Iowa General and Household Pest Management Category 7A Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

An opossum can become a household pest primarily by scavenging garbage and pet food. This behavior is rooted in their natural instincts as opportunistic feeders. They are known to rummage through trash cans for food scraps and can be attracted to pet food left outside, which can lead to them frequenting residential areas. This scavenging not only creates a nuisance for homeowners but also poses potential health risks, as they can carry parasites and diseases.

The other options, while they highlight behaviors associated with opossums, do not adequately reflect how these animals commonly interact with human environments. Making nests in trees typically concerns their natural habitat rather than household issues. Eating plants in the garden might be a minor concern, but it is not their primary source of food or a predominant way they impact households. Digging holes in the lawn could occur, but it is often not as significant or common as their scavenging activities. Hence, scavenging garbage and pet food is the most direct and prominent way an opossum can become a pest in residential settings.