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Opossum Removal in Roanoke

Last reviewed September 8, 2026 against Virginia DWR published rules and federal statute. How we research this site.

Opossums are less destructive than raccoons but they den in the same places, and they are much harder to smell out until the mess is substantial.

Roanoke specifically

Opossums are not built for cold. They do not hibernate, they carry on foraging through winter, and they lose ears and tail tips to frostbite doing it, which is exactly why they push into crawlspaces, sheds and under decks in a Roanoke winter far harder than they would in Georgia. A winter opossum is usually a cold opossum, not a bold one.

Opossums in Roanoke County: who does what

The City of Roanoke states that its Animal Wardens do not handle wild animals unless the animal is a direct threat to public safety, and refers residents to a licensed trapper or a removal service. It also gives the state wildlife conflict helpline on 855-571-9003. That helpline is advice, not a visit; nobody from it is coming to your attic.

Roanoke County code §13-5.2 bans trapping any game or furbearing animal within 50 feet of the shoulder of a primary or secondary highway without the landowner’s written permission.

For identifying an animal or damage before anyone is paid to look, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Roanoke County / Roanoke and Salem office is at 3738 Brambleton Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24018, (540) 772-7524 (office page).

What Virginia law says about opossums

Opossums are fur-bearers in Virginia. DWR says no kill permit is needed and a landowner may kill one on their own land in the closed season; trapping one and relocating it is illegal. All Virginia rules →

Sources: Virginia DWR, local ordinances: Roanoke County; Code of Virginia §29.1-100; Virginia DWR: skunks and opossums; City of Roanoke, help with wild animals. Checked October 2026.

An opossum at a broken crawlspace access door
Illustrative Opossums use holes something else made.

Signs, and why they matter

  • Shuffling or dragging sounds under a deck, shed or porch at night
  • A strong, musty animal odour near a crawlspace vent
  • Droppings and a matted den area under decking
  • Heavy faecal accumulation in crawlspaces and under decks
  • Fleas, ticks and mites carried into the structure

How removal works

Trapping and removal, then exclusion fencing dug in along the deck or shed skirt so they cannot re-enter: opossums will simply move back in if the gap stays open.

Cut-away of a one-way exclusion door fitted over an entry hole A wall in cross-section with the attic on the left and outside on the right. A hinged flap is fitted over the entry hole on the outer face. An animal pushes the flap open from inside and leaves; the flap falls shut behind it, and a stop below prevents it opening inwards, so the animal cannot get back in. INSIDE: ATTIC OR CRAWLSPACE OUTSIDE WALL STOP: IT ONLY SWINGS OUT HINGED AT THE TOP OUT: ONE WAY AND NEVER BACK IN
A one-way door lets the animal leave and not return, which is why sealing the hole is the last step, not the first.

Opossum questions

How much does opossum removal cost in Roanoke?

$250 – $500 typical, depending on access and whether young are present. After a long stay in an attic the cleanup is often the bigger bill (attic restoration).

Is there a wrong time of year to deal with opossums?

Active year-round in the Southeast. Females carry young in a pouch, so removal timing matters less than with attic-denning species.

Who handles opossums in Roanoke County?

Roanoke County code §13-5.2 bans trapping any game or furbearing animal within 50 feet of the shoulder of a primary or secondary highway without the landowner’s written permission.

Request a quote

We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Roanoke where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.

We are an information and referral service, not a licensed wildlife control operator, and we may be paid for the introduction. You are never charged.

Request a quote from a licensed Virginia operator

Tell us what is in your house. We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Roanoke where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.

Request a Quote