All mammals can get rabies, so your pets are not safe from infection, except they get the rabies vaccine. Urban Jungle Wildlife services residential and commercial properties in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. This is why you should steer clear of places contaminated with possum urine. While they would prefer a dead or weak one, they would also take down a live one. The smelly substance it secretes from its anus is just one more reason for foxes and bobcats to look for their dinner elsewhere. Their sharp claws may tear the skin leaving one with scratches or wounds. If frightened by your pet, the opossum will likely play dead or emit a horrible stench. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. Relapsing fever is a bacterial disease, and like spotted fevers, the bite of an infected tick transmits it to humans. So, you must get to a hospital if you suspect that you have leptospirosis. At Critter Guard, we are aware of the havoc opossums can potentially cause in your home. If a rabid possum (or animal) bites you, or if a suspected rabid animal bites you, get to a hospital immediately. You can get it just by handling an infected possum. This mechanism evolved in response to their natural predators: foxes, bobcats, and other. THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease.They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Opossums have impressive memoriesat least when it comes to food. Exposure to the bacterial pathogen, Leptospira spp., causes this disease. Please see our. The causative organisms belong to the Rickettsia genus, and ticks transmit them. Possums are reasonably smaller than opossums, which may grow up to 2.5 feet in length, from nose to tail. It is true that if you have possums in your environment, they can serve as natural pest control. If you suspect that you may have Chagas disease, go to a hospital immediately. Ensure you wear gloves while carrying the carcass as it may pass on worms or protozoans. The infected person may suffer kidney damage, liver failure, or respiratory distress in this phase. It is caused by a virus and can be spread through bites or scratches from an . They also like roadkill, and are known to eat ticks that they find in their own fur while grooming their bodies. Opossums are often accused, but rarely responsible for getting into garbage cans or gardens. It is just unnecessary, she says, reiterating that they are not there to cause harm. Diligently follow the suggestions, advice, and treatment given by your vet. Opossums have many adaptations that made them successful survivors in diverse environments and conditions: they even have opposable digits that act like thumbs. Even if the dog eats a possum, you must rush to the vet as they may transmit disease or parasites to your furry baby. But then, as the disease progresses, it starts affecting the nervous system. However, in case of confrontations with your dog, the possum may bite, cut or scratch your pet's skin. There may also be vomiting and diarrhea in this phase. Symptoms of the infection include fever, headache, paleness, muscle aches, stomach ache, chest pain, and breathing difficulties. There is never any additional cost to you. The pupil dilation is helping nocturnal animals to see in poor light. By allowing an opossum to stake a claim underneath your home or in your crawlspace, you could be exposing your living environment to contaminants that can harm you or your family. Any mammal can contract rabies, but opossums have an advantage. Then when it bites you, it will transmit the bacteria to you, and you will come down with the disease. They would get put off by a putrid-smelling, looking as if it died of sickness, possibly toxic corpse. Get expert advice on your home, design tips, how much to pay for pros and hiring experts, delivered to you daily. But while rabies is not common in possums, it does happen in them occasionally. The animals are immune to the venom of nearly every type of snake found in their native range, the one exception being the coral snake. But thankfully, there are effective treatments. How Much Does Ethernet Installation Cost? Chagas Disease also goes by American Trypanosomiasis. Are Opossums Dangerous To Humans, Pets And Property? They generally don't contract or transmit rabies as they have a very low body temperature to sustain the virus. Bunnies, hares, and rodents are particularly susceptible to it. Its fairly easy to tie up your trash bag, take a short walk to the curb and toss it in, right? They can eat anything, including plants, frogs, rodents, table scraps, insects, fruits, and grains. While most animals look at a snake and see danger, a possum sees its next meal. Consider these rhyming words to the wise: If it has fleas, it can have a disease. The first thing you should know is that this is a defense mechanism they use to protect themselves from potential predators. Perhaps the most famous characteristic of the opossum is its tendency to play dead in front of predators. In one case, 13 white-eared opossums of various age groups were cohabiting the same space. Dawn Weinberger is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon who has contributed to numerous publications and websites over the past 20 years, including RD.com, Glamour, Women's Health, Entrepreneur, and many others. Well, pet parents certainly need to be more careful about possums. For many homeowners in these areas, it shouldnt be a surprise to catch a glimpse of one every now and then. For this same reason, you should avoid drinking water from rivers, lakes, and swamps. