We at Dark Dog Posse are always surprised (and disappointed) when we hear people dislike opossums. Maybe it’s because opossums tend to look a little scary with their hairless tails (that make them look like giant rats) and sharp teeth. Maybe it’s because people have been falsely led to believe that opossums carry rabies—a misconception that couldn’t be further from the truth.
So, we’re here to set the record straight to help everyone understand how amazing and beneficial opossums are. Here are nine things you might not know about them.
Fact #1: Opossums don’t carry rabies.
We’re not sure how this rumor got started or how it spread so far and wide, but opossums are resistant to many illnesses because of their low body temperatures, and rarely catch Lyme disease or contract rabies. Perhaps the myth is perpetuated by the fact that opossums will hiss and bare their teeth when threatened, which people confuse with rabid behavior. The truth of the matter is that opossums would prefer to just be left alone and don’t mean any harm to people.
Fact #2: Opossums are great garbage disposals.
As pet owners, one thing we really love about opossums is that they are wonderful at eradicating ticks. They also eat a lot of other things like roaches, crickets, beetles, snails, slugs, and other pests we generally don’t want around our homes or gardens. But opossums are omnivores, which means they’ll eat just about anything, including moles, voles, mice, rats, and other disease-carrying vermin.
That’s not all. Opossums help keep things clean by eating dead animals (roadkill), including the bones. They also prefer to eat rotting fruits and vegetables rather than destroying fruit ripening on trees, so they not only keep the environment clean, they tend to get rid of the things that attract flies and other pests.
Fact #3: Opossums can save human lives.
Because of special proteins they have in their blood, opossums are immune to scorpion and bee stings, and are also resistant to most snake bites. Because of this, scientists have been able to manufacture antivenom treatments that can be used to treat humans who have been bitten by poisonous snakes, saving their organs from damage, and even saving lives.
Incidentally, opossums also eat poisonous snakes, which is one more way that they protect you and your family, including your pets who might be interested in checking out any snakes that may wander onto your property
Fact #4: Opossums are different from possums.
The white-faced critters we have here in North America are opossums. Possums, on the other hand, are native to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. One possibility of how the two are confused is because the words are pronounced the same way (the “o” is silent in “opossum”).
Besides the difference in spelling, possums also tend to be smaller than their North American cousins and they have furry tails.
Fact #5: Opossums have range.
The North American opossum, also known as the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis viginiana) can be found in almost every part of the United States, as well as parts of Canada and as far south as Costa Rica. They can survive in almost any environment, but they prefer forests where they can use the trees for protection. Opossums are excellent climbers and have prehensile tails that can grasp and hold on to objects. Young opossums can even wrap their tails around tree branches and hang upside down for long periods of time. More mature opossums can only hang upside down for limited time periods because of their weight.
Fact #6: Opossums are marsupial.
In fact, opossums are North America’s only marsupial, which means that the females have fur-lined pouches they use to feed and carry their young in until the joeys, as young opossums are called, are developed enough to foray out on their own, which usually takes a little more than a month after birth. However, even after they leave the pouch, young opossums will stay with the mom for another three to four months before they go off on their own.
Opossums also have opposable “thumbs,” called a hallux, which looks similar to a human hand. This is especially useful for gripping things and climbing trees.
Fact #7: Opossums are nocturnal.
Opossums generally only like to come out at night or in the twilight hours, although it’s not uncommon to see them during the day, especially during colder months when the sun helps warm them. One reason for their predilection to the night is that their eyes are fully dilated, which helps them see better in the dark.
Opossums also enjoy being left alone and even avoid each other except during mating season.
Fact #8: Opossums aren’t around long.
Seeing an opossum is really quite a treat. They are one of the shortest-lived animals in the world, with an average lifespan of only two to three years. Many do not survive infancy and it is estimated that fewer than 10 percent of them survive past their first year.
Because they are slow moving, they are vulnerable to predators such as coyotes, foxes, and owls, but they are also regularly attacked by domestic dogs and cats. Humans are also unkind to these gentle creatures, killing an estimated four to eight million opossums each year with their vehicles.
Fact #9: Opossums are awesome.
Hopefully this post has shed some light on how wonderful, helpful, and beneficial opossums are. Please help spread the word about these amazing creatures so people will learn to love them, rather than be scared by rumors that just aren’t true.