Opossums are pretty common in North America, and they’re becoming more and more common in our neighborhoods. Because of this, it’s important to know the signs that one might be calling your backyard “home.”
This article is all about helping you identify opossum poop, what it looks like, and what dangers it might pose to you or your pets.
Knowing the difference between opossum droppings and other animal waste is essential for keeping your property clean and safe. If you misidentify the source, you might not clean it up properly, which could put you and your family at risk.
Keep reading to learn more about the appearance of opossum poop, how to identify it, what health risks it carries, and how to prevent opossums from making a mess in your yard.
Understanding opossum behavior and diet
To better identify opossum poop, it helps to know a little about these animals’ habits.
Nocturnal Habits of Opossums
Opossums are mainly nocturnal, meaning they’re most active at night. This also means they’re most likely to poop at night, so you’ll usually find their droppings in the morning.
Opossums often forage for food around fruit trees, gardens, compost piles, and trash cans, so those areas are more likely to be where they deposit their waste.
Diverse Dietary Preferences
Opossums are omnivores with a varied diet that includes fruits, veggies, insects, small animals, and carrion, so their poop can vary quite a bit depending on what they’ve been eating.
Seasonal changes in diet may also affect the look of their droppings. During berry season, for instance, the poop may be darker or even purplish.
Impact on Droppings Appearance
Opossum poop often contains undigested food particles such as seeds, insect shells, and plant matter, so you may be able to identify what the opossum has been eating.
Also, the color and consistency of the feces can change based on what they’ve been feasting on.
What does opossum poop look like?
If you think you’ve found opossum poop on your property, here’s what to look for.
Size and shape
Opossum droppings are generally small, cylinder-shaped, and segmented, meaning they look as if they’re made of several small pieces stuck together. Most are 1 to 2 inches long and roughly a quarter-inch to a half-inch wide, although some sources describe them as being as long as 3 inches and as wide as an inch. The shape may also vary a bit, depending on what the animal has been eating and how much moisture is in the sample.
Color and texture
Fresh opossum poop is usually dark brown or black, with a moist, shiny appearance. As it dries, the color fades, and the texture gets harder. Older droppings may look gray or chalky.
Undigested material
One key characteristic of opossum poop is the presence of undigested food. Look closely to see if you can spot seeds, insect parts, or plant fibers. The amount and type of undigested material can give you some clues about what the animal has been eating recently. For example, if you see a lot of berry seeds, it’s likely the opossum has been feasting on berries.
Odor
Opossum poop often has a strong, pungent odor, similar to ammonia, that can help you distinguish it from the waste of other animals.
How to identify opossum poop
So, you’ve found some droppings, and you suspect an opossum. Here’s what to do:
- Check the location. Opossums tend to leave their droppings near where they eat or in protected areas.
- Examine the poop. Take a close look at the size, shape, color, and texture. Is there any undigested material?
- Consider the environment. What’s around? Are there potential food sources for opossums?
- Look for other signs of opossums. Have you seen tracks? Has your trash been disturbed? Is your garden damaged?
Finding opossum poop is just one piece of the puzzle. By combining it with other clues, you can figure out if you have an opossum problem.
How to tell opossum poop from other animal droppings
Because opossums live in close proximity to people, it’s important to know how to tell their scat from that of other animals.
Opossum vs. rat droppings
Rat poop is smaller and more pointy than opossum poop. While opossum droppings are generally an inch or two in length, rat droppings are typically only about a half an inch long. Also, rat droppings tend to be smoother and don’t usually contain undigested material, as opossum poop often does.
Opossum vs. raccoon scat
Raccoon scat tends to be larger and more cylindrical than opossum droppings. Raccoon scat is usually between 2 and 3 inches long and about half an inch in diameter. Raccoons also tend to leave their droppings in communal latrine sites, while opossum poop is usually scattered here and there.
Key differences in wildlife excrement
- Squirrel scat is smaller than opossum poop, typically between 3/8 and 1 inch long.
- Fox scat is a similar size to raccoon scat at 2 to 3 inches, and it’s usually tan or brown in color, often containing hair and seeds.
- Deer scat is easy to identify. It’s made up of small, spherical pellets that are usually found in large quantities.
- Groundhog scat is medium sized and oval shaped, similar to skunk droppings.
Health risks of opossum poop and how to handle it
Opossum droppings can contain bacteria and parasites that can make you sick. Some of the nasties found in opossum poop include Salmonella and Leptospirosis, among others.
Because of these risks, it’s important to handle opossum poop carefully. If you need to clean up an area where opossums have left their waste, you should:
- Wear gloves and a mask
- Use bleach or a strong cleaner to disinfect the area after removing the feces
- Seal any entry points to your home to prevent future contamination
- Make sure your garbage cans are tightly closed
Taking these steps can help protect you and your family from the health risks associated with opossum poop.
In Conclusion
Opossum poop is usually easy to identify. Look for small, segmented, cylindrical droppings that contain undigested seeds, bones, or insect parts.
It’s important to know what opossum poop looks like so you don’t confuse it with the feces of other animals.
Contact with opossum poop can expose you to harmful bacteria and parasites, so always take precautions when cleaning up after a critter. Wear gloves, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
Taking steps to keep opossums away from your home will minimize your chances of coming into contact with their droppings.