Virginia Opossums Get a Bad Rap
People often blame them for things they didn’t do such as tipping garbage cans or killing chickens. A lot of the time the only major complaint people have about them is simply that they are there.
Opossums usually don’t tip the trash cans or dig up gardens but they often stop to clean up the mess left by another animal and get all the blame.
Opossums Are Gentle Wild Neighbors
Opossums are peaceful animals that prefer not to fight although they may hiss, growl, and even bite if cornered. It is much more likely that the opossum will faint or “play dead” at the prospect of a confrontation.
This physiological response is involuntary and automatic. The stress and shock of the encounter actually triggers a comatose state that can last anywhere from 40 minutes to four hours. The opossum’s body becomes limp, its front feet form tight balls, its lips are drawn back, and drool runs from its mouth. The animal can be poked, turned over, and even carried away without reaction.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about the opossums’ elaborate bluff routine is that it mimics not only the appearance but the smell of a dead animal.
Opossums Help Keep Our Backyards and Homes Clean and Free of Pests
People tend to think Opossums are unclean and disease ridden but it is actually just the opposite. Opossums are extremely clean. They are opportunistic scavengers who happily clean up after themselves and everyone else. Opossums will eat almost anything including, but not limited to:
- cockroaches
- crickets
- beetles
- slugs
- snails
- rats
- mice
- over-ripe fruit
- remains of dead animals
- snakes
Opossums Are Important Allies In the Fight Against Lyme.
Like most small and medium sized mammals, Opossums are hosts to ticks. What makes Opossums special is that they are extremely good at finding and killing most ticks that hop on looking for a blood meal. According to Rick Ostfeld, author of a book on Lyme disease and senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, opossums kill more than 95% of the ticks that try to feed on them and can kill about 5000 ticks in one season!
Surprised? So were we. Apparently, Opossums are meticulous groomers who are very good at sniffing out the stowaways.
Opossum’s May Hold The Key To Curing Snake Bites
In addition to ticks, Opossums also eat quite a few poisonous snakes and this has caused them to develop a resistance to snake venom. Scientists are currently trying to isolate the component responsible for this remarkable adaptation. Given that an estimated 94,000 people die of snake bites each year, this would be a pretty big contribution on the part of the Opossum.
How Can You Help Opossums?
The best thing you can do to help opossums is be their advocates. Partly because of their looks, and partly because of their association with garbage, people tend to dislike them and often times opossums are attacked because of it. An alarming number of Opossums become victims of animal cruelty.
If you come across a “dead” opossum in the road or in your yard it is best to assume it is “playing possum.” Try and move it to a safe place and wait at least four hours before trying to dispose of the body. If it appears injured or you find a baby opossum please contact City Wildlife immediately.
Fascinating! Thanks for this. I’ve always liked possums. They’re regular visitors to our Capitol Hill backyard, and they’re fun to watch.
Hello: We have a mother possum living under a work shed to the back of our house. We have lights that come on when she moves around so from the back windows of the house we can watch her. Tonight she came right up on the deck, she’s as big as our doxie. She’s beautiful and on her back end above her tail I believe where her babies.
Is there anything we can put out for food? Or is it best for her ti find her bugs?
My email is judy104@outlook.com and I life in Waxahachie, Tx.
Judy Flournoy
104 Audra Ave
Waxahachie, Tx 5165
Any information you can give me would help even if it’s just to leave her alone.
Thank you
It is always best to leave wildlife alone. Feeding wild animals can lead to unanticipated problems.
I was at a friend’s house and there was a dead opossum and it’s wasn’t playing dead because there was blood and fly’s on her and I saw something moving so I went up to it and it was a newborn and I got a little closer and there was six more. I called my local vet, animal control, wildlife, and nobody can tell me what it do with these newborns except feed them puppy milk. I’m in Mississippi and I have them in my house trying to take care of them for day so far. I have them in a towel keeping them warm. They have no fur, and they are transparent!! Can some please help me!!! My email is pittmanmommy@gmail.com!!!
You should contact your local wildlife rehabilitator. The opossums best chance of survival is to be with trained professionals.
