(470) 684-5713
24/7 Emergency Response
Licensed & Insured
Humane Methods
Local Experts
Garden City, Georgia

Opossum Removal in Garden City

Local licensed expert serving Garden City and all of Chatham County. Opossums nest in attics, crawlspaces, and under decks — causing odor problems, droppings contamination, and potential disease exposure.

📞 Call (470) 684-5713

Rather not call? We'll reach out.

Leave your details and we'll text or call you back, whichever you pick.

How should we reach you?

Free, no obligation. Your details go only to the local pro serving this area.

Opossums in Garden City, Georgia

Opossum encounters in Garden City concentrate in working-class residential blocks adjacent to the Highway 80 commercial corridor, the older Garden City core near Augusta Avenue, and Pine Gardens neighborhoods. Industrial-edge food sources sustain the local opossum population. Most calls come from homeowners discovering possums under decks, in garages, or raiding trash and pet food.

Opossum Removal — Garden City, Georgia

Palmetto Wildlife Extractors

Licensed local expert. Same-day and emergency service in Garden City.

(470) 684-5713

Serving Garden City and all of Chatham County, Georgia

Licensed & Insured Same-Day Available Humane Methods

Opossum Removal in Garden City — What to Expect

Opossums carry leptospirosis and other diseases. Their droppings contaminate insulation and require professional cleanup.

Signs in Garden City 🐾

Signs You Have Opossums

Opossums are active year-round. They breed twice per year (January-February and June-August) and mothers with young need careful handling.

  • Hissing sounds in attic or crawlspace
  • Strong musky odor
  • Droppings in attic or garage
  • Tipped garbage cans
  • Opossum sightings around home
(470) 684-5713
🛠️

Our Process in Garden City

Our local Chatham County contractor serves all of Garden City using the same proven, humane process for every job.

  • Live trapping and relocation
  • Attic and crawlspace cleanup
  • Entry point sealing
  • Odor treatment
  • Deck and foundation exclusion
(470) 684-5713

Possum Under Your Garden City Deck or in Your Yard?

Standard coastal Georgia opossum response — keep distance (50 sharp teeth, will bite when cornered, may play dead involuntarily for hours), don't try to grab or chase. Possum in garage — open garage door, turn on exterior lights. Possum under deck — restrict food access; if it doesn't move on, schedule removal. Possum playing dead — leave alone for 6+ hours; don't bury or bag.

Signs You Have an Opossum on Your Garden City Property

  • Knocked-over trash cans, raided compost, stolen pet food.
  • Hand-like five-finger tracks.
  • Possum poop.
  • Hissing from under a deck or shed at night.
  • Dead opossum on the road — high road-mortality on Highway 80 and along railroad corridor.

Possum vs Raccoon

  • Tail — opossum: long, hairless, pink-gray, prehensile. Raccoon: fluffy black-and-tan ringed.
  • Face — opossum: pointed pink snout, white face. Raccoon: iconic black mask.
  • Size — opossums 4-12 lbs; coastal raccoons 18-30 lbs.
  • Behavior — opossums freeze, hiss, or play dead; raccoons hold ground and growl.

Are Possums Dangerous?

Less dangerous than raccoons or skunks. Opossums almost never carry rabies (body temperature too low for the virus). Risks: defensive opossums bite if cornered (50 sharp teeth); dogs that catch opossums can pick up fleas, ticks, parasites; EPM for properties with horses (uncommon in city of Garden City but present in surrounding rural areas).

Cost and Process

Most Garden City opossum removal calls run between $200 and $500+. Process: inspection (day 1), trap setup or one-way exclusion (day 1-2), active removal (days 2-5), sealing (day 3-7), sanitation. Total: 3-7 days. See our full Georgia wildlife coverage.

📅 Fall/Winter Shelter Seeking

As temperatures drop, opossums more actively seek the warmth of crawlspaces, attics, and enclosed structures. Any unsealed ground-level entry point is an invitation. This is a good time to inspect and seal your foundation vents and skirting.

Opossum Removal Cost in Garden City

$150–$400+

Trapping and relocation. Cleanup and entry point sealing are additional services. Call for an estimate — pricing varies by contractor and job complexity.

Frequently Asked Questions — Opossum Removal in Garden City

What should I do if there's a possum under my Garden City deck? +
Keep family and pets away. Don't try to trap or chase yourself — opossums have 50 sharp teeth and will bite when cornered. Most are temporary residents and move on within a few days if food sources aren't accessible.
Are possums dangerous in Garden City? +
Less dangerous than raccoons or skunks. Opossums almost never carry rabies. They're generally non-aggressive and play dead rather than fight. Risks: defensive opossums bite if cornered, dogs can pick up parasites.
How do I tell a possum from a raccoon? +
Tail clearest tell. Opossum: long, hairless, pink-gray, prehensile. Raccoon: fluffy black-and-tan ringed. Face: opossum pointed pink snout and white face; raccoon iconic black mask. Size: opossums 4-12 lbs; coastal raccoons 18-30 lbs.
How do I get rid of opossums in my Garden City yard? +
Habitat modification first: secure trash cans, bring pet food in, secure compost, harvest fallen fruit, skirt decks and sheds with hardware cloth, trim vegetation. For established opossums, schedule a licensed contractor — DIY relocation has restrictions and often fails.
Will an opossum hurt my dog? +
Possibly. Opossums almost never carry rabies but a defensive opossum will bite. Dogs that catch and shake opossums can pick up fleas, ticks, parasites.
What does an opossum playing dead mean? +
Involuntary thanatosis reflex triggered by extreme stress. The state can last 4-6 hours or longer — the animal is not actually dead. Leave it alone for 6+ hours.
How much does opossum removal cost in Garden City? +
Most Garden City opossum removal calls run $200-$500+.
How long does opossum removal take? +
3-7 days routine. Mother-with-joeys situations take longer because work has to wait for joey mobility.
How much does opossum removal cost in Garden City, Georgia? +
Opossum trapping and removal in Georgia typically costs $150–$400+. Sealing the entry point where opossums access your Garden City crawlspace or deck adds $150–$400+. Long-term contamination cleanup in areas where opossums have been living adds additional cost depending on how long the animal was present.
Are opossums in Georgia dangerous? +
Opossums rarely carry rabies due to their low body temperature, but they do carry leptospirosis and harbor parasites including fleas, ticks, and mites. A female opossum with young in her pouch requires careful professional handling. Their droppings contaminate insulation in Garden City crawlspaces and attics and require professional-grade sanitization.
Why do opossums keep getting under my house in Garden City? +
Opossums do not dig — they use existing openings. Crawlspace vents, gaps in skirting, and open foundation areas in Garden City homes are the primary access points. Because they are opportunistic and nomadic, multiple different opossums may use the same entry point over time. Permanent sealing of all ground-level openings is the only lasting solution.
Will an opossum in Garden City leave on its own? +
Possibly, but not reliably. Opossums can be nomadic and sometimes move on within days. However, a warm, sheltered crawlspace in Garden City may be occupied continuously by successive animals unless the entry point is sealed. Females with young will not leave until pups are fully weaned. Professional removal guarantees the animal is gone and the entry is sealed.
When are opossums most active in Georgia? +
Opossums are active year-round in Georgia and can be found in structures in any season. They breed twice per year — females carry young in the pouch from January through April for the first litter, and from June through August for the second. Cold weather drives them more aggressively into crawlspaces and attics. Mothers with pouch young require trained handling and are the most common opossum situation in Garden City homes.

More Wildlife Services in Garden City

Your local contractor handles all wildlife removal needs