This possum is the only marsupial that lives wild in the US. I have had SEVERAL first hand encounters with possums and the most common response is hissing or growling. Are you seeing strange tracks in the mud, snow or fine soil around your property? Critter Control Logo. An opossum has 50 teeth, all of which are as sharp as you may think. Opossums are omnivores and survive by eating a variety of foods. The question is, can it use either of those to hurt you or your children or your pets? Poultry such as ducks and turkeys are also at risk. It is always better to be safe than sorry and the potential threat does exist, as it will with any wild animal. Research has shown that this is like a reflex action originating in the possum's brain, lasting from just a few minutes to an hour. Your dog, cat, or other pet would come upon the possum, the animal would pretend to be dead, and your pet would move on. Are possums mean? According to Penn State: “Adult Virginia opossums are between 24 and 40 inches long. A Possible Threat: The Virginia/American possum, Why Is My Dog Bleeding From Its Anus? https://www.animalwised.com/possums-as-pets-general-guidelines-and-tips-1401.html. © 2019 The Terminix International Company Limited Partnership. Diet. The red-imported fire ant, often referred to as RIFA, is an invasive species and has been known to prey on other native insect species as well as plants, with some fire ants even preying on small mammals many times their own size. What to Do if My Dog has Something Stuck in his Throat? The short answer is no, but they would like you to think so. Your pets are most likely safe from an opossum attacking them. A possum will stand on its hind legs and reveal a dangerous-looking set of pointed teeth (50 of them) and razor-sharp claws, as it hisses and tries to intimidate you. North America doesn't have possums. They are the only marsupial (moms come equipped with a baby pouch) living north of Mexico and roamed the earth along with the dinosaurs. Their natural defense mechanisms come into play when they are attacked. But they are found across the Western world. Possums don't deliberately attack. What Do Possums Eat and Are They Dangerous? All rights reserved. And while possums certainly appear to be more dangerous when they are taking this posture, this is usually a bluff. These critters are pesky, disrupting homes, gardens, chicken coops and areas meant for pets while looking for food. As it turns out, if you’re familiar with insects and arachnids, you’re also familiar with arthropods, because insects and arachnids belong to the Arthropoda phylum. a single opossum can eat up to 5,000 ticks a year, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, Terminix® can help you remove unwanted opossums from your home, Learn more about the types of cookies we use. You may ask, are possums dangerous? While they may not be a threat to your kid’s safety and your own, they are still wild animals. Possums are extremely gentle creatures and they are not aggressive in the least. When they are directly attacked, these creatures hiss and growl. Known to carry leptospirosis, tuberculosis, coccidiosis, spotted fever, tularemia, and other diseases, the pesky creatures pose serious health threats when they invade urban environments. In fact, a single opossum can eat up to 5,000 ticks a year, as found by the Environmental Institute of Houston. Opossums are omnivorous and are beneficial to humans because they cause very little damage and they consume undesirable insects, snails, and slugs. Somehow, the giant rat-like creature can threaten everything from barn animals to fish to pets like dogs and cats. Simply not true, they are laden with fleas, I have seen them first hand, so this is not rumor. Dobsonflies—like mayflies, dragonflies, and caddisflies—are not true flies like house flies. Opossums are immune to the toxins in bee and scorpion stings. What do I do? While it is not a danger to humans unless provoked, it can do sizable damage to pets too. So, if the possum is threatened enough, it can get aggressive with negative results. It is doubtful, however, that a possum will initiate an attack. However, any animal is unpredictable, so you can never say never. advice on what we could do to ensure we didn't get a re-infestation. Both the silverfish and house centipede can be alarming sights, even if you are familiar with them. Opossums are resistant to rabies and rarely carry the disease. Opossums typically aren't dangerous, and they rarely attack humans, although the nocturnal animals sometimes show their teeth and harass pets. These creatures steal chickens. 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