If there is an opossum in the backyard, don’t worry. They aren’t a threat, and more than likely they will be moving on in a short while. But far from being a nuisance, opossums can be beneficial for your garden, eating snails, slugs, insects and sometimes even small rodents.

Its body goes limp, its breathing appears to stop, and its tongue sticks out, but it’s not merely pretending… Opossums don’t actually play dead when they’re threatened. Its body goes limp, its breathing appears to stop, it discharges its bowels, its tongue sticks out, and it drools.

Opossums are not generally aggressive or vicious but have been known to attack humans. Opossums will fight back if they have to defend themselves and will attack to protect their young.

Do not make your place inviting to opossums! Opossums eat tons of bugs and ticks, are immune to most snake venom, and not susceptible to rabies, so having them around are not a bad thing. They just need to be controlled. Watch the outside of your house at night to see if you catch an opossum leaving.

Opossums are omnivores and survive by eating a variety of foods. The primary sources of sustenance are small rodents, insects, worms, slugs and snails, frogs and birds. Although they aren’t particularly finicky eaters, the best possum bait is fish or apples.

Opossums are scavengers and will eat just about anything. They are attracted to overflowing or odorous trash cans, uncovered compost heaps or other containers that you may have outside. They like to set up their habitat near water or moist areas.

Ammonia is the efficient way of removing them from the house and gardens because it smells horrible. As we know opossums are night time animals because they do not like lights, and also the smell of ammonia make them obnoxious. One should strategically place ammonia scent in the house.

Opossums also keep rats and cockroaches at bay by competing with them for food. In fact, it’s common for opossums to kill cockroaches and rats if they find them in their territory.”

Opossums are beneficial eating unwanted pests around your home and garden such as snails, slugs, spiders, cockroaches, rats, mice and snakes. Opossums are free gardeners!

In Georgia and many other states opossums are considered a game animal and thus have regulations pertaining to their harvest through hunting and trapping.

The possum menu consists of dead animals, insects, rodents and birds. They also feed on eggs, frogs, plants, fruits and grain. Due to this fact, possums readily eat the skeletal remains of rodents and other roadkill animals. Unfortunately, possums are also known to eat dog food, cat food and table scraps.

Opossums generally eat fruit, grains and insects, but will also eat out of compost piles, garbage cans and pet food dishes if they can get access. They have been known to eat fish, birds and mammals as well.

Because of increased building and development into areas that were previously rural, pets may be exposed to more wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks, squirrels, opossums, or deer that are infected with leptospirosis. Dogs also may pass the disease to each other, but this happens very rarely.

Signs of leptospirosis may include fever, shivering, muscle tenderness, reluctance to move, increased thirst, changes in the frequency or amount of urination, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes), or painful inflammation within the eyes.

Opossums have prehensile tails adapted for grasping and wrapping around things like tree limbs. Because this opossum had no tail, which is necessary for balance and nest building, she would not have survived in the wild and cannot be returned.

It infects other mammals including cats, dogs, and humans. To prevent infection, keep pets vaccinated against leptospirosis and use bleach to clean up urine and feces. Wear gloves when handling a found opossum, and when cleaning up urine and feces.

A. You are correct that opossums (not cats) are the host animal that transmits Sarcocystis neurona, the protozoan parasite that causes EPM. Bottom line: Yes, opossums are the culprit that transmits the causative parasite of EPM to horses.