The Virginia opossum, North America’s only native marsupial, is widely known to be an animal of the night. These creatures are definitively nocturnal, meaning their primary period of activity is between dusk and dawn. If an opossum is seen during daylight hours, it is often a sign that the animal is responding to a strong external pressure or internal need. Spotting one in the sun is not necessarily a cause for alarm, but it does prompt a closer look at why its natural rhythm has been disrupted.
Defining Nocturnal Behavior
The opossum’s body is adapted for life in the dark, which explains its preference for nighttime activity. Their eyes contain a high concentration of rod cells, providing them with excellent vision in low-light conditions, though they struggle to see clearly in bright daylight. This biological structure makes daytime foraging inefficient and risky, as they rely heavily on their acute senses of smell and hearing to navigate and locate food.
Avoiding daytime predators is another reason for their nocturnal schedule. Diurnal raptors like hawks and eagles pose a serious threat, and remaining hidden during the day is a survival strategy. Opossums spend daylight hours resting in temporary, safe dens, such as hollow logs, rock crevices, or brush piles, which they may change frequently. Their activity often peaks during the crepuscular periods—the transitional hours of twilight right after sunset and just before sunrise.
Environmental and Resource-Driven Activity
A healthy opossum may be forced to break its nocturnal routine due to external pressures unrelated to injury or illness. The most common reason for a daytime sighting is hunger driven by resource scarcity, compelling the animal to extend its foraging hours. Since opossums have very little body fat, they cannot store energy like hibernating animals and must seek food year-round.
Seasonal changes also alter their schedule, especially during winter when food is difficult to find under snow or ice. During extremely cold periods, an opossum may venture out during warmer daylight hours to search for nourishment and conserve energy, as they do not truly hibernate. Furthermore, a recently disturbed den site can displace an opossum, forcing it to immediately search for a new, secure hiding spot even during the day. This disturbance can come from human activity or from other animals like dogs or raccoons.
Indicators of Health Distress or Maternal Needs
When a daytime sighting is accompanied by unusual behavior, it may indicate a serious problem. Mother opossums with a large litter may be seen foraging during the day because the demands of nursing and carrying multiple young require increased food intake. The young, which ride on the mother’s back after leaving the pouch, may also be seen alone during the day if they have fallen off and become separated from her.
Illness or injury can manifest as disorientation, stumbling, or a lack of appropriate fear toward humans or pets. A sick opossum may appear restless or uncoordinated, and exposure to toxins like rodenticides can cause erratic behavior. Opossums are highly resistant to the rabies virus due to their lower body temperature (typically 94 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit). The involuntary defensive state of “playing possum,” where the animal drools and appears lifeless, is often confused with rabies symptoms.
Guidelines for Safe Observation
If an opossum is encountered during the day, maintaining a respectful distance is the best course of action. Opossums are generally non-aggressive and will avoid confrontation, often choosing to flee or deploy their feigning-death defense mechanism. If the animal appears purposeful, such as walking quickly or foraging before retreating, it is likely a healthy animal responding to resource needs.
Intervention is only warranted if the opossum shows clear signs of distress, such as visible injuries, dragging limbs, or if it is a tiny, orphaned young animal. If the animal is clearly sick or injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal control immediately. Never attempt to handle the animal yourself, as even a non-aggressive opossum may bite if it feels trapped or threatened.