Living with wildlife - Opossums

Spring is right around the corner and with it comes the arrival of cute baby animals. While many people might not find opossums cute, they are not a threat to people or pets, and in fact, are beneficial. Opossums will leave you alone, if you leave them alone. Although they have extremely sharp teeth, which they are happy to show you, they are not as aggressive as raccoons and prefer to scurry off.

If you don't leave your pet's food out for them, they will stick to their natural diet of garden snails and insects! This is better for you and them.

Sometimes an opossum might enter your home through a pet door, especially if free food is available near the entrance. If you discover an opossum inside your home, simply herd it gently with a broom toward an open door; however, be sure to secure your pet in another room first.

The opossums that exist here are North American opossums and should not be confused with possums "down under" in Australia. Although many people refer to opossums as "possums," and both are marsupials, they are different creatures. 

As with all wildlife living in close proximity to people, opossums run the risk of being injured by things such as rat traps or motor vehicles.

If you discover an opossum, which appears to be deceased or injured, call the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center at 949-470-3045 and we will dispatch an officer. If the opossum appears to be deceased and you notice baby opossums inside the mother's pouch, do not remove them, especially if they appear to be nursing. The nipple of an opossum is more like a small piece of spaghetti, which the young swallow rather than simply suck on with their mouth. If you attempt to remove a nursing opossum, you could seriously injure or kill it.

An animal services officer can assess the condition of the animal and determine whether to take the opossum(s) to a vet or wildlife rehabilitator.

Keep following us on Facebook to learn more about other wildlife in our community.