Possum poop smells horrible.
Anyone who has come into contact with a possum scat will tell you it’s the smell you’ll not want in the yard, garden, attic, or home.
But that’s not all.
Possum poop is also a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it can make your family or pet sick. You have to do everything to get rid of it before it’s too late. Otherwise, it is just a matter of days before they make a toilet in your yard.
Follow along to learn more about possum poop and how you can keep everyone in your household safe.
What Does Possum Poop Look Like?
The possum poop is dark brown and looks similar to medium-sized dog poop. Possum poop isn’t broken down into tiny little pieces. It’s either two or three large piles of dropping. What’s more, possum drooping is curly shaped because they bend when excreting.
Unlike dogs, they live their scat in piles. Their poop has a diameter of 3/4th of an inch with smooth sides and is 2 inches long. In short, the possum poop is similar to a medium-sized dog poop.
The possum poop smells like dog poop, and it resembles that of a skunk. If you have a pet inside your house, it may be difficult to know whether it is a possum’s poop or your pet’s.
You need to be cautious when you are getting rid of a pet’s poop. There’s a huge chance that you might be clearing the possum poop.
What’s more, the possum poop won’t have seed in it. Possum poop won’t be in a continuous string, but it will be broken in the middle, although the poop will remain big.
Peppermint oil like this one has saved my garden from the possum. Possum used to make my garden a pit latrine. It works and repels possums.
What Does Brushtail Possum Scat Look Like?
The poop is greenish-brown to dark brown or black, depending on what the possum is feeding. The Brushtail possum poop is cylindrical, and it can vary in size. Like the common possum poop, Brushtail possum faces appear as a group of individual pellets in clumps or stringy.
What’s more, Brushtail possums also like to leave their stool in one neat heap of one or two meters. Fresh brutal possum stool smells horrible.
Brushtail possum poop resembles koala poop. The difference is, that it is smaller than koala poop.
The scat is coarse-textured, and it will be a stringy bit protruding from the break. The common brushtail possum is found in South-East Queensland.
What Does Ringtail Possum Scat Look Like?
Ringtail possum poop is 10mm long. Ringtail possum poop is smaller than Brushtail possum poo. Their pellets are found in groupings of 3 to 6 with a coarse surface. Both of their ends are usually rounded. The scat will vary with what the animal ate.
You’ll find it mostly on leaf litter next to a mature tree. The ringtail possum scat is dark brown to black. Unlike brushtail possum poop, this one has an uneven pellet that looks like an olive pit.
What’s more, their scat is usually scattered under a feeding tree which is easy to spot if the tree overhangs a clear area.
The only difference between Ringtail possum and other possum species is that their poop doesn’t have any bad smell, and it consists of chewed peppermint leaves.
The common ringtail possum also eats its fecal pellets. In other words, it digests twice to extract more nutrients from the tool.
Possum Drooping Identification
It’s so hard to identify a possum dropping, especially if you have pets around. On the outside, possum poop resembles a cat’s or dog’s poop. Here are some of the ways to identify possum poop:
A possum is an opportunistic hunter, and they will eat anything. That means you can’t use a stick and inspect if the poop has seeds in it or what it has eaten.
Possum is known to poop and urinates together. Therefore, you are likely to hear the smell of urine in wet feces. Ammonia in the urine smells horrible.
Possum Scat vs Raccoon Scat
Opossum and raccoon scat are different. An easy way to tell possum waste from a raccoon is the cat raccoon feces has undigested food.
You’ll find berries and other seeds in the poop which raccoons might have eaten in your yard. Raccoon feces will have lots of undigested berries, and you can use the stick to locate them.
Unlike opossums, raccoons will usually excrete their waste in communicable sites known as latrines. Latrines are places where the animal deposits dropping are on top of one another in one particular area. You’ll find raccoon latrines in:
- Trees
- Garages
- Decks or patios
- Horizontal surfaces like fallen logs, stumps, woodpiles, or large rocks
Since most raccoons are social animals, it is easy to find their latrines because they are usually large and easy to locate.
A Possum is a solitary animal so you will find poop everywhere. Unlike raccoons, possums don’t have a shared location. Raccoon poop is dark in color and dark brown when fresh. Opossum scat is in a trail, while raccoon scat is in a single pile.
Note: Raccoons and possums are used to forage for food from the garden. I used these products around my garden and since then I have never seen them around. But that’s not all. What I love about these lights is that they keep many pests away from coming close to my garden.
