Are Possums Dangerous?

Are Possums Dangerous?

The short answer: No, possums are not generally dangerous. But wait, I hear that menacing hiss and I see those sharp 50 teeth! Yeah they hiss and show their teeth to scare you off. They don’t really want to engage with you like that.

Why Possums are not Dangerous

• Passive Defense: Their go-to move is literally “playing possum.” When they’re terrified, they don’t just pretend, they actually pass out and get stiff. On top of that, they release a nasty smell to make predators think they’re dead and rotting. I think other animals will be jealous about this.
• Rabies Resistance: Opossums almost never get rabies. One big reason? Their body temperature runs lower than most mammals, which makes it tough for the virus to survive and multiply. Nature’s built-in protection.
• Tick Terminators: These little guys are surprisingly clean. They groom themselves all the time, and while doing it, they chow down on ticks. One opossum can eat up to 5,000 ticks in a single season, which actually helps reduce the spread of Lyme disease.
• Snake Neutralizers: Opossums are tougher than they look. They have partial (sometimes near full) immunity to venom from snakes like rattlesnakes and copperheads — and they don’t just avoid them… they actually hunt and eat them.

So no opossums are not generally dangerous. But remember that doesn’t mean you should go around sticking your finger in their mouth.

Lorenzo Sloan

Lorenzo Sloan is a safety advocate from Los Angeles who exposes hidden and everyday dangers through research-based blogging. With a background in social work, he aims to keep readers informed, cautious, and prepared for the unexpected risks around them.