Do Opossums Live Underground?

If you are asking whether opossums live underground, the short answer is no, not as a main home. Opossums do not dig and maintain burrows the way groundhogs or moles do, but they do move into spaces that feel underground, like crawl spaces, burrow openings, under decks, and gaps under sheds. If one is showing up in your yard or under your home, the real issue is access, shelter, and food, not a true underground den.

Do Opossums Live Underground?

Opossums are not true burrowing animals. They do not excavate tunnels or build underground nests, and they do not rely on underground chambers for long term shelter. Instead, they use whatever protected space is already there, such as brush piles, hollow logs, abandoned dens, storm culverts, or the open area under a deck. If a homeowner sees signs of an opossum “underground,” it is usually using an existing void, not digging one.

What they are actually looking for

Opossums want dry cover, darkness, and easy escape routes. A crawl space, lattice opening, or the gap beneath a porch gives them the security of a den without any digging. They also prefer food close by, including pet food, fallen fruit, garbage, and bird seed. If the shelter and food are present, they will keep returning.

Do Opossums Live in Burrows?

Opossums do live in burrows, but only when they find one already made by another animal. They use abandoned burrows from groundhogs, foxes, rabbits, or other wildlife, and they reuse natural cavities when the opening is large enough. They do not form a permanent denning system of their own, so a burrow on your property is a borrowed shelter, not an opossum-made one.

Signs a burrow is being used

Look for a round entry hole, loose dirt at the opening, tracks, and a musky odor near the entrance. You may also see disturbed leaves, droppings, or food scraps nearby. If the hole sits near a deck, shed, or foundation, the opossum may be moving between the burrow and a protected structure during the night.

Do Opossums Burrow in the Ground?

No, opossums do not burrow in the ground themselves. Their claws are suited for climbing and gripping, not serious digging. If you find fresh soil pushed out of a hole, another animal made the burrow first, or the opossum is using a gap caused by erosion, a decayed stump, or a cracked foundation opening. The animal is an opportunist, not an excavator.

Why this matters for homeowners

This matters because sealing the visible hole is not enough if the entry point is easy to reopen or if the animal is still inside. Opossums can push through weak barriers and squeeze through openings about 3 to 4 inches wide. Any exclusion plan has to remove the animal first, then harden the site so it cannot reenter.

Where Opossums Hide Around Homes and Yards

Opossums choose shelter where they can avoid predators and people. The most common spots are under decks, porches, sheds, woodpiles, and crawl spaces. In yards, they also use thick brush, compost piles, and stacked materials. At night they travel along fence lines, foundation edges, and garden beds while searching for food.

High risk attractants to remove

• Pet food left outside overnight
• Open garbage cans or loose lids
• Fallen fruit from trees
• Bird seed spilled under feeders
• Brush piles, lumber, and yard debris
• Crawl space openings and broken vent covers

How to Get an Opossum Out of a Burrow or Under Deck

Start by making the area unattractive, then block the entry after the animal leaves. Do not trap an adult with babies inside, and do not close an opening before you know the space is empty. If you see a mother with young, wait for professional removal or contact animal control before sealing anything.

1. Remove food sources, including pet bowls, fallen fruit, and unsecured trash.
2. Clear hiding spots close to the entry, such as brush, stacked firewood, and loose boards.
3. Use a bright flashlight at dusk to identify the active opening and nearby tracks or droppings.
4. Install a one way exclusion door or temporary wire screen over the main entry, leaving the exit path open.
5. After 3 to 5 nights with no fresh activity, seal the opening with heavy gauge hardware cloth, buried 6 inches where needed, and fastened to framing with screws and washers.

How to Keep Opossums From Returning

Exclusion works only when you block both the access point and the attractants. Use 1/4 inch hardware cloth for crawl space vents, skirt the bottom edge of decks with buried wire mesh, and repair rotted boards or foundation gaps. In the yard, trim dense brush, keep compost sealed, and store feed in metal or thick plastic containers with tight lids.

Best maintenance habits

Check deck skirting, vent screens, and shed corners every month. Reset any damaged panel right away, because one small gap is enough for a return visit. Keep grass cut short around the foundation so tracks and openings stay visible. If opossums are nesting nearby, remove the shelter first, then reinforce the structure before the next nightfall.