Oh my goodness you are a good person for trying to care for the brand new babies. I hope your efforts paid off. You probably already know this. There should be some semblance of a wildlife sanctuary or shelter close enough to help you and the babies.
I have always hated possums. My house now has a couple living on my property. I love the 2 deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and 3 stray cats.
I wanted to get rid of them but I like animals better than most people so I decided to see if they are in anyway useful. I was fascinated to learn that they are actually quite beneficial to have around.
They still creep me out but we have come to tolerate each other. Besides the fact that they occasionally eat the cats food we now have a peaceful co-existence.
Hi
My dog was just bitten by a Possum and the possum by my dog.Should I take my dog to the vet? Do Possums carry rabbies?
The chance of an opossum having rabies is extremely rare. Regardless, we would recommend that both the dog and opossum receive veterinary care. Bites can be very serious.
Opossums do not carry rabies, thier blood temperature is too low for the visas to live inside them
Any mammal can get rabies. However, the chance of rabies in an opossum is EXTREMELY RARE because of their body temperature.
Incredible story, captivating and informative,
A nice break from the drama of the news. Thank you
We live in Philadelphia, and the opossum community lives side by side with the neighborhood cats. They seem to just ignore each other. So one day I’m in my kitchen, and the cat comes up the basement stairs. Then a possum comesup, but bolts back down when he spots me! Must have gotten in from along backyard dryer vent, then got stuck inside when a worker out back closed off his exit. I had thought the catfood had been disappearing faster than normal, so he had evidently been coming up to eat. So, I opened up the way out, moved the litterbox upstairs temporarily, left all the lights on and turned on a noisy dehumidifier, and shut the basement door for 3 days. Oh, and put catfood in backyard. Worked better than chasing him around with a broom, cause he left.
I am glad to learn about moving possums out of the road in case they are simply in that comatose state. Sadly, most possums I see in the road have been damaged by car strikes.
Love those possums! I raised 2 orphaned babies when I was a kid. So sweet & gentle.
Fear is what gets them into trouble–people thinking they are what they are not. Learn about other animals (humans included) so you can change your fear into at least Respect & tolerance.
Hi, I live I Europe so I’ve only seen opossoms in documentaries or in movies, I’m confused at why people in the USA hate them so much? From what I can see they are just like any other marsupial, and as the only marsupial in North America I’d have thought people would be more caring and accepting of them as it’s a unique species? What is it about them that people hate? What is it that people think they are? It’s very confusing to a non American.
Many Americans hate things they think are ugly or dirty or scary. And then they want to run them off so they don’t have to see them, or kill them so that they no longer exist on the planet. For example bugs. Many people would prefer to kill bugs than to help them out of the house. People assume possums are mean because they have big sharp teeth and they are dirty because they have a long noses, beedy eyes and long hairless tails like rats. All they have to do is Google them to see they are gentle timid clean creatures. But many people would rather believe their own fantasies than take the time to learn. It doesn’t make any sense to me either and I’m an American. I love possums hands and feet and how they walk—especially down stairs. I have grown to find them adorable.
Pairing your first line of offense in the pest
control battle with an IGR is a great way to ensure that the
probleem will go away completely within a much shorter time fame than if you just used sprays, traps or other products by themselves.
Typically, it wkll take about about two days before the roaches die.
These are toxic to both those wwho live in the home as well as animals.
Don’t forget, Opossums are marsupials. The only marsupial in North America.
What is an IGR? I LOVE TO SIT IN MY BACK yard under my trees in the summer. I live in NC. I feed the stray cats cause people say they keep the snakes away, snakes get in the trees here and may drop on you. I sometimes see possums at nite. I love wildlife, except the snakes. Now I know that possums are actually more valuable to me than the cats. Thank you!!
Love it. Always say this to people.
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It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters
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hello! great article, thank you! i just found out i have a opossum living under my yrad shed…that is totally ok as i like all animals 🙂 i put water for him/her and he/she comes out during the day to drink. But today i noticed he has difficulty to walk and he is limping. seems one of his back leg has been injured….how can i help him?…should i put food and water by his nest for him to not have to find food in teh neigh borough? what opossums eat?….i notice they eat my birds seeds and nuts…what else can i feed him?….i thought also to call PAWS and see what they can help me with….thanks for your advises! 🙂
If the opossum is injured, it is best to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal control so that the opossum can get treatment. We do not recommend feeding the opossum because it can cause them to habituate to humans.
