Are Opossums Dangerous? Hissing, Drooling and Bluffs

Corner an opossum and it may open its mouth wide, hiss, drool and show a lot of teeth. It’s a startling sight, so people ask: are opossums dangerous? Mostly, no. That display is a bluff, and an opossum would much rather scare you off, climb away or play dead than fight.

Are Opossums Dangerous When They Hiss?

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission explains that a threatened opossum will hiss, drool, growl and try to bluff its way out. If it still feels threatened, it may play dead. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife notes opossums may growl, hiss, bare their teeth or climb when threatened. They have 50 teeth, more than any other land mammal on the continent, so the display looks fierce.

But Massachusetts wildlife officials also describe opossums as harmless and very rarely a threat to people. The open mouth is meant to make you step back. Do that, and the encounter is usually over.

Opossum climbing a tree trunk at dusk, one way it avoids conflict when people ask are opossums dangerous — Opossums often climb away from trouble rather than fight.

Real Risks vs Imagined Ones

Rabies is extremely rare. The Cornell Wildlife Health Lab notes opossums keep a lower body temperature, about 94 to 97°F, than most mammals, which is thought to make it hard for the rabies virus to survive. Massachusetts calls it extremely rare for an opossum to contract rabies.
Bites happen when they’re handled. Like any wild animal, a cornered or grabbed opossum can bite. Tufts Wildlife Clinic advises never using bare hands with wild mammals.
Parasites and disease. Cornell notes opossums can carry fleas, ticks, mites and lice, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife warns that wild animals can carry diseases and parasites that can pass to people or pets.
Pets. Massachusetts notes a cornered opossum may attack a dog or cat. See opossums and dogs.

How to Avoid Trouble

Give it an exit. Back away and let it leave. Most will.
Don’t corner or grab it. If it goes limp, don’t pick it up. See opossum playing dead.
Bring pets in until it moves on.
Remove food. FWC suggests securing trash, outdoor pet food, bird seed and fallen fruit to reduce visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an opossum out in the daytime rabid?

Not necessarily. Massachusetts notes they sometimes come out in daylight, especially when food is scarce. One that seems confused, hurt or unable to move away may need help.

Do opossums help with ticks?

FWC notes they eat ticks they find while grooming, which may reduce the number of ticks in an area.

Will you remove a healthy opossum?

Healthy adults passing through usually move on by themselves. Our rescue service is for opossums that are hurt, orphaned or trapped.

Opossum Hurt or Trapped?

Our Opossum Rescue & Transport service is for opossums that are injured, orphaned or trapped. Call or text 419-614-6445 with a photo and your location, or use our contact page. We contain the animal gently in a ventilated carrier, never with bare hands, and drive it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for care. See opossum rescue. Opossums are the only mammals we rescue.