A baby possum, or joey, is one of North America’s most unique marsupials. Encountering one often raises concerns about potential risks to humans or pets, but these animals are generally non-aggressive. They pose a minimal threat under normal circumstances. While their appearance can be startling, their primary instinct is retreat, and they are far more likely to defend themselves passively than aggressively.
Identifying Baby Possums
A baby possum is called a joey. These young are born tiny and initially spend several weeks developing inside the mother’s pouch. Once they grow larger, they emerge to ride on the mother’s back, clinging tightly to her fur as she forages.
You can identify a dependent young by its size; it typically measures less than seven or eight inches long from its nose to the base of its tail. If a possum is smaller than this length and found alone, it is likely too young to survive without its mother. An independent juvenile will be fully furred and roughly the size of a small kitten or rat.
Behavioral and Physical Safety Risks
Opossums are solitary and nocturnal creatures that naturally seek to avoid confrontation with larger animals, including humans and pets. Their primary defense mechanism when threatened is a startling display that includes baring their fifty sharp teeth, hissing, and drooling. This display is a bluff intended to scare away a potential attacker.
If this warning fails, the possum may enter a state known as tonic immobility, or “playing possum.” This involuntary, shock-like state causes the animal to fall over, drool, and secrete a foul-smelling fluid, mimicking a dead or sick animal. While they possess sharp teeth and claws, biting or scratching only happens if the animal is cornered, handled improperly, or attacked by a pet. The risk of a physical attack on a human or pet is extremely low.
Understanding Disease Transmission Risks
The most common fear regarding possums is the transmission of rabies, but the risk is exceptionally low. The possum’s average body temperature, naturally between 94 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit, is too low for the rabies virus to thrive efficiently. Confirmed cases of rabid opossums are exceedingly rare, making them unlikely carriers compared to other wildlife like raccoons or skunks.
Opossums can carry other pathogens and parasites that pose a risk to human and pet health. These include bacterial infections like leptospirosis, often spread through contaminated urine, or various internal parasites. They also commonly host external parasites such as fleas and ticks, which can transmit diseases like Lyme disease to domestic animals and people. Direct contact with an opossum’s feces can transmit the protozoal parasite responsible for Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM).
Safe Steps When Encountering a Possum
If you encounter a baby possum that appears healthy and is roughly eight inches or longer, it is likely a juvenile that has recently separated from its mother and should be left alone. Intervention is required if the young possum is smaller than this, has closed eyes, or appears injured, sick, or cold. Do not attempt to feed a baby possum, as incorrect diets can cause serious harm or be fatal.
The safest course of action is to contain the animal gently, using thick gloves or a cloth barrier, and place it in a secure, ventilated box. Keep the box in a warm, dark, and quiet place away from pets and children. Immediately contact a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator or animal control for professional guidance and safe transfer. Never handle any wild animal with bare hands, and refrain from attempting to care for the animal yourself.