Opossums are often misunderstood creatures, frequently portrayed as aggressive or troublesome. This common perception largely misrepresents their true nature. This article clarifies typical opossum behavior, shedding light on their defense strategies, interactions with humans and pets, and actual disease risks, to provide a more accurate understanding of these North American marsupials.
Understanding Their True Nature
Opossums are docile, shy, and solitary animals that prefer to avoid confrontation. They are nocturnal, most active during the night. Their primary instinct when faced with a perceived threat is to flee or remain hidden rather than engage in aggression. This non-aggressive disposition means they rarely initiate conflict with humans or other animals. While they possess sharp teeth and claws, these are primarily for foraging and defense, not offensive attacks.
Opossums are adaptable creatures that have thrived across diverse environments, including urban and suburban areas. They are not territorial in the aggressive sense, though males may fight during breeding season. Their quiet and reclusive habits contribute to them often being unseen, further adding to the misconceptions about their temperament when they are encountered.
Their Unique Defense Strategies
When an opossum feels threatened or cornered, it employs several defense mechanisms. One of their most well-known behaviors is “playing dead,” scientifically termed thanatosis or tonic immobility. This involuntary physiological response, triggered by extreme fear or stress, causes the opossum to enter a comatose-like state. It becomes unresponsive, muscles stiffen, breathing slows, and it may even drool or emit a foul-smelling secretion to deter predators. This behavior is not a conscious act but rather an automatic reaction aimed at making the animal appear unappetizing or already deceased to a predator, thereby losing their interest.
Before resorting to playing dead, opossums may exhibit other bluffing behaviors. They might hiss loudly, growl, or open their mouths wide to display their 50 teeth—the most of any North American land mammal—as a warning. This display is meant to intimidate and scare off potential threats, signaling that they wish to be left alone.
Interactions with Humans and Pets
Opossums are not a threat to humans or domestic animals. Their diet is omnivorous and highly varied, consisting primarily of insects, carrion, small rodents, eggs, fruits, and vegetables. In residential areas, they act as natural pest controllers, consuming ticks, slugs, snails, and even cleaning up spilled pet food or fallen fruit. Their preference for readily available food sources means they are often attracted to unsecured garbage cans or outdoor pet food.
While they avoid confrontation, an opossum may bite if it feels cornered or directly provoked. Such instances are rare, as their first instinct is to escape. To deter opossums from yards, residents can secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids, avoid leaving pet food outdoors overnight, and remove potential nesting sites like woodpiles or debris. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also effectively startle and discourage them.
Disease Risk and Hygiene
Concerns about opossums carrying diseases, particularly rabies, are overstated. While any mammal can contract rabies, opossums are highly resistant to the virus. This resistance is attributed to their lower-than-average body temperature, ranging from 94 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it difficult for the rabies virus to survive and replicate effectively within their system. Cases of rabies in opossums are rare.
Despite their low rabies risk, opossums can carry other diseases and parasites, similar to other wild animals. These may include leptospirosis, tuberculosis, salmonella, and various parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites. Direct contact with any wild animal, including opossums, should be avoided to minimize any potential health considerations. If an opossum is found in an unusual location or appears ill, it is advisable to contact local animal control or wildlife professionals for safe handling and removal.