Many people believe opossums consume large quantities of fleas and ticks, viewing them as natural pest controllers in backyards and wild spaces.
The Truth About Opossums and Fleas
The idea of opossums consuming thousands of fleas and ticks is largely a misconception. While opossums are meticulous groomers, comparable to domestic cats, any parasites they ingest are typically removed incidentally during this cleaning process. They use their paws and tongues to meticulously clean their fur, which can dislodge and lead to the consumption of some parasites. However, this incidental consumption does not mean they actively hunt or primarily feed on these parasites.
Research has shown that ticks are not a preferred food source for opossums. A 2021 study, which analyzed the stomach contents of 32 wild Virginia opossums, found no evidence of ticks or tick parts in their diets. The myth may have gained traction from earlier observations where ticks disappeared in opossum enclosures, leading to an incorrect assumption that the opossums ate them. This indicates that opossums do not serve as a significant method of tick control in an ecosystem.
What Opossums Really Eat
Opossums are highly adaptable omnivores, meaning their diet is diverse and opportunistic. Their diet includes fruits, berries, insects such as beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, snails, and slugs. They also feed on carrion, small rodents, birds, eggs, and garden pests.
Their scavenging habits often lead them to consume pet food left outdoors or even food scraps from garbage cans. This varied diet highlights their role as “nature’s clean-up crew,” helping to remove decaying organic matter and control certain pest populations. While they may indirectly impact some insect populations, their diet is not focused on specific parasites like fleas or ticks.
Opossums and Disease Risk
Despite common concerns, opossums are notably resistant to many diseases, including rabies. Their lower body temperature, which typically ranges from 94 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit, makes it difficult for the rabies virus to survive and replicate effectively within their bodies. This physiological characteristic means that instances of rabies in opossums are extremely rare compared to other mammals.
Opossums are sometimes considered “dead-end” hosts for certain parasites, meaning they can carry the parasite but typically do not transmit it further. For example, they can be involved in the life cycle of Sarcocystis neurona, a parasite that can cause Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in horses, but transmission to horses occurs through contaminated feed, not direct contact. While opossums can carry other pathogens like leptospirosis, tuberculosis, or toxoplasmosis, the risk of direct disease transmission to humans or pets is generally low. It is still advisable to avoid direct contact with any wild animal.