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, Take control of animal intruders in with the help of a wildlife control specialist. Opossums as a species are not particularly prone to carrying bacteria in the same way other pest animals such as rats, as the biology of the animal includes a body temperature that is significantly lower than other species. The opossums, the misunderstood North American marsupials, are the heroes of this article. In fact, they are considered to be amongst most rabies-immune animals. Reach out toUrban Jungle Wildlife Removal for a customized wildlife removal solution. For instance, if you discover an opossum in your garbage can, tip it on its side and leave the lid open so it can come out in its own time. Leptospirosis may be symptomatic or asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) in humans. Your resident opossum might be just a bump in the night, but it could also be a carrier of leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, salmonella and tuberculosis. Ticks spread Lyme disease, which is a severe infection. The chances that youll need to actually do anything about one is pretty rare. She has almost four years experience in the home improvement space. The exaggerated pupil dilation is thought to help the nocturnal animals see after the sun goes down. Virginian opossums live in many areas of the country and thrive in many habitats. The point here is, try not to get infected with tuberculosis. A picture of a possum playing dead doesnt really do it justice. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 ABC Home & Commercial Services All Rights Reserved. Contact with a possum could expose you to diseases carries by anything living on the animal: fleas, ticks and lice. Possums have prehensile tails, meaning they are made for grasping and wrapping around things like tree branches. Yes, possums can carry a number of fatal diseases, these diseases can be passed onto cats. We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Home. Thanks & Welcome to the Forbes Home Improvement Community! Opossums are the unsung heroes in the fight against ticks and the Lyme disease they can transmit. Handle such events as emergencies and do visit a vet. Opossums carry diseases, parasites, and bacteria such as: Salmonella Campylobacter, streptococcus, and Staphylococcus infections Cryptococcosis Ringworm and tapeworm Chlamydia Giardia disease (Giardiasis) Yersinia infection Anthrax Hantavirus Listeria Lyme Disease Do Opossums Carry Rabies? Researchers have been trying to harvest possums antivenom powers for decades. Toxoplasmosis occurs when infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. Infection with Borrelia spp., the bacteria that cause relapsing fever, may cause tick-borne relapsing fever and two other types of relapsing fever. Opossums can be tricky critters, and it is right to stay away from regardless whether or not they contain rabies. Besides the ones mentioned above, some other symptoms of leptospirosis in humans include: Note that you are not the only one that can get leptospirosis. Do possums carry fatal diseases to cats? Possums are found in four colors black, gold, silver-grey, and brown. Knowing the difference between possum and opossum helps kids and their parents to know these species better. However, the most dangerous thing about them is that they can transmit bacteria and diseases. The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. Do Possums Carry Diseases? There may also be hyperactivity and hallucinations. They also consume rodents like rattlesnakes. As previously stated, rabies is uncommon in possums, thanks to their low body temperature. Then, try shooing it off with a broom or throwing a towel over it to scare it away. We trap and remove wildlife, but we also perform exclusion services to ensure animals and pests cannot get back into your home. Killing or harming them is not advisable. This, perhaps, is the most dangerous thing about them. It is so terrible that once an infected person or animal starts showing signs of the disease, there is almost no chance of survival. They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Some people think theyre cute. Even at that, the infection is pretty rare. Possums largely lack sweat glands, and this behavior is believed to help them cool down. Pets like cats and dogs can get Chagas disease. They generally don't contract or transmit rabies as they have a very low body temperature to sustain the virus. If unable to escape or defend themselves, opossums will enter a catatonic state and 'play dead'. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. to carrying bacteria in the same way other pest includes a body temperature that is significantly It encouraged people to kill as many possums as possible over three nights. And just because they are harmless doesnt mean you want them there. So they do not carry Lyme disease. They are also typically rather timid, so unless they are cornered, opossums will likely hurry away to avoid a confrontation. 'Show more' : 'Show less' }}. Their natural life span is only two to four years. In nature, they would live in dens or tree holes. In the U.S., the Virginia opossum is a cat-sized creature with dull, gray fur, white and black markings, a long snout and pink paws. Other common behaviors are running, growling, urinating and even playing dead. 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