Do Opossums Bite? Just like any scared animal, it's possible for opossums to bite in defense. If they feel cornered or threatened, opossums will use several escape strategies ranging from playing dead to hissing. Biting is rare, but people should avoid contact with all wild animals to eliminate the risk.
Opossum are not aggressive: their open-mouth, defensive hissing is merely a bluff to look vicious. And if that doesn't work they play dead when really scared! If there is an opossum in the backyard, don't worry. They aren't a threat, and more than likely they will be moving on in a short while.
You must wash the bite with soap and water thoroughly. Make sure that antiseptic is applied. If you begin to notice inflammation or swelling, you should seek medical help immediately. While opossums are not normally the carriers of rabies, it is possible that you could become ill due to a bacterial infection.
Your safest bet for you and your loved ones is to just stay away. When it comes to wildlife, your local pest control is the best equipped to handle it. Opossums aren't naturally aggressive but they can become dangerous when provoked.
Handle with care. Remember: brush-tailed possums are wild animals and although they look cute and cuddly they can bite and scratch severely, especially when injured or afraid.
If you've found young abandoned opossum, you may be wondering, “Can opossums be pets?” Opossums are typically non-aggressive and can even be docile.
In addition to ammonia and mothballs, possums will also steer clear of odors of vinegar, garlic, onion, peppermint, and camphor. These strong scents are often used as natural repellents to keep opossums away from gardens, trash cans, and other areas where they may be unwanted.
Mostly, possums have a placid nature and usually avoid all confrontations with other species and humans.
The danger with possums comes in the form of transmitted diseases. North American opossums are known to carry leptospirosis, tuberculosis, coccidiosis, spotted fever and tularemia, according to Critter Control. It's advisable not to touch these critters.
While we don't recommend getting bitten by any animals, opossums are some of the least dangerous and least intimidating critters you might encounter! Inch per inch, their bites are much weaker than those of a domestic dog, and about a third as strong as a human.
Opossums are more likely to growl, hiss and show their 50 sharp teeth than to bite. They are a relatively placid animal and like to avoid confrontation at all costs.
Not all opossums are as welcoming and okay with a human holding them as he is. Holding them by the tail actually makes it easy to handle them and is the safest way to do it as well. If you try grabbing them any other way, chances are you will end up with a not so friendly opossum bite.
Possums are repelled by the stench of garlic, ammonia and mothballs. So go ahead and scatter those around where you think possums might hang out. Garlic works best when it's crushed. If you decide to use ammonia, be careful!
Some people are afraid of possums because they do have claws and sharp teeth. But the possums see a human as a potential predator, another animal to be feared. They may respond with hissing, standing up on their rear legs (to increase their apparent size) and showing their teeth.
Opossums are nocturnal animals that do their mischief at night, and thus are seldom seen or confronted by people. Uninformed homeowners often mistake one of their telltale signs, their droppings, for that of domestic cats.
Opossums are not aggressive and will not chase people or pets, but may hiss and growl if their food or den is threatened.
One of the most commonly known habits of opossums is “playing dead” or, as it is frequently called, “playing possum.” This is real, although the opossum is not playing, which suggests there is some intent at work. An opossum, when confronted with a threat, will often hiss or bare its teeth. Or more likely, run.
Possums are naturally skittish creatures who spend much of their time avoiding predators. Potential predators include domesticated dogs and cats. If you want to scare away a possum, you might want to try keeping a dog or cat around the house.
Similar to their interactions with humans, an opossum is not likely to prey on cats, dogs or other furry friends. If frightened by your pet, the opossum will likely play dead or emit a horrible stench.
Possums like to operate under the cover of darkness, so anything that you can put in your garden that mimics the reflective eyes of a potential predator or lights up when they enter the garden should help scare them off.
Did you know possums hate the smell of garlic? That's right! So, you could consider crushing garlic pods and spreading them around the area. They even hate mothballs and can't stand the smell or sight of them.
Good news — opossums are generally harmless. Their opened mouth and hissing can feel intimidating but is only used as a defense mechanism to make themselves appear dangerous. However, we recommend that you avoid making friends with these nocturnal animals or inviting them to stay on your property. Here's why.
“They do something we call 'sliming,' which is where they'll lick your skin and rub their head against you. It's a sign of affection, but it's an experience when, in the middle of the night, you're awakened by a big opossum licking your face.”
Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Opossums are hosts for cat and dog fleas, especially in urban environments.