The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) holds a unique position as North America’s only native marsupial. This highly adaptable creature is an opportunistic omnivore, thriving in environments from wooded areas to suburban backyards, consuming insects, carrion, and fallen fruit. Despite its success, the opossum has a remarkably short lifespan in the wild, averaging only about two years, largely due to high rates of predation. As a prey animal, the opossum is a significant part of the food web, constantly facing threats from diverse hunters.
Major Mammalian Predators
The primary threats to a mature opossum come from larger, four-legged carnivores capable of overpowering an adult. The coyote (Canis latrans) is arguably the most common mammalian predator across the opossum’s range, frequently encountering the nocturnal marsupial during shared nighttime foraging. Coyotes are swift and possess the power to quickly subdue an opossum before its defensive mechanisms engage. Other threats include members of the feline and canine families, such as bobcats (Lynx rufus) and foxes, which target the opossum as part of their mixed diet. Even large domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) pose a substantial threat, particularly in suburban and rural areas, often engaging in deadly encounters.
Avian and Reptilian Threats
Opossums must also contend with specialized hunters that attack from the air and the ground, bypassing typical terrestrial defenses. The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is a particularly successful predator, especially targeting adults. Since the opossum is primarily nocturnal, it shares active hours with the owl, making it vulnerable to silent, aerial strikes that are difficult to evade. Large constrictor snakes, such as certain species of rattlesnakes and copperheads in the southern range, can also be a threat. Opossums exhibit a notable resistance to pit viper venom, but this immunity does not protect them from the mechanical force of constriction. Their low-slung body and tendency to forage on the ground make them susceptible to these large, stealthy reptilian hunters.
Dangers to Juvenile Opossums
Juvenile opossums, or joeys, face an even broader array of predators because their small size makes them easy targets for animals that might ignore a defensive adult. Animals like the common raccoon (Procyon lotor) are major predators, readily capitalizing on the vulnerability of recently weaned or separated young. Joeys are often separated from their mothers when they fall off her back while traveling, leaving them alone and inexperienced. Smaller, opportunistic hunters, including domestic cats, also pose a significant threat to young opossums in developed areas. These encounters are often fatal, as the juveniles lack the body mass and defensive experience to deter a determined attacker.
Opossum Survival Strategies
The opossum’s most famous defense against predators is an involuntary response called thanatosis, widely known as “playing ‘possum.” This is not a conscious decision but a catatonic, shock-like state triggered by extreme fear or physical assault, causing the animal to collapse and simulate death. The illusion of a rotting carcass is enhanced by a dramatic physiological slowdown, including a significant drop in heart rate and breathing. Crucially, the opossum also secretes a greenish, foul-smelling fluid from its anal glands, further convincing a predator that the potential meal is diseased or spoiled. Since many predators prefer fresh kills and instinctively avoid carrion, this elaborate performance often causes the attacker to lose interest and leave. Before this involuntary defense is triggered, the opossum may try a more active bluff, hissing loudly and baring its fifty sharp teeth.