“Opossums are shy, harmless animals who are the size of an average housecat,” says Lynsey White, director of humane wildlife conflict resolution for The Humane Society of the United States. “They do not pose any danger to people or pets and want to avoid us if they can.”
While possums are rarely dangerous, the opossum is a predator when it comes to cats. Possums attack pets or even humans with massively pointed teeth. Opossum attacks are rare. Pests spread diseases to people and pets.
Good news — opossums are generally harmless. Their opened mouth and hissing can feel intimidating but is only used as a defense mechanism to appear dangerous. However, we recommend that you avoid making friends with these nocturnal animals or inviting them to stay on your property.
Opossums are the only marsupials in North America. In the U.S., the Virginia opossum is a cat-sized creature with features like a long snout and pink paws.
Possums emit rotten smell that sends an invitation to nearby scavengers – rendering your pets redundant.
Opossums typically do not attack your pets even if they are provoked. The possum’s attack is probably their last line of defense against predators.
While rabies is rare in possums, there are diseases and infections that can be delivered through a possum bite. Even if the possum is healthy, their mouth has bacteria that will cause you problems.
Instead, they will play dead. This defense mechanism is known as playing possum or playing opossum.
Possums are often shown as savage animals, but they are not aggressive. Feeling threatened, they often collapse on the ground, open their mouths, and excrete a foul-smelling odor. This behavior earned them the name “playing possum.” While playing dead, they cannot move or respond. Aside from these tactics, possums are generally docile creatures and attack only as a last resort.
If frightened by your pet, the opossum will likely play dead or emit a horrible stench. However, on rare occasions, opossums may lash out if cornered or competing for food.
Possums are generally not dangerous to humans and only exhibit aggression when threatened or competing for food with other animals. While they can transmit diseases through their feces or urine, proper sanitation measures can reduce these risks.
No, they do not possess venom glands or venomous bites. Most of the time they will freeze, assess what has disturbed them, and then will choose either to flee or continue. When disturbed by humans, most possums will wait a few moments and then continue, because they don’t see humans as particularly threatening.
Are possums good or bad in the backyard?
If there is an opossum in the backyard, don’t worry. Opossums can be beneficial for your garden, eating snails, slugs, insects and sometimes even small rodents. They are natural pest controllers that can help reduce the spread of tick-borne diseases and keep your backyard free of unwanted critters. However, possums can also eat commonly gardened flowers and fruits. It’s important to weigh both the benefits and potential concerns to make an informed decision.
Opossums are the size of a house cat, while possums are rather small. Opossums live up to their reputation and “play dead”, but possums vocalize to scare them away. Opossums have flat, coarse fur and a naked tail, while possums have soft fur with a furry tail. According to citywildlife.org possums kill over 95% of the ticks that try to feed on them and can kill about 5000 ticks in one season. This helps prevent the spread of Lyme disease. Though they aren’t picky about where they hang out, opossums love trees. They also prefer wet areas.
If there is an opossum in the backyard, don’t worry. They consume undesirable insects, snails, and slugs. Their many beneficial qualities include: keeping neighborhoods clear of unwanted pests and consuming the beetles, slugs, and snails that damage garden plants. As omnivores, opossums eat a variety of foods, including the insects, rodents, and ticks. They are essential for maintaining a healthy habitat. They resist snake venom, which helps control snake populations. However, they can eat commonly gardened flowers and fruits. It’s important to weigh both benefits and concerns to make an informed decision.
Vinegar or fox urine helps get rid of opossums. Sprinkle or spray vinegar on the spot the opossum was last seen. Opossums eat pests in gardens and lawns but create waste. While fecal matter aids lush growth, their urine damages plant roots. To keep possums from trash, choose a metal can with a tight lid that is difficult to climb or knock over. If you find an opossum eating from the garbage, that opossum is scavenging! Any predator larger than an opossum would eat one. Opossums should not be killed. It is inhumane and illegal in many states.
What is difference between opossum and possum?
Opossums live in North America. Possums live in Australia and New Guinea.
Opossum refers to a North American marsupial mammal with a white face. Possum refers to an Australian marsupial mammal with a round face.
While opossums and possums are both marsupials, they are different animals. Opossums are found in North America. Possums are found in Australia and New Guinea.
An opossum has a pointed white face, black eyes, jagged teeth, and a tail without fur that looks like a rat’s. A possum has a furry tail like a squirrel.
Opossums help control insect populations. Possums can be destructive and carry diseases.
Possums live in Australia, New Guinea, Sulawesi, and nearby islands. Opossums live in the Americas from Canada to Costa Rica.
Possums have thick golden or brown fur and bushy squirrel-like tails. Opossums have bare tails.
People in the Americas wrongly call their marsupials “possums” instead of “opossums.” Possum and opossum refer to different species across the globe from each other.
Do possums keep rats away?
Yeah, possums do keep rats away by keeping their population at check. As discussed earlier, rats & mice are a major part of the possum’s diet. This keeps the rat population at check. Even if the possum population increases, they are never going to be a problematic pest like rats.
I would take my chances with a possum than a rat. Possums help maintain the balance of nature. They keep cockroaches and rats at bay by feeding on them. An opossum targets a place where its food is abundant.
Opossums don’t actively patrol or defend their territories. So they won’t chase the rats away. Possums also kill cockroaches and rats if they find them. They do this without spreading disease.
Moth balls keep possums away from your garden by spreading them around the perimeter. This also keeps other animals away. Make sure there is nothing for the possums to eat by keeping garbage cans sealed and no food out.
The bush rat is grey-brown with rounded ears and a relatively short tail.