Possum Poop vs Rat Poop
Rat dropping looks similar to a small possum poop. Therefore, the difference between the two can be challenging unless you work with a pest control expert.
Fresh rat poop is dark and shiny, while opossum poop is dark brown. Old rat poop is grey and dusty, while possum poop is dark grey. Rat pellets or scat are pointed at the end, while possum pellets are curly or rounded.
Possum Poop vs Cat Poop
Cat poop is different from possum scat. It is deep brown, whereas possum drooping is dark brown.
Cat stool is not smelly, whereas possum poop has a strong ammonia smell. Bear in mind that a cat stool is not that dark.
And blackish cat poop may mean that your cat has some blood in the stool. A healthy normal cat stool will have a log or little nugget shape, while possum poop will be rounded. Cat poop is less smelly, depending on the kind of food you feed it. A healthy cat has small droppings.
What Does a Possum Poop Smell Like?
The possum poop smell is horrible. The poops smell like ammonia gas. The poop, when mixed with possum urine, produces a strong odor.
The smell of this poop resembles rotten feces. Possum also has many scented glands in the body. We have one that removes a smelling green substance which is ammonia.
Possums also have been known to remove a red-brown gland on their chest. When these scent glands mix with possum urine and droop, they can be smelly as hell.
It’s common for possums to rub the base of tree trunks with these glands as a way of marking their territory. That said, possums hate the smell of ammonia products like this one. Therefore, you can also use it to deter possums.
Why Do Possums Poop a Lot?
Possums do poop a lot because they’re excreting a lot of waste materials from their body. Possums are opportunistic omnivores, meaning that they will eat any plants and animals that are easily available.
What’s more, the possum diet consists of dead animals and carrion too. Since they eat various things, even dead creatures, expect them to poop a lot and their drooping to be big.
If you leave a possum to take residence in your garden, yard or home, you’ll have a toilet in a matter of days.
Possum Poop Diseases
Possum poop is dangerous because it transmits diseases through urine and feces. These creatures are carriers of Leptospirosis, a bacteria which has flu-like symptoms.
Leptospirosis can be fatal to humans. You may experience complications from the diseases if you have a compromised immune system. When left untreated, it can cause kidney damage, meningitis, liver, and respiratory compilation.
You are likely to get this bacteria and virus when you touch possum poop with your bare hands. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic transmitted disease meaning you can only get it when you come into contact with possum poop through cuts or wounds.
Humans can also get coccidiosis which happens when you step on the feces. The coccidiosis bacteria will get into the bloodstream and make you feel ill.
The most dangerous disease transmitted through possum poop is the Buruli bacteria. The bacteria causing this disease is called mycobacterium ulcerans. This bacteria is present in the possum stool, and you will get it if you touch the stool. The bacteria causes skin ulcers in humans.
Besides that, possums can poop in swimming pools and other sources of water. Therefore, if you live in a neighborhood infested with possums, make sure to close the swimming pool and other sources of water you may have. That way, you’ll avoid contamination with possum poop.
Fungi spores are present in possum stool, posing a health threat because they can damage the lungs and heart and infect your blood.
It is vital to make sure your surroundings are free from possum poop. You can get the disease by touching the feces with either an open wound or a cut. Eating food or drinking contaminated water will also get you possum diseases. Possums can bite humans when cornered. Possums are not the only pests that spread diseases, pigeons do the same.
Is Possum Poop Dangerous to Dogs?
Animals that come into contact with possum poop are more vulnerable to contracting diseases than humans. Dogs and cats are usually at risk of getting Leptospirosis from possum stool.
That’s because these pets are always curious to find out which animal is walking in their territory. Opossums are immune to rabies, although they are carriers.
Most often, dogs and cats usually end up fighting with a possum. Therefore, if you live in an infected possum area, you may need to consult a vet and make sure all your dogs and cats are vaccinated.
Is Possum Poop Dangerous to Horses?
The opossum is dangerous to horses and can transmit Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis(EPM) to horses in your homestead. The illness is caused by a protozoan parasite whose eggs exist in opossum faces. EPM is a deadly disease that can leave your horse disabled and eventually cause death.
Opossums are carriers of EPM protozoa. While other animals can carry the disease, the opossum is the only animal that can pass the infection to your horses. Opossum feces has sporocysts that pass the protozoa to a horse.
