How Much Does Possum Removal Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $150 - $350
Possum removal costs an average of $250. Depending on numbers, location, removal method, and whether you do it yourself or hire a pro, most pay from $150 to $350.
The average possum removal cost is $250. You might may $150 to remove one possum with a catch pole or as much as $600 to trap an entire family that has set up a home in your attic or crawl space and caused damage in the process.
These misunderstood marsupials are rarely aggressive, and allowing them to pass peacefully through your yard has some advantages. However, there are times when removing possums is helpful. Learn what factors can influence possum removal costs and how keeping these critters out of your yard can be a better long-term investment.
- Average
- $250
- Low end
- $100
- high end
- $600
Possum Removal Cost Factors
Various factors influence professional possum removal costs. Accounting for these helps you understand if the professional wildlife removal quotes you receive are fair.
Number of Possums
The more possums you need to remove, the more it costs. Often, professionals charge a set rate for a site inspection and removal of one possum, ranging from $100 to $250. For any additional possums who have also set up shop on your property, professionals may charge $50 to $100 to remove them.
Possums aren't pack animals and mothers carry their babies, so it's rare to remove multiple possums at once unless you are leaving out too many tempting food sources.
| Number of Possums | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $100–$250 |
| 2 | $150–$350 |
| 3 | $200–$450 |
| 4 | $300–$550 |
Number of Visits
Some professionals charge a flat rate for individual possum removal, regardless of how many return visits they may need to make when using a live trapping removal method. The flat rate is typically around $150 to $350. Others will charge an initial base rate of around $100 to $250 and then an extra fee of $50 to $100 for each additional visit.
| Number of Visits | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $100–$250 |
| 2 | $150–$350 |
| 3 | $200–$450 |
Removal Method
Possum removal costs are higher for live trapping than catch-pole techniques. If you block in the problematic possum, a professional can come to remove it using a catch pole and complete the job in a single visit.
If the possum needs trapping, the contractor must return at least once. Live traps need checking every 24 hours. If you can’t do this yourself, the professional may have to make several visits until the possum is caught. Fortunately, possums aren’t as wary of traps as some wildlife, so with the right trap, coverage, and bait, you won’t have to wait too long.
Location and Accessibility
Possum removal costs might be higher when there are accessibility issues. Expect a surcharge when the pros have to travel long distances to a rural property or set traps in a tricky-to-reach crawl space or attic.
Emergency Call Out Fees
You could pay from $100 more to double a contractor’s usual rate if they come out on short notice or out of standard hours. Fortunately, unlike wildlife with a greater rabies risk, it should be okay to wait a day or two unless a possum is acting unusually aggressively.
Repairs
Possums can cause damage in their efforts to set up a home in your crawl space or attic. Some of the repair costs you could face if they have gone to town with those sharp teeth accessing and making a comfy den include:
Attic cleaning costs: $150–$1,000
Cost to hire an electrician for chewed wire repairs: $160–$530
Drywall repair costs: $300–$900
Dead Animals
Expect dead possum removal costs to be around $50 to $150. Professionals can handle this safely and hygienically and will be aware of state regulations on wildlife carcass disposal.
Possum Exclusion Costs
If you’re not a fan of possums patrolling your yard, it makes more practical and financial sense to take steps to keep them out rather than relying on removal. Below are some costs for keeping possums away humanely.
Fence Installation or Upgrade
Building or upgrading a fence is one of the most effective ways to keep a possum from entering your yard and bothering poultry or other pets. The average cost to install a chain-link fence ranges from $1,300 to $3,500. The fence should be at least 4 feet high, and the top 18 inches should bend outwards from the yard to stop the possum from climbing over.
Fence Repair
The average cost of fence repairs is $600. Investing in replacing missing slats or mending broken chicken wire will keep out possums and other wildlife, like foxes.
Landscaping Changes
Possums are agile climbers, and if you have shrubbery climbing up the side of your home or overhanging tree branches, they can use these to help them access attics and chimneys. The average cost of a yard cleanup service is $400. Removing overgrown shrubs and clutter that provide hiding spots for these shy creatures also helps prevent them from making a den on your property and makes your yard look more presentable.
Seal-Off Den Areas
Sealing gaps leading under decking, into crawl spaces, and down chimneys where possums den can help keep these critters out. These are straightforward tasks for a budget-friendly handyperson near you to tackle. The average cost to hire a handyperson is $400.
DIY Possum Removal Cost vs. Hiring a Pro
DIY possum removal costs range from $50 to $100. If a possum wanders into your home, sometimes it is enough to block access to other rooms and leave the exterior door open until it makes its way out again. Providing you don’t corner it, you could even try using a broom to guide it out gently.
If the possum is denning in your attic, crawl space, or under your patio, you’ll need to catch and remove it. However, various regulations and safety matters mean hiring a licensed wildlife control company near you is often preferable.
Some things to consider if you are going down the DIY live trapping route:
Without a permit, relocating a possum to a different location is illegal.
While it is rare for possums to carry rabies, they can spread other diseases and be a bite risk if you don’t trap or handle them correctly.
After removing possums from inside your home and releasing them back in the immediate vicinity, seal off entry points to potential den areas to prevent them from returning.
If you don’t place the trap in a suitable location, disguise it, and bait it appropriately, the possums won’t enter. Licensed professionals have expert knowledge on how to get rid of possums and will handle the job safely, efficiently, and humanely.
Cost of Common Possum Removal Cost Add-Ons
If you spot signs of rats in your yard or groundhogs destroying your lush lawn, it makes sense to have a wildlife control specialist tackle these problems at the same time as they remove a possum. Professionals often offer discounts for dealing with multiple nuisance animals at once.
Other common wildlife removal costs include:
Groundhog removal costs: $150–$200
Fox removal costs: $250–$450
Rat removal costs: $175–$600
Squirrel removal costs: $250–$450
Skunk removal costs: $300–$600
How to Reduce Costs While Removing Possums
The DIY route isn’t the only way to save money. Consider the following budget-friendly strategies to reduce possum removal costs.
Get at least three quotes: Contact multiple reputable contractors rather than opting for the first one that gets back to you.
Pick a pro with experience: A pest removal company that doesn’t have solid experience in possum removal might not trap the animal as quickly or effectively as one specializing in this type of service.
Trap yourself: If you can borrow and set up a trap, some professionals will handle the removal part for a reduced rate.
Focus on exclusion: If these critters can’t get into your yard or home to den there, you’re less likely to have to budget for possum removal costs.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
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Frequently Asked Questions
You might consider possum removal if the animal is feuding with your pets, threatening your livestock, denning in your attic or chimney, or acting unusually aggressive. However, it’s easy to block them from reentering den spaces, and if you make your yard a less attractive place for possums, they rarely cause problems when passing through.
In most states, relocating a possum without a permit is illegal. This is because the possum is at an increased risk of spreading disease, being injured, or dying when released in a habitat it is not familiar with. After live trapping a possum, re-releasing it in your neighborhood while taking steps to exclude it from your property, or humane euthanization are the primary options.
If you’re an animal lover and want to support biodiversity, consider letting a possum live peacefully in your yard. Possums rarely contract rabies or behave aggressively, and they can keep problematic rat, mouse, cockroach, slug, snail, and tick populations down. You might just want to make some modifications to prevent them from making a home in your attic, chimney, or crawl spaces.