Honestly, no — not in the way people fear. The Virginia opossum is Florida's only native marsupial and about the least confrontational animal in your yard. Cornered, it hisses, bares an impressive-looking set of teeth, drools, or faints and 'plays possum.' Those are bluffs and involuntary reactions, not attacks.
Bites are rare and usually the result of someone trying to grab one by hand. Left alone, an opossum's entire strategy is to look scary for a moment and then get away.
The rabies question
There's a common worry about rabies here, and the reassuring part is that it's genuinely uncommon in opossums. Their naturally low body temperature makes them poor hosts for the virus, so they're far less of a rabies concern than raccoons or foxes. That doesn't mean handle one barehanded — no wild animal should be — but it does mean the rabies fear is largely misplaced with this species.
What the real issue is
The real issue isn't the animal; it's the mess and the spot where it decides to den.
- Droppings and nesting material where it dens under a deck or in a crawlspace
- A musky smell around an active den
- The occasional standoff with a curious dog, which is usually a bluff
- Not the opossum's temperament — it's shy and non-aggressive by nature
Common questions
Will an opossum attack my dog?
Very unlikely. Its instinct is to bluff or play dead, not fight. A dog that corners one might get a defensive nip, but opossums don't pick fights and would rather flee.
Do opossums carry rabies?
Rarely — their low body temperature makes them poor hosts for the virus, so they're much less of a concern than raccoons or foxes. Their droppings should still be cleaned up properly, and no wild animal should be handled barehanded.
Should I be worried if one hisses and shows its teeth?
That display looks alarming but it's a bluff — the opossum is trying to convince you to leave it alone. Give it space and it will move on. There's no need to corner or handle it.
