We’ve all seen them – Possums are furry little creatures with big eyes and even bigger tails. Often considered noisy and annoying pests, possums are beneficial creatures that play a major role in our ecosystem. However, a lingering question sometimes pops up: can possums make us sick? The short answer is yes, possums can carry infections. Like other wild animals, they can transmit bacteria, parasites, and viruses, some of which can potentially be transmitted to humans, causing diseases like leptospirosis, tularemia, salmonella, and toxoplasmosis. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss whether possum infections are seriously troublesome.

How Do Possum Infections Spread?

The good news is that the risk of contracting an infection from a possum is relatively low. Most infections occur when you have direct contact with their bodily fluids, such as saliva, urine, or feces. That’s why possum removal Melbourne experts advise against killing or capturing possums, as they are a protected species under Australian law. To get rid of possums, you should always seek professional help.

You’re Most Likely to Get Infected If You

  • Handle a Possum Directly: Avoid touching or trying to catch a possum, even if it seems friendly or injured. Instead, call a possum removal service in Melbourne for assistance.
  • Contaminated Areas: If a possum has been in your yard, clean up any feces or areas where they might have been present, wearing gloves for protection.
  • Interact with Contaminated Water: Possums can contaminate water sources with their urine, so be careful when drinking from natural water sources and remove any water fountains they might access.

Keeping Ourselves and Possums Safe

The key to preventing possum-related infections is to avoid direct contact. Keep your distance, keep your pets away, and do not attempt to handle them. If you encounter a sick or injured possum, don’t try to scare them or use DIY methods to catch them. Instead, contact possum control specialists for assistance.

Possums are valuable members of the environment. By understanding the potential risks and taking simple precautions, you can coexist peacefully while protecting human and wildlife health. If you need to remove possums from your property, call your trusted pest control in Melbourne – Enviro Safe Pest Control. To schedule an appointment with us, call 1300 997 272 today. We also provide professional pest control services including rat removal, mice removal, rodent control, ant removal, termite treatments, and more for all Melbourne suburbs.