I am raising my 15th opossum. He had MBD when he was about a month old due to sleeping inside a little cap and not getting enough sunlight. He is a very picky eater which also contributed to
this disease.
The other oppossums I had ate just about anything you gave them. I give Pajamas, (hat is his name), pineapple, Mandarin oranges, kiwi, applesauce, blueberry yogurt, red, seedless grapes, tomatoes, cooked broccoli, mealworms, canned/dry cat/ dog food, chicks, mice, pinkies that have been frozen, canned crickets/grasshoppers, and his favorite eggs (either boiled or overeasy. I also add liquid calcium to his water.
Lately, he hasn’t been eating well. At first, I thought it was because he is now a teenager (6 months old) . He rubs his gland on his chest. Now I am worried about him.
I took in his fecal sample, to the vet, and it was negative. Just wondering what could be going on with him. Also, he has lost a couple of pounds.
Thank you and God
Bless,
Marcia
We cannot diagnose anything without seeing a patient. We advise bringing the opossum to a vet to be evaluated.
I just moved to Wisconsin and is living on a farm. Our 🐕 dog brought home an opossum last evening..he left it near the back door and I left it there too. To my surprise the opossum was no where to be seen this morning, so I decided to check the Internet to find out how long it can “play dead” and got all this wonderful information about them. I’m really loving them now. The comments are really great also 😊
We saw an opossum in our backyard for the first time last weekend. It was eating the seeds that fall out of a large bird feeder, and walking awkwardly in deep snow, wet and pretty grubby looking. It seems to be one of the less seen animals in this part of the country generally, like skunks. We are just coming out of a very intense winter with extreme temperatures and deep snow so I felt sorry for it and had no desire to disturb it. The last one I saw alive was about ten years ago crossing a ski trail near here. I was hoping it would not get hit by a skier, which would be consistent with the others that cross roads at night. We are lucky enough to have this ancient creature still prowling around.
WoW….very interesting. From the way they look you would think they’re nasty animals, they really plays there part in the animal world. Thanks…..✌
Glad i read this
Hardly let my cat out, but he realllly loves it outside
I have seen opossums in the yard at night and just thought they moved on.
He got bit by one of them that nested near my shed in some building materials
My cat almost died
Have been angry about opossums until i read this
I feel informed and glad they are great animals
Keeping the cat in where he belongs
Let the wild animals be themselves, and i have a new perspective on wild animals
Thanks!! 😊
Some how we need people to quit shooting opossums for no reason whatsoever, They are very good creatures that eat lots of ticks and other bugs that we don’t want, so please let them alone and they will do us a good job and there harmless to people.
I went to this site because I live in an apartment in the city and when I looked out my window last night I saw a big ol” possum crossing the street. It appeared to be heading to a big, long empty building next door. It scared me because who expects to see such a thing in the middle of a New Jersey city. Now I am no longer afraid but glad that it’s my neighbor. Perhaps that why I have never had a problem with rodents or bugs in my apartment. Thank you for your informative article.
Opossums are about the last animal to get rabies, but it isn’t impossible. Keep your other pets vaccinated against this awful disease.
The mobile home park near me acquired an invasion of rats, and they spread around the neighborhood. I trapped five, but then an opossom moved in, had babies, and now I don’t seem to have any more rats. Go Get ’em, Possums!
I would like to know if possums always play dead when they are Disturbed. I had an altercation with a possum in my backyard with my dog and instead of playing dead the possum stood up he stood me until I covered him back up. is there something wrong with that possum that he was playing dead that he was not playing dead or could it possibly have been a baby?
Sometimes opossums will bear their teeth and hiss in an attempt to scare off a threat.
The possum hissed at me. He did not play dead. It was an opossum not playing possum
I discovered I have an opossum living in my backyard. Likely under or near the shed. I leave food and water out for the neighborhood cats. He comes up on the patio for water. I am so glad I read this article. I was worried about rabies and was glad to know it is unlikely. Best part is the snake thing an mice, roaches and other pests. Love my back yard buddy. Hope he hangs around.
