Regulations regarding the trapping of wild animals, and opossums in particular, vary from place to place. If you find that you have one or more opossum living on your property or within your house, you will want to get rid of the problem right away. You should take the time, however, to quickly check the relevant laws concerning animal entrapment in your area. In many locations it is legal to conduct live trapping of opossums, but not legal to use lethal traps. There also may be legal restrictions regarding where the trapped opossums can be released. Certain places only allow for opossums to be released in specified areas with the proper permission. Also, some areas only allow professional wildlife removal experts that have a permit to remove wild animals such as opossums. Additionally, in most states it is illegal to take the opossum across county or state lines.

If you find that it is legal to trap an opossum in your area, you will probably be required to report the capture to a local conservation officer, depending on the regulations of your location. If you do not follow all of the applicable rules, you could be subjected to a large fine and possibly jail time if you are charged with animal cruelty. The laws concerning wild life entrapment can change from time to time, so always make sure you are aware of the most up to date laws before you get involved in trapping opossums on your property.

After you trap one or more opossums on your property, you should take certain precautions so that other animals don’t move in to take their place. You should make sure that all food sources, such as rotten fruit from trees, pet food, and garbage, are removed or tightly secured. You can also put up a barrier such as a fence to keep opossums and other wildlife out of your living space. Seal up all holes in the structures on your property to avoid giving them easy access to set up residence.

You can always contact a wildlife removal specialist or a wildlife rehabilitator to either ask for advice or ask them to come take care of the problem for you. They will be well-versed on all the relevant laws and regulations in your location regarding opossum trapping and will take care of the problem legally and efficiently.

Go back to the How to Get Rid of Opossums page or email us if you have any other questions about Is it legal for me to trap an opossum?