Opossums are common North American marsupials often encountered in various environments, including urban and suburban areas. While generally quiet, these nocturnal creatures communicate through a range of sounds. Understanding these vocalizations can offer insights into their behavior and help promote peaceful coexistence.
Common Opossum Vocalizations
Opossums are generally silent unless specific circumstances prompt sound. One frequently heard sound is a loud, drawn-out hiss, often accompanied by an open mouth displaying their numerous teeth. This hiss is typically a defensive sound, meant to deter perceived threats.
Another common sound is a low, guttural growl, which, similar to hissing, serves as a warning. Opossums may also produce short, rapid clicking or smacking noises.
While less common, opossums can emit a high-pitched screech or scream. This sound is usually made when an opossum is in extreme distress, such as when injured or attacked by a predator. Baby opossums, known as joeys, also make a sneeze-like sound to call their mothers.
Meaning Behind the Sounds
The sounds opossums make are primarily for self-preservation and communication. Hissing and growling are clear indicators of fear or a defensive posture. These sounds are an instinctual response when an opossum feels threatened or cornered, signaling to a potential predator to back off. An opossum may also hiss and growl during competition for mates.
Screeching or screaming is a strong distress signal, alerting others to extreme danger or pain. Conversely, clicking sounds often signify non-threatening interactions. Mother opossums use clicking to communicate with their young, and male opossums may use clicks to attract mates during breeding season. These sounds can also function as a warning or defensive vocalization, sometimes mimicking a rattlesnake to deter perceived dangers. A clicking sound from a mother opossum can reassure joeys and help them locate her.
Encountering Opossum Sounds
If you hear opossum sounds, understand that these animals are generally not aggressive towards humans or pets. Their defensive vocalizations, like hissing and growling, are typically bluffs. Opossums prefer to avoid confrontation, and their primary defense mechanism is often to play dead.
Should you encounter an opossum making sounds, it is best to leave the animal alone and observe from a distance. Do not attempt to approach or handle it, as a cornered opossum might bite out of fear, though such instances are rare. Securing pets indoors and removing potential attractants like pet food or trash can help encourage the opossum to move on naturally.