Opossums in Brooklyn
In Brooklyn, opossums turn up in backyards and under decks in neighborhoods with more private yard space, such as Marine Park, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, Midwood and Bay Ridge. Areas near Prospect Park, Green-Wood Cemetery and the shoreline of Jamaica Bay also see regular opossum activity around garbage and garden areas.
Because opossums behave differently in a prewar walk-up than in a detached house or a storefront, local experience matters. The providers we connect you with work in Brooklyn every day and tailor treatment to the building in front of them.
The Virginia opossum is North America's only marsupial, and it has quietly become a regular resident of New York City's backyards. Opossums are shy, nocturnal scavengers that rarely cause trouble, but they will move into crawl spaces, under decks and porches, inside sheds and garages, and occasionally into basements. Once settled, they raid garbage and pet food, leave droppings and odors, and sometimes raise a litter of young under your home. They are generally not aggressive, yet few homeowners want a wild animal living under the kitchen floor or beside the back door.
Signs of Opossums in Your Brooklyn Home
- Overturned garbage cans, torn trash bags or scattered compost in the morning after nighttime foraging.
- Pet food bowls left outside emptied overnight, sometimes along with birdseed spilled beneath feeders.
- A gray, cat-sized animal with a pale face and hairless tail seen at night near decks, sheds or fences.
- Droppings resembling a small dog's, often near den entrances, under porches or along fence lines.
- A persistent musky or foul odor coming from beneath a deck, porch, shed or crawl space.
How Opossum Removal Works in Brooklyn
- 1
Inspection
A licensed wildlife professional confirms the animal is an opossum, locates the den and all openings under decks, porches, sheds or foundations, and checks for signs of young before any removal work begins.
- 2
Humane Removal or Exclusion
Depending on the situation, the operator may use a one-way door to let the opossum leave on its own or use live traps where appropriate. All handling and release follow New York State wildlife regulations.
- 3
Den Sealing
Once the animal is gone, entry points are closed with durable materials such as hardware cloth and buried L-shaped mesh footers, which prevent opossums and other animals from moving back in.
- 4
Sanitation
Droppings, nesting material and contaminated insulation are removed where needed, and the area may be sanitized and deodorized to reduce odors, parasites and the scent trails that attract other wildlife.
- 5
Prevention Plan
The provider recommends changes to garbage storage, pet feeding, compost and landscaping that reduce food sources, and schedules a follow-up if needed to confirm the exclusion is holding. These steps discourage other wildlife as well.
Seasonal Activity in Brooklyn
Opossums are active year round in NYC, though they slow down during the coldest winter stretches. Breeding begins in late winter, and young are carried in the pouch and then on the mother's back through spring and summer. Calls often increase from March through September as females seek den sites and juveniles disperse to find territories.
In Brooklyn, spring brings termite swarms, ant activity, and busier rat populations as backyards come back to life. Summer heat drives cockroach and waterbug sightings, and damp basements attract centipedes and silverfish. Fall is peak season for mice moving indoors and for raccoons and squirrels looking for winter dens in attics and chimneys. Winter slows outdoor activity, but heated row houses and apartment buildings keep rodents and roaches active indoors until spring returns.
Want the full guide? Read our citywide page on opossum removal in NYC for species identification, health risks and detailed prevention tips.