Window wells let light into a basement, but they also catch animals that fall in and can’t climb back out. Opossums are one of the most common ones, because the smooth metal or plastic walls give them nothing to grip, and once they are at the bottom, they are stuck.
The fix is simple: give the animal a way to climb out, then step back and let it rescue itself. Here is how to do it without getting bitten and without hurting the animal.
- Wear gloves before you get close, a scared opossum will hiss and might bite.
- Place a rough board or ramp at an angle from the bottom of the well to the top.
- Step back and wait. The opossum will climb out on its own when it feels safe.
- Cover the well afterward so it doesn’t happen again.
How to get the opossum out
- Approach slowly. An opossum in a window well will probably hiss and bare its teeth. That is a bluff, not an attack.
- Put on heavy gloves. Their teeth and claws are sharp, and a scared animal will use them.
- Place a rough board or branch at an angle from the bottom of the well to the top. A piece of 2x4, a thick branch, or a plank all work. The rougher the surface, the easier it is to grip.
- Step well back. The opossum needs to feel safe before it will climb out, so give it space and time.
- Watch from a distance and let it leave. Open a gate or give it a clear path so it doesn’t get cornered.
- Call a professional if the animal won’t climb out, seems injured, or has babies with it.
Pro tip: skip the rope or towel hanging into the well. Opossums can’t grip a soft, dangling surface well. A rigid, rough ramp works far better. If you don’t have a board, a piece of hardware cloth bent at an angle will do.
A note on mothers and babies
Opossums carry their young in a pouch, so the animal in your well might not be alone. If you see babies, or the adult looks injured, call a wildlife rehabilitator or animal control rather than trying to handle it yourself. A mother separated from her young is a bigger problem than the one you started with.
Cover the well afterward
Once the opossum is out, put a cover over the well so nothing else falls in. Options include:
- A polycarbonate dome cover that sits over the well.
- A metal grate that bolts to the foundation.
- A DIY cover made from hardware cloth.
Any of these keeps animals out while still letting light and air through.
Frequently Asked Questions
They fall in while exploring near the foundation, usually looking for food or water. Once they are in, the smooth walls keep them from climbing out. The well was built for light, not for animal escapes.
Only if the walls are rough enough to grip or there is something to climb. Smooth-walled wells are a dead end. Without help, a trapped opossum can die from stress, dehydration, or heat.
Not really. Opossums can’t chew through metal or concrete. The main concerns are droppings and the animal’s wellbeing. Clean the well after removal and put a cover on it.
If it won’t climb the ramp after a couple of hours, or it looks hurt, call a wildlife rehabilitator or animal control. Don’t try to grab it or lift it out with your hands.
Put a cover on the well. A polycarbonate dome, a metal grate, or a hardware cloth cover all work. It is a cheap fix that saves you, and the animals, the trouble of another rescue.
The Bottom Line
Getting an opossum out of a window well is mostly about giving it a way out and leaving it alone. Put down a rough board at an angle, step back, and let it climb out on its own.
Wear gloves, don’t grab the animal, and call for help if it is hurt or has babies. Then cover the well so it doesn’t happen again.