Snakes are a very valuable part of our ecosystem. It is extremely rare for someone in the U.S. to die from a snake bite. They should be protected (and left alone). Most snakes are not poisonous.
Snakes are not poisonous. Poison is something one drinks. Venom is injected so if anything they might be venomous. But as you know not all snakes are venomous. Yes, David, they are a very valuable part of our ecosystem. The bottom line is just leave them alone. They do just fine without human intervention. Human involvement has done so much damage to our planet. Will we never learn?
A. Ireland
Hollywood, CA
hrd2frgt@att.net
I have possums in my back yard and lately the wood shingled roof on my gazebo is being attacked by a critter that is ripping off shingles with their claws, presumably eating insects living there. The roof is twenty years old and partially covered with moss, where most of the damage is occurring. I suspected raccoons but haven’t seen them. Can a possum crawl up a 4×4 post and reach over a 4” overhang to access the roof or climb a tree and go out on a limb to jump on the roof? I know we have raccoons in the neighborhood and am trying to deduce who the culprit is ripping of shingles and destroying my gazebo. Thanks.
Opposums are excellent climbers and are perfectly able to access a roof.
Opossum are nimble, agile climbers BUT their fleshy little hands are not going to be ripping any shingles off. It’s almost certainly raccoons. Poor possums are always getting blamed for raccoon mischief!
Can you explain about opposums & EPM?, Is it harmful to them, how they become inflicted with it, how it translates to a deadly disease in Equines?
Here is some information about EPM: http://www.epmhorse.org/The_Disease/Opossum.htm
The protozoa does not affect opossums.
THIS INFORMATION ABOUT OPOSSUMS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL AS THEY HAVE BEGUN TO VISIT MY BACKYARD AT NIGHT. I HAVE A NEW SCHNAUZER PUPPY AND HE STARTED BARKING ONE NIGHT FOR HIS TI TI VISIT, AND I WENT TO CHECK AND SAW A HUGE WHITE OPOSSUM SITTING VERY STILL. HE DID NOT SHOW HIS TEETH, HE JUST SAT THERE AS I SHINED THE FLASHLIGHT ON HIM. OF COURSE, I GRABBED MY PUPPY AND QUICK RAN IN THE HOUSE. LAST NIGHT A TEENAGER OPOSSUM CAME TO VISIT AROUND MY DECK. HE ALSO JUST SAT THERE WHILE MY DOG BARKED. BEING MY PUPPY IS SO LITTLE, I WILL TRY TO GET HIM OUT FOR TI TI VISIT BEFORE IT GETS TOO DARK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELPFUL INFO.
I have oppossums and woodchucks and something is doing serius damage to mine and the neighbors’ property, dgging huge holes and has even harmed the foundations fo a couple of houses, like the brcks are disturbed.
I have seen both woodchucks and opossums coming out of or going in to the holes.
It is not legal here to relocate them to woodland and I wonder if it is possible that the opossums are not the ones doing the digging and the damage.
If I get rid of the woodchucks and fill in the holes by the foundations (I have filled holes in repeatedly, something keeps digging them back out.) do you think the opossums will leave the filled in holes alone?
It is unlikely that the opossums are creating the holes.
Here in southeast texas armadillos and wild pigs dig holes.
Thank you for this informative article. I have a rather large opossum in my yard and spotted it this morning while I was watching the birds at the bird feeder. It was walking as if its hind leg hurt. Is it normal to see opossums in the morning/day hours? Also, how can I make sure it isn’t injured since most wildlife staff won’t come due to Covid-19?
Opossums are usually nocturnal, but it is not uncommon to see them during the day. However, if you believe the opossum is hurt, it is best to contact your local wildlife rehabilitator or local animal control so that the opossum can get help.
Hi Kim! We just discovered at least one juvenile (teenager-ish) opossum living in a small hole under our porch. The hole is too small for an adult to get into, however, we’ve seen mom nearby the hole at night. Is it possible that she is denning somewhere else and a baby or babies are under our porch? We don’t want to move them and have mom unable to care for them, but we’re starting to see some conflict between the brave little one (or ones) and our dog. Should we leave them be to outgrow the small den and then move on? Don’t want to call Animal Control and have the babies removed if mom is somewhere nearby and there’s no reason for it. Would like them to be happy and healthy but would prefer they weren’t living under our porch. Thanks for your help!
