Maybe you’ve heard people claim opossums are blind or deaf. That’s not quite right. Opossums aren’t blind or deaf; they’ve just got pretty poor eyesight and hearing, so they lean hard on their sense of smell.
Their eyes struggle during the day, but at night? They see much better since they’re nocturnal.
If you’ve ever spotted an opossum shuffling around, it might look a little wobbly or awkward. That can make you wonder if it’s struggling with its senses.
Young opossums actually come into the world blind and deaf. But adults use their noses to track down food and stay out of trouble.
Getting a sense of how opossums see and hear can change how you look at them. They might seem a bit odd, but they’re built for life in the dark, and their keen sense of smell really helps them out.
Curious about how their senses work? Let’s dig in.
Are Opossums Blind or Deaf?
Opossums—especially the Virginia opossum you’ll find all over North America—have some quirky senses that help them survive. They’re not totally blind or deaf, but their vision and hearing don’t work quite like ours.
Let’s see how they see and hear, and how these senses develop as they grow up.
Vision in Opossums: How Well Do They See?
Opossums aren’t blind, but honestly, their eyesight during the day isn’t great. Their pupils open wide to help them see at night, which is when they’re most active.
This gives them pretty good night vision, but in daylight, they can’t see very clearly at all.
They don’t see colors well and their vision lacks sharpness. So, if you spot one in your yard looking confused, it’s probably just using its nose and whiskers to figure things out.
Their eyes have a special layer that reflects light, which makes them glow in the dark. That helps them spot things in low light, even if the details are fuzzy.
Hearing Abilities: Are Opossums Deaf?
Opossums aren’t deaf, but their hearing isn’t exactly top-notch, either. They can pick up sounds, and that helps them notice danger or find something to eat.
Their hearing works a bit better than their vision in daylight, but it’s still not as sharp as what other wild animals have.
They mostly depend on their sense of smell, with hearing just backing things up. If you see one moving slowly or looking a bit lost, it’s probably because its sight and hearing together aren’t all that sharp.
Development of Senses in Baby Opossums
When baby opossums are born—about the size of a honeybee—they come out completely blind, deaf, and hairless. Even so, they have to crawl into their mother’s pouch right away to keep growing.
They spend about two months tucked inside, developing their senses as they go. Their eyes open first, giving them some sight, but it’s always better at night.
Their ears open a bit later, so their hearing improves over time. In those early weeks, they mostly use touch and smell to get around in the dark pouch.
Want more details? Check out Terminix’s guide on opossum vision.
Opossum Biology, Senses, and Wildlife Interactions
Opossums have some odd physical traits that shape how they see and hear. They start life with a super short gestation and spend a while in their mom’s pouch.
When opossums cause problems, you can handle them safely with the right approach.
Physical Traits That Impact Vision and Hearing
Opossums can’t see well, especially during the day. Their pupils stay wide to help with night vision, but they’re still very near-sighted.
They can’t see colors and struggle to focus on things far away.
Their hearing works a little better than their vision, but it’s not exactly sharp. They lean on their sense of smell and touch to find food and notice danger.
Since they’re nocturnal, their eyes reflect light, making them look like they’re glowing in the dark. That glowing can fool people into thinking they’re blind or can’t hear.
Opossum Gestation Period and Early Development
Opossums only stay pregnant for about 12 to 13 days. After that, tiny, undeveloped babies crawl into their mother’s pouch.
At birth, these babies are blind, deaf, and have no hair at all.
They hang out in the pouch for about two months while they grow. During that time, they use their other senses since their eyes and ears aren’t working yet.
Once they leave the pouch, their vision and hearing get better, but honestly, they never catch up to most mammals.
It’s kind of wild to think about how vulnerable they are at first, relying totally on their mom for safety and food while their senses slowly develop.
Managing Opossums: Wildlife and Animal Removal
When opossums wander into your yard or sneak around your home, you’ll want to handle the situation carefully. It’s usually best to call wildlife or animal removal pros—they actually know what they’re doing and won’t hurt the animal.
Opossums love to rummage through trash or slip into chicken coops, which can be a real headache. If you’re dealing with rodent or bird problems, or even need help with dead animal removal, these folks have it covered.
Since opossums mostly rely on “playing dead” instead of fighting back, you’ll want to avoid direct conflict. Try locking up food sources and stick with humane removal methods if these critters become a problem.
That way, your home stays protected and the opossum gets to go on its way. If you’re looking for help, choose specialists who know wildlife and bat removal too.
Curious about how opossums sense the world? Check out Terminix on Are Opossums Blind.
