Identify Opossum Poop: A Guide to Droppings

Opossum poop typically looks like dark brown or black, elongated, cylindrical droppings measuring approximately 1 to 3 inches long. Opossum scat may appear curved, segmented, or tapered, sometimes containing seeds or insect fragments. Because it resembles raccoon, cat, and skunk feces, examining its size, shape, and location can help identify the animal responsible.

Key Takeaways:

• Possum poop is generally dark, cylindrical, and approximately 1 to 3 inches long.
• Opossum droppings may contain seeds, plant fibers, or insect fragments.
• Fresh scat can appear moist, while older droppings become dry and brittle.
• Raccoon, skunk, and cat droppings can look similar.
• Avoid handling unidentified animal feces without appropriate precautions.

How to Identify Possum Poop

Identifying possum poop involves examining its size, shape, color, texture, and contents. These characteristics vary depending on diet and environmental conditions, so no single feature confirms identification.

For additional comparisons, see our animal poop identification guide.

Possum Poop Size and Shape

Opossum droppings are typically elongated and tubular, sometimes curved or divided into irregular segments.

Common characteristics include:

• Length: Approximately 1 to 3 inches.
• Diameter: About ¾ inch.
• Shape: Cylindrical, curved, or segmented.
• Ends: Rounded, tapered, or irregular.
• Consistency: Firm, soft, or crumbly depending on age and moisture.

These measurements are approximate rather than definitive.

Unlike small rodent pellets, possum droppings are generally larger and less uniform.

What Color Is Possum Poop?

Fresh possum feces are usually dark brown to nearly black, sometimes with a moist or glossy surface.

Older droppings may become dull, dry, and brittle. Diet and weather can also affect their color and texture.

What Is Inside Possum Droppings?

Possums eat fruits, insects, small animals, and other available foods.

Their scat may contain:

• Fruit seeds
• Plant fibers
• Insect fragments
• Partially digested food remains

However, raccoons and skunks can leave similar materials, making surrounding evidence important.

Possum Poop Pictures: What Should You Look For?

When examining pictures of possum poop, look for dark, elongated droppings with a tubular or irregular shape.

Useful opossum poop images should show:

1. Size: A ruler or nearby object provides scale.
2. Texture: Smooth, segmented, or slightly uneven surfaces.
3. Contents: Visible seeds, fibers, or insect fragments.
4. Location: Outdoor feeding areas or sheltered spaces.

Photographs of possum scat can help narrow down identification, but appearance alone cannot confirm the animal.

Possum Poop vs. Other Animal Droppings

Possum droppings resemble those of several animals commonly found around American homes.

Animal	Appearance	Identification Clue
Possum	Dark, elongated, sometimes curved	May contain seeds or insects
Raccoon	Tubular, often blunt-ended	Frequently found in latrines
Rat	Small, uniform pellets	Much smaller than possum scat
Cat	Cylindrical, segmented	Often buried in loose soil
Skunk	Dark, tubular, irregular	May contain insect fragments

Possum Poop vs. Raccoon Poop

Raccoon and opossum droppings look a lot alike. Both are dark, tube-shaped and full of seeds or bits of food, because both animals eat almost anything. Size won’t settle it.

Raccoon feces are often approximately 2 to 3 inches long and may contain seeds or fruit remains.

Two clues work better than size:

• The ends. Opossum droppings often taper at the ends or curl. Raccoon droppings tend to have blunt ends.
• One spot or many. Raccoons go back to the same toilet spot again and again, called a latrine, so you’ll find old and fresh droppings piled together. Look at the base of a tree or in a raised fork, on a woodpile, deck or roof, or in an attic, garage or hayloft. Opossums don’t keep a latrine. Their droppings turn up one or a few at a time, wherever the animal fed or rested.

If you can’t tell which animal left them, treat them as raccoon droppings. The cleanup steps below explain why.

Read our raccoon poop identification guide for additional comparisons.

Important: Raccoon feces may contain dangerous roundworm eggs. Follow the CDC’s prevention recommendations when dealing with suspected raccoon droppings.

Opossum Poop vs. Rat Poop

Rat droppings are generally smaller, measuring approximately ½ to ¾ inch long, depending on the species.

Possum poop is typically longer, thicker, and less uniform.

Numerous small pellets around cabinets, walls, or stored food may indicate rodents rather than opossums.

