The Virginia opossum is North America’s only marsupial native to the United States and Canada, and its unusual biology explains behaviors such as nocturnal scavenging, climbing, and “playing possum.” Here are 10 facts about the species, which is the opossum most people encounter in the United States. If one visits your yard, watch from a distance rather than touching, feeding, or trying to relocate it.
1. Opossums are North America’s only native marsupials
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only marsupial native to the United States and Canada. Marsupials give birth to underdeveloped young, which continue developing after birth, usually attached to a nipple inside the mother’s pouch. The National Park Service describes this distinctive biology. The word possum generally refers to marsupials native to Australia and nearby regions, while opossum usually refers to American animals.
2. Pregnancy lasts only about 12 to 13 days
After roughly 12 or 13 days of pregnancy, the mother gives birth to tiny, incompletely developed young. Newborns crawl from the birth canal to the pouch, where they attach to nipples and continue developing. A litter may contain about 4 to 25 babies, but a female generally has about 13 nipples, limiting how many can attach and survive. These figures are reported by Animal Diversity Web and University of Florida IFAS Extension.
3. “Playing possum” is an involuntary survival response
When severely threatened, an opossum may enter a temporary state called thanatosis. Its body becomes limp, its mouth may hang open, and it can release a foul-smelling fluid. This involuntary response may discourage a predator from eating it, according to the National Park Service.
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A motionless opossum should not be assumed dead or handled. Keep pets and children away and give it time to recover, unless it is clearly injured or in immediate danger.
4. They have 50 teeth
Virginia opossums have 50 teeth, the most of any North American land mammal, according to the National Park Service. Their mouths include many small incisors as well as sharper canine and cheek teeth.
Their teeth suit an opportunistic diet that can include insects, fruit, eggs, small animals, carrion, and human food waste. They can still bite, so “usually peaceful” does not mean safe to pick up.
5. Their tails can grip, but adults do not normally hang from them
An opossum’s mostly hairless, prehensile tail can grip branches or objects. It helps with balance and may assist with carrying nesting material. The familiar image of an adult dangling upside down by its tail is misleading: adults are generally too heavy to remain suspended that way, according to the National Park Service.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute6. Their hind feet have a clawless opposable toe
Each hind foot has a clawless toe that works somewhat like a thumb, helping the opossum grip branches. Virginia opossums are primarily ground-dwelling and are not especially enthusiastic climbers, as the National Park Service notes.
7. Rabies is uncommon, but opossums are not immune
Opossums are unusually unlikely to contract rabies, but documented cases do occur. The CDC says they “hardly ever have rabies.” Avoid an opossum that appears sick, unusually aggressive, neurologically abnormal, or dead, and report it to local animal control or public-health authorities. Do not try to test whether it has rabies.
After a bite or possible exposure, wash the wound with soap and water and contact a healthcare provider and local public-health officials promptly. See the Virginia Department of Health rabies guidelines for additional guidance.
8. Resistance to some snake venom is real—but not universal
Virginia opossums have demonstrated strong resistance to the venoms of several pit vipers, including rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths. However, research found that opossums died when challenged with several other snake venoms, including cobra, coral-snake, and sea-snake venom. The Toxicon study supports a limited, specific resistance—not general immunity to venom.
9. The “5,000 ticks per season” claim is not established fact
The often-repeated claim that one opossum eats 5,000 ticks in a season is not a dependable fact. It originated in a captive-animal experiment in which researchers put tick larvae on opossums and inferred consumption from larvae they could not recover. A later study found no ticks in the stomach contents of 32 wild opossums and reviewed nearly two dozen other diet studies that also did not report ticks. Penn State Extension discusses the evidence, including the 2021 peer-reviewed study.
Opossums may remove some attached parasites while grooming, but they should not be relied on for tick control. Check people after outdoor activity, remove attached ticks promptly, keep grass and brush trimmed where practical, and ask a veterinarian about appropriate flea-and-tick prevention for pets.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.10. They are solitary, nocturnal generalists that adapt well to neighborhoods
Virginia opossums are usually solitary and mostly active at night. They can live in forests, farms, suburbs, and cities because they are flexible about shelter and food. Their broad diet may include insects, snails, slugs, fruit, vegetables, eggs, small vertebrates, carrion, garbage, and pet food, according to Animal Diversity Web.
To discourage visits, secure trash cans, bring pet food indoors, clean up fallen fruit, and block access to sheds or crawl spaces only after confirming no animal is trapped inside. Do not feed wild opossums: feeding can attract other wildlife and encourage conflicts with people or pets.
How to respond when an opossum visits your yard
- Keep your distance. Do not corner, chase, or hand-feed it.
- Bring pets inside. Dogs or cats can injure the opossum or be bitten during a confrontation.
- Remove attractants. Secure garbage and take pet bowls indoors at night.
- Watch for genuine distress. An injured animal, a mother separated from young, or an animal trapped in a window well may need help from a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
- Get professional advice after contact. For bites, scratches, or possible rabies exposure, wash the wound with soap and water and promptly contact a healthcare provider and local public-health officials.
FAQ
Are opossums dangerous to dogs and cats?
They usually avoid confrontation, but a cornered opossum can bite, and dogs or cats can injure one during a fight. Keep pets away from wild opossums and do not let them share food bowls.
Can I keep a wild opossum as a pet?
A wild opossum should not be captured and kept as a pet. Laws vary by location, and wild animals have specialized needs and may bite when frightened. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if you find an injured or orphaned opossum.
Should I be worried if an opossum is out during the day?
Daytime activity alone does not establish that an opossum has rabies. However, disorientation, staggering, paralysis, unusual aggression, or inability to flee warrants keeping your distance and calling animal control or a wildlife professional.
Do opossums really eat thousands of ticks?
The commonly repeated claim that one opossum eats 5,000 ticks per season is not established. Research on wild opossum stomach contents has not confirmed that level of tick consumption, so use proven tick-prevention methods for people and pets.
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The Bottom Line
Opossums are adaptable, mostly nocturnal marsupials—not reliable tick-control animals and not rabies-proof pets. Give them space, remove food attractants, keep dogs and cats away, and call a wildlife professional for an injured or trapped animal.
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