It is highly unlikely that the babies are separated from the mother. Opossums are marsupials, so when they are babies, they live in their mother’s pouch. As they get older, the migrate from the pouch and cling into their mother’s back. Opossums are nomadic, so they usually don’t have a den. If you are concerned about the opossum being too close to your house, you can just try scaring her away with loud noises.
We have a opossum living under our deck. I just love her. Last year o got to see her early one morning walking with 3 babies on her. This morning my dog was going crazy so I went to the garden by the deck and to my surprise there were 5-6 babies climbing around and mom was close under the deck. I got my dog in and by the time I got out only one baby was still out, but in the yard. We have a plastic guard that you can see through at the bottom of the deck and the mom had her nose right up to it and she guided the last baby to the hole in the guard with her nose moving a couple inches until it found it. It was so sweet and interesting to watch. I really enjoy them, but so worried my beagle is going t get one. Although she seems more afraid of them than they are of her. 🤣 I loved reading this!
Opossums are living around our farm. They come onto the porch at night and clean up any leftover cat food. They also drink the cat’s water. My cats don’t pay any attention to them. I chase them off the porch when I see them at night. I’m pleased to know that they do good things.
Long story, but I now have about a six inch young possum living in my basement with no way of getting out to her mother or her sibling. I have absolutely no idea of how to determine her age. She/he eats dry cat food and I assume drinks the water I leave for my cats (and her). Will she survive without her/his mother? How do I make a pet out of her? When young are separated from the mother, will they be able to survive without her?
The opossum should be brought to a wildlife rehabilitation center so that it can be cared for properly and to ensure her best chance of survival.
I finally read enough about opposums to realize I’ve been trying to catch my mouse/rat in vain. It came into my apartment in October last year and is still here. I think it’s nest is in a stone wall in my 800 square foot loft in an old mill on the river.
I was gone for two months over the winter and the traps I left were untouched. The poison and sticky paper untouched.
I hear it in the night and I’m sure it sleeps under my bed. The only time I’ve caught a glimpse was when it first came in and it came up to me while I was eating popcorn. I thought it was a mouse and it alarmed me so I thre my newspaper and it ran. It’s so good at hiding but I can tell it’s growing from the thump when it jumps down from the sink.
The management has had exterminators out three times checking for proof to no avail. They now think I have a ghost mouse. So I got a little camera to watch for it and give them proof!
Then someone said they saw a large critter in the garage! And I still hear things in th3 wall but no photo yet! I have a cage waiting but my critter doesn’t go for the bail I’ve set on the tray. Now I’ll try blueberries and nuts. Any suggestions?
The question I googled was what noises do they make? Mine have always CLICKED!
Poison and glue traps are inhumane not only to the animal you’re trying to capture, but to other unintended wildlife as well. For your situation, you will need to contact a wildlife removal service. Make sure that they are humane. The Humane Society of the United States has a useful article on finding a humane wildlife removal company: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/choosing-wildlife-control-company
I found this and more good news about these awesome grounds keepers in a search for ‘possums and ticks’ after hearing a bit about this on the radio. Many results of other search trys cover getting rid of possums! So I’m mow on a roll to take these sweethearts off of lists for ‘target practice’ or the like. I just wrote some city officials about better public health by linking some parks with with wild (ish) corridors. They got a link to this page and others. Next, County folks. This possum news could encourage wild corridors along waterways in farmland as well as protect water from farm runoff. (state officials, the EPA, CDC…(
I rescued a baby opposum about a week ago. I bathed her real good & took off all the nasty fleas & eggs she had all over her little body. She’s been great. My husband hates her & says she is ugly, disgusting & born with rabies & diseases. I have been feeding her lettuce, oats and fruit which she loves. I ordered a bag of opposum food in Amazon just for her. I do take her out in the mornings to get some sun and exercise. What other information can I give my husband so he can learn to like her & not hate her presence?
Thank you for helping the opossum, but it is not legal to keep wild animals as pets. She should be taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator; they have the proper permits to keep wild animals and the knowledge to help them effectively. The easiest way to find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area is to call your local animal shelter. Chances are very good they will know who works with opossums in your area.
