Many people perceive opossums as unclean or undesirable animals. This view often stems from their appearance, nocturnal habits, and scavenging behaviors. However, a closer look at these unique marsupials reveals a more nuanced truth about their nature and their surprising contributions to local ecosystems.
Disease Transmission Realities
Opossums are often believed to carry diseases, especially rabies. While any mammal can contract rabies, it is remarkably rare for opossums to do so. Their naturally low body temperature, typically between 94-97 degrees Fahrenheit, creates an unfavorable environment for the rabies virus to survive and reproduce effectively. This physiological characteristic makes them highly resistant compared to other wildlife species.
Despite their resistance to rabies, opossums can carry other pathogens. These include bacteria like Leptospira, which causes leptospirosis, and Salmonella. Leptospirosis can be transmitted through contact with infected urine or contaminated water, while salmonellosis is contracted from exposure to their feces. Additionally, they may carry tularemia, transmissible through direct contact or via infected ticks and fleas. However, human transmission of these diseases is generally rare, requiring direct contact with the animal, its bodily fluids, or vectors like ticks.
Habits and Cleanliness
Opossums are often misjudged by their appearance, yet they exhibit meticulous grooming habits. They self-groom using their tongues and paws, which keeps them clean and helps control external parasites.
As opportunistic omnivores, opossums consume a wide variety of foods, including insects, fruits, nuts, and carrion. Their diet, which includes decaying matter, serves as a natural cleanup function in their environment. Opossums are not aggressive animals; when threatened, they display a defensive behavior known as “playing possum.” They fall motionless, appearing deceased. This involuntary response can last from a few minutes to several hours, serving as a defense mechanism rather than aggression.
Ecological Contributions
Opossums play a beneficial role in their ecosystems. They are effective predators of ticks, including those that carry Lyme disease. A single opossum can consume a substantial number of ticks in a season, ingesting up to 5,000. This helps reduce the tick population and the risk of tick-borne illnesses.
Opossums also act as natural scavengers, consuming carrion and fallen fruits. This cleanup activity helps prevent the spread of diseases from decaying organic matter. Their varied diet includes pests such as slugs, snails, cockroaches, and small rodents, contributing to natural pest control.
Living Alongside Possums
Coexisting with opossums requires preventive measures. Securing trash cans with tight-fitting lids and avoiding leaving pet food outdoors can deter them from seeking food on your property. Removing readily available food sources encourages them to move on.
It is also helpful to eliminate potential hiding spots around your home, such as brush piles, debris, or openings under sheds and decks. If an opossum is encountered, leave it undisturbed. They are shy and will move away if given space, making direct intervention unnecessary.