur, a long hairless prehensile tail, a pointed snout with 50 teeth, and small dark eyes. Adults are about the size of a house cat, weighing 4 to 14 pounds.
They are famous for “playing dead” when threatened. Nocturnal and opportunistic, they thrive in our humid coastal climate near forests, wetlands, and suburbs where they eat insects, carrion, fruit, and garbage. They are one of the more recently established nuisance wildlife species in Southern Maine, having expanded northward over the past few decades and now commonly found denning under the same structures as raccoons and skunks.
According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife they have expanded their range into Maine in recent decades.
Signs of Activity
These clues usually appear first around foundations, decks, trash areas, or gardens.
- Tipped or raided trash cans with scattered food waste
- Small conical digging holes in lawns or garden beds for grubs and insects
- Hand-like tracks with five toes and opposable thumbs in mud or snow
- Tubular scat 2–3 inches long containing seeds, bones, or insect parts
- Hissing, growling, or clicking sounds at night under decks or porches
- Greasy rub marks or hair on low fences and siding
- Damaged garden vegetables, fruit, or pet food left outdoors
- Den entry holes or nesting material under sheds or crawl spaces
In Shapleigh and Newfield homes these signs often increase in spring when opossums emerge from winter dens.
Risks in Southern Maine
In our damp, wooded region opossums can damage gardens and lawns through digging, raid trash and poultry, and contaminate areas with droppings that may carry parasites or bacteria. Older coastal homes with accessible crawl spaces and decks are especially vulnerable.
While they are not aggressive and rarely attack people, their droppings can spread leptospirosis or fleas/ticks. My low-impact approach follows best practices from the Maine DACF Got Pests – Opossums page and focuses on safe, targeted solutions for local conditions. Opossums are most often confused with raccoons, which raid the same trash and den in the same spots but are larger, masked, and far more destructive, or with skunks, which also forage nocturnally near foundations but are immediately identifiable by their black-and-white coloring and defensive spray.
Prevention Tips
Simple exclusion and sanitation steps protect your home in Southern Maine.
- Secure all trash cans with locking lids and bungee cords
- Seal gaps and holes 4 inches or larger with heavy-gauge metal flashing or hardware cloth
- Install a tight-fitting chimney cap and repair damaged soffits or vents
- Remove fallen fruit, pet food, and bird seed from the yard nightly
- Trim shrubs and vegetation at least 12 inches away from foundations
- Keep woodpiles and brush at least 20 feet from the house
- Install motion-activated lights or sprinklers around entry points
- Inspect and seal foundation vents, crawl space doors, and garage gaps every season
These steps prove especially effective in Cornish and Parsonsfield homes with raised decks and wooded lots.
Professional Treatment
When prevention is not enough I provide targeted, low-impact control. I locate active den sites and entry points under decks, porches, and foundations. Treatments are customized for each property. A single family home in Biddeford may need different focus than a business in Saco. I handle the entire process myself from start to finish.
Learn more about my background and methods on the About page. Contact me today to schedule your free inspection on the Contact page. If opossums are denning under your deck or getting into your trash, my nuisance wildlife control services in Southern Maine provide humane removal and targeted exclusion to protect your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
They squeeze or dig through gaps 4 inches or larger under decks, porches, foundations, and around utility entries.
Yes, they are native wildlife. I always follow Maine regulations and prioritize humane exclusion and relocation whenever possible and permitted.
Rarely once they have established a den and food source near or inside your home. Prompt exclusion is the most effective way to encourage them to move out permanently.
Related Resources
- Read the full species profile from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
- Find practical identification and control tips on the Maine DACF Got Pests – Opossums page
Why Choose Precision Pest Control?
Your local solo specialist, I offer customized, low-impact pest control fitted to Southern Maine challenges for homes and businesses. Protect your property today. Reach out for your free inspection.