I always thought opossums carried diseases but my brother told me otherwise. So I decided to look it up. Boy did I have to eat crow. I had one coming into my backyard at night and sleeping in the dog house, I have no dog. I put food out for the feral cats in the neighborhood, turns out the opossum liked the cat food. From now on I will welcome it in my yard and make sure it has plenty of food.
We just found a young opossum in our fenced garden area. The dogs were acting strange, so we checked. I don’t mind having it here and it’s safe in the area because the dogs are not able to get in. My concern is that we have an outdoor rabbit in a cage in the same area. It’s a cage where she can go down on the ground with a little ramp. Will the opossum bother her and/or take her food?
Hello,
Loved reading all the info on these wonderful creatures. One thing that I need to know is if a possum can jump DOWN and if so, how far?
I am caregiver to some feral cats, some not bothered by the possum, but one I am not sure of yet and I need to make sure my feeding station is set up properly so that the possum can get away from the cat if need be.
PLEASE let me know if they have the ability to JUMP DOWN and what distance.
Thank you kindly!!!
I have filled water bowls in the yard for all the animals that go by and that I can see on my cameras. The possum is a regular visitor and drinks daily from the bowl. I also leave over ripe fruits and vegetables outside. Not everything is eaten but a good deal. No doubt, the possum! When I learned they do not hibernate and must search for food all winter I have now decided not to rake the leaves to give more insect feeding opportunity to the possum. The most recent one who is visiting is quite fat. Good for him! I will be filling the water bowl all winter for him and leaving the fruits and veggies.
I heard rustling of dried banana leaves in our side yard. Looked out and saw an opossum gathering up a small bundle, wrapping his tail around them and heading out the gate. Some of the sideways bundle would not go through the opening, but with effort most did without becoming dislodged.
I have never seen this happen again. No pictures, but it did happen!!!
I just saw and photographed two opossums eating dry cat food we leave out for the three neutered feral cats we have cared for 16 years. One opossum had its under belly actually dragging on the ground. The other was slightly smaller and slim. It also moved around much faster. The slim one followed the big belly/pouch area one around. Third night they have been around. We also have a year round creek running about 200 yards away.
I have had an animal coming into my apartment every night and wriggles its way into the back of my recliner chair until it is inside the chair and spends the night there. I sleep in this chair because the animals were getting between my box springs and mattress on my bed. I have never been able to catch the critters or get pictures of them. No one believes me and think I am losing it. I have not been able to determine where their point of entry is and the puzzling things is they do not get into any food (packages of sugar, flour, pasta, etc.). So this furthers the puzzle. Could this be Opossum’s? I know they are in this area and at one time lived in a nest in a tree outside my apartment.
Ours come in & out of the house with our cats. I run across them in my downstairs in the middle of the night. The house is over 100 years old and cellar doors don’t always stay shut unless we remember to bolt them. They like the crunchy cat food always down in the kitchen (they apparently were 1st attracted to crunchy cat food on the porch outside) and they (there are 2 young ones, likely littermates) USE THE KITTIES’ LITTER BOX IN THE BASEMENT. Perhaps I should be alarmed, but I find them hilarious. One recent evening my spouse found one hanging upside down from the banister to the 2d-floor stairs. He was panicked but wouldn’t admit it. (Sissy.) I read a bit & it doesn’t seem that they are likely to infect us with disease- the incidence of rabies in the Western Maine mountains is lower than Southern Maine, at any rate. If anyone has a cautionary note for an old lady who giggles over possums in the downstairs study, feel free to pass it along! I could oust them. Bill apparently believes the banister-possum was there by some freak accident. I know better. Banister-possum was clearly just hangin’ around at home.
Hi, I just read the letters by all the opossum people.
I also have two p opossums in my little back yard.
I feed them dry dog food and also dried fruit and nuts. Yesterday, I walked into the yard and the little birds were also having a picnic back there.
How did they know I had food in back ?
I saw 2 opossums together sniffing around my yard the other night. Not sure if they normally travel together. I looked back an hour later and they were gone
I can’t get enough of your beautifully crafted visuals and graphics.