Sporocysts are simply cysts that have protozoa pores and produce asexually. If a horse feeds on grass, water, or food contaminated with opossum stool, it will get sporocysts. When the sporocysts get into the horse’s body, it causes lesions on the spinal cord and brainstorms.
This neurological damage makes the horse experience various symptoms of EPM. When a horse has EPM, it can’t pass it to other horses.
If the condition is not treated well, the horse may be unable to stand, eat food, or even die. That said, get rid of possums away from the yard, garden, or ranch.
Can Humans Contract Diseases from Possums?
Yes, opossums or possums can transmit diseases to humans. The most harmful aspect of them is that they can spread bacteria. Besides that, they can carry various parasites, including fleas, ticks, mites, and lice, which may indirectly spread diseases.
For instance, ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, but this occurs through the bite of the tick rather than from the possum. So, there may be a high risk of contracting a disease if the infected tick (by possum) bites you accidentally.
Although they may transmit some parasites, germs, and viruses, there is little chance of getting sick from possums themselves. However, while interacting with possums or other wild animals, it’s crucial to use caution and adopt the appropriate safety measures.
Above all, it’s also important to note that possums have a specialized immune system that makes them more resistant to some diseases, which lowers the possibility of carrying and spreading pathogens that affect humans.
Can Pets Get a Disease from a Possum?
Yes, your pet may get a disease from possums. Through direct touch or exposure to contaminated settings, possums can spread diseases and parasites to other animals, including pets. However, it’s crucial to remember that not all possums are disease carriers, and taking suitable precautions can reduce the danger of transmission.
Some of the potential diseases that can be transmitted from possums to pets include:
- Fleas and Ticks: Possums can carry fleas and ticks that can infest pets and spread illnesses, including Lyme disease and flea-borne typhus.
- Leptospirosis: The urine and feces of sick animals, especially possums, contain this bacterial infection. Pets who come into touch with contaminated water or soil may develop leptospirosis.
- Intestinal Parasites: Possums may be home to intestinal parasites such as coccidia, hookworms, and roundworms. Pets can get sick by consuming contaminated feces or by coming into close contact with sick people.
If you suspect your pet has come into contact with a possum or is exhibiting signs of illness, it’s vital to consult with a veterinarian.
Do Possum Poop in the Same Place?
Possums like to poop in the same area over and over again. Therefore, it’s common to find a lot of poop and urine in the same place.
However, this depends on the kind of possum species. We have some like Brushtail possums who like to poop under a tree. Others want to poop everywhere. What’s more, their poop is well arranged like a train.
How To Clean Possum Poop?
Exercise caution when dealing with possum poop because you can get the disease from them or spread it to your pet.
Removing possum stool is not enough. You also have to get rid of soiled insulation and anything that might be affected.
If you don’t clean the areas where an opossum poop or urinated, the area will grow molds around the poop. Bear in mind that possum urine or feces can damage the wood and sheetrock. Besides that, don’t bury opossum poop in your yard or garden because it can stay in the soil for over one year.
That means, if you have pets around like dogs, they can dig to eat possum poop and contract the disease. The Possum poop is also dangerous to the soil meaning your plants, vegetables, and fruits may not grow well in the garden.
Here is what you need to clean the possum scat:
- Rubber boot with a disposable cover
- Gloves
- Spray water
- Strong disinfectant or enzyme cleaner
- Double bag
- Surgical mask
- Shovel
- Gasoline
Instruction on How to Clean Possum Stool
- Wear disposable gloves, rubber boots, and surgical masks. The surgical mask ensures that you don’t inhale the pellets when they drop or dry.
- Spray water on the dried possum pellets. That ensures that the particles don’t fly off the air.
- Using a shovel, remove the poop and put it in a double bag. The safest way to dispose of the tool is by setting it on fire using gasoline. If you set the stool on fire, you protect your soil and water from contamination.
- Clean the area with a disinfectant or enzyme cleaner
- Finally, clean the shovel, rubber boot, and gloves using a disinfectant solution.
Ready to Clean Possum Stool
Don’t allow possums to make your attic, yard, or garden a toilet. Make sure to use both natural possum deterrents to keep the creature away.
The worst thing that happens is getting infested with possum poop, especially your pets or family. That means you’ll have to spend more money treating family and pets at home.
Since possum poops a lot and is in the same place, don’t be surprised if you have a latrine in a matter of days. That said, do everything possible to keep possums at bay.