If you suspect rats, learn which rat traps work and where to place them.

Possum Poop vs. Cat Poop

Cat poop can resemble possum scat because both are cylindrical and sometimes segmented.

However, cats often bury their droppings in soil or sand, while opossums may leave scat along feeding or travel routes.

Possum Poop vs. Skunk Poop

Skunk poop is often dark, tubular, and irregular, sometimes containing insects, seeds, or other food fragments.

Because the two animals have overlapping diets, tracks and nighttime sightings may provide better identification clues.

See our skunk poop identification guide for additional details.

Where Do Possums Leave Their Droppings?

Opossums may leave feces wherever they feed, travel, or temporarily shelter.

Common locations include:

• Backyards: Near gardens, fences, and fallen fruit.
• Decks and patios: Around pet food or sheltered areas.
• Garages and sheds: Inside accessible storage spaces.
• Crawl spaces: Beneath homes or structures.
• Attics: Where animals have entered through openings.

Finding suspected possum poop on a deck does not guarantee an opossum is responsible.

Tracks, disturbed garbage, and wildlife camera footage can help identify recurring animal activity.

Is Possum Poop Dangerous?

Yes, possum poop should be treated as potentially contaminated wildlife waste because animal feces may contain harmful bacteria or parasites.

Possible risks include:

• Bacterial contamination: Feces can introduce microorganisms to soil and surfaces.
• Parasite exposure: Certain parasites spread through contaminated environments.
• Contact with contaminated waste: Children and pets may accidentally touch or ingest fecal material.

Not every dropping contains harmful organisms, and finding scat does not mean someone has contracted an illness.

Because raccoon and opossum droppings can resemble one another, unidentified wildlife feces require additional caution.

The CDC explains the risks associated with raccoon roundworm, including exposure through contaminated environments.

Is Possum Poop Dangerous to Dogs?

Dogs may encounter wildlife feces while exploring yards or gardens.

Prevent pets from eating animal droppings and contact a veterinarian if ingestion occurs or concerning symptoms develop.

Is Possum Poop Dangerous to Horses?

Yes. Opossums carry Sarcocystis neurona, the parasite that causes equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a neurologic disease in horses. Opossums pass the parasite in their droppings, and horses get it by eating infected droppings. A sick horse can’t pass it to other horses.

About 50 to 60 percent of horses have been exposed to the parasite, but only a few get sick. Signs include stumbling or stiff movement, muscle loss along the back or hindquarters, a tilted head and trouble swallowing. Call your vet if you see them.

If you keep horses, keep opossums out of their feed:

• Store grain and feed in closed metal containers.
• Don’t leave horse or pet feed out overnight.
• Pick up fallen fruit near the barn.
• Check the feed room often for droppings.

How to Safely Clean Up Possum Droppings

Use appropriate precautions when cleaning suspected opossum feces.

For small amounts reasonably identified as non-raccoon droppings:

1. Keep children and pets away from the affected area.
2. Wear disposable gloves and appropriate footwear.
3. Avoid dry-sweeping or vacuuming unidentified droppings.
4. Check for possible raccoon contamination before attempting cleanup.
5. Collect waste carefully using disposable materials without scattering it.
6. Clean affected surfaces using suitable cleaning methods.
7. Wash your hands thoroughly after removing protective equipment.

For suspected raccoon latrines, extensive waste, contaminated insulation, or enclosed spaces, seek professional cleanup assistance.

Ordinary disinfectants do not reliably destroy raccoon roundworm eggs, so follow CDC guidance when raccoon contamination is possible.

How to Prevent Possums From Returning

Repeated opossum droppings may indicate that wildlife regularly visits your property for food, water, or shelter.

Reduce attractants by:

• Securing garbage containers.
• Bringing outdoor pet food inside overnight.
• Collecting fallen fruit.
• Removing unnecessary brush piles.
• Repairing leaks and reducing standing water.
• Inspecting openings beneath decks and crawl spaces.

Never seal an occupied shelter without checking for animals or dependent young.

For detailed prevention and humane exclusion methods, read our guide on how to get rid of opossums fast and permanently.

Need Help With Possums Around Your Home?

If droppings keep turning up in your attic, crawl space or garage, a wild animal such as an opossum is likely living there.

That’s a job for Nextgen Pest Solutions. We’ll inspect your home, remove the opossum humanely and seal the opening behind it.