Ever wondered if possums or opossums actually carry rabies? The answer might surprise you. Opossums rarely carry rabies because their body temperature is too low for the virus to thrive.
So, they aren’t common carriers like some other wild critters.
Still, even though opossums usually don’t have rabies, they can carry other germs and diseases. In rare cases, rabies has popped up in opossums, especially if they’ve tangled with bats or other wildlife that carry the virus.
It’s just good to know what you’re dealing with if you spot one near your house.
Rabies Risk in Possums and Opossums
People often misunderstand possums and opossums when it comes to rabies. They can get rabies, but honestly, it’s extremely rare.
Their bodies and habits make it less likely for them to catch or spread rabies.
How Common Is Rabies in Possums and Opossums?
Rabies in possums and opossums barely happens. Most reports show only a handful of cases compared to bats, raccoons, or dogs.
One study in Brazil tested 22 opossums and found just one with rabies. In North America, rabies in opossums shows up so rarely that many experts say it’s almost unheard of.
Possums and opossums don’t serve as main carriers. That keeps your risk of getting rabies from these animals super low.
Why Possums Rarely Get Rabies
Possums and opossums have a lower body temperature than most mammals. Their temperature usually sits between 94–97°F (34.4–36.1°C).
That makes it tough for the rabies virus to survive and multiply.
They also avoid fights and move slowly, which means they don’t often get bitten by rabid animals. That’s how rabies usually spreads, after all.
Because their bodies don’t suit the rabies virus, these marsupials almost never host it. So, seeing a rabid possum or opossum is pretty unusual.
Recognizing Symptoms of Rabies in Wildlife
If a possum or opossum does get rabies, you might notice some odd signs.
Watch for weird behavior—like acting really weak or paralyzed. Rabid possums might seem confused, walk funny, or just look exhausted.
Rabies in these animals usually shows up as “paralytic rabies,” which means weakness and trouble moving, not aggression.
If you spot a possum or opossum acting strangely, don’t touch it. Call your local animal control or wildlife agency and let the pros handle it.
You can check out this report on a rare rabies case in a white-eared opossum from Brazil for more details.
Other Diseases Carried by Possums and Opossums
Possums and opossums can carry a few diseases that might affect you or your pets. These include illnesses spread through urine, parasites, and ticks.
Knowing how these diseases spread can help you keep your family safe.
Leptospirosis and Its Dangers
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection you can get from water or soil contaminated with urine from infected possums or opossums. It’s more common in warm, wet places.
If you touch or swallow contaminated water, you might get symptoms like fever, headache, and muscle aches. Sometimes, it gets serious and causes liver or kidney problems, or even meningitis.
Dogs are especially at risk. Try not to let your pets drink from ponds or puddles where possums might have been.
Cleaning up areas where possums live and keeping your pets’ vaccines current really helps lower the chances of infection.
Toxoplasmosis Transmission
Toxoplasmosis comes from a parasite that possums and opossums can carry. You might catch it by touching their feces or anything contaminated by it.
Most people don’t get very sick, but it can be dangerous for pregnant women or anyone with a weak immune system. You might feel flu-like symptoms or, in rare cases, face more serious issues.
To lower your risk, wash your hands after gardening or handling soil, avoid possum droppings, and keep your pets’ litter boxes clean.
Lyme Disease from Ticks on Possums
Possums and opossums often pick up ticks that spread Lyme disease. The animals themselves usually stay healthy, but those ticks might end up on you or your pets.
Lyme disease shows up as fever, headache, tiredness, or sometimes a skin rash. If you don’t catch it early, you could end up with joint pain or other lingering issues.
Try to avoid places loaded with ticks. Wear long sleeves, use tick repellent, and always check yourself and your pets after you’ve been outside.
Clearing away thick brush and piles of leaves in your yard can help keep tick numbers down.
For more about diseases possums carry, check out 6 Diseases Commonly Carried by Opossums.
