Opossum: Pest or Pal?
Posted on July 24, 2020
Answer: PAL! No really. The opossum is one of the more maligned creatures living among us, at least here in the Americas. They are thought of as nasty, pesty animals with few redeeming qualities. Well, we’re here to dispel those myths! Opossum are some of the smarter animals out there, and they are actually quite beneficial to humans. Let’s dig in!
Wait: first, is it Opossum or Possum?
1. Well, here in the U.S., the two terms are used interchangeably in reference to the same animal. But in Australia, a possum is a totally different animal that looks like a cross between and squirrel and a small lemur.
Ok great, now that THAT’s out of the way…
2. Opossum are pretty smart! They have impressive recall, at least where food is concerned. They perform better remembering which way to go to find a snack than rats, cats, dogs and even pigs (which are considered to be one of the most intelligent animals). They can also remember the smell of toxic substances up to a year after having had a bad experience with one.
Wow, those smarts must factor into that cool “playing dead” thing they do when predators approach!
3. Sadly, no, that’s not a conscious thing they are doing. In fact, when they experience intense fear, like when a predator is nearby, they simply seize up, flop over, and fall into a comatose state. They have no control over when and for how long this state persists (sometimes hours!).
Oh. So it’s involuntary. Well, it’s still cool how well it works to keep predators away!
4. Yes, especially because when this “freeze up” happens, they also secrete a truly icky decomposing animal odor, which really helps to sell the “Yeaaahh, I’m dead, move along, mmm-kay?” messaging.
Gross. So they are kind of smelly?
5. No! When they aren’t lying prone from fear, they are actually very clean animals, grooming themselves often much like cats do. They lack sweat glands, so this helps keep them cool, and also odorless (again, when they are not doing the "play dead" thing), much to their benefit.
Hey, you said they were beneficial to humans earlier?
6. Yes! And your pets too- why? They eat ticks, and lots of them. A single opossum eats about 5,000 ticks per season! Moreover, they aren't likely to bother your garden; instead, they may actually help by eating slugs and rodents that do come for your veggies.
So there you have it. Far from being pests, opossum actually should be a welcome addition to your backyard!
