If an opossum bites you, try not to panic. Take action right away to protect yourself.
Wash the bite well with soap and water, put on some antiseptic, and cover it up with a clean bandage. You’ll lower your risk of infection and keep the wound cleaner this way.
Opossums don’t usually carry rabies, but they can spread other diseases. Pay close attention to your injury.
If the bite is deep or bleeding a lot, go see a doctor as soon as you can. Acting fast can help you avoid bigger problems.
Opossums bite mostly when they’re scared or cornered. If you learn how to avoid them or handle them safely, you’ll probably save yourself some hassle.
Let’s look at what to do if you get bitten and how to stay safe around these odd little creatures.
Immediate Actions to Take After an Opossum Bite
If an opossum bites you, act quickly. Simple steps can help you dodge infection and other health issues.
Clean your wound, stop the bleeding, get medical help if you need it, and let the right people know about the bite. These steps can make a big difference.
Clean the Wound Properly
Start by washing the bite with warm water and soap. Really rinse the area to get rid of any dirt or germs.
Scrub gently, but be thorough. That’ll help prevent infection.
After cleaning, dab on an antiseptic like iodine or hydrogen peroxide. It’ll kill bacteria and help your skin heal.
Cover the bite with a clean bandage. Change the bandage every so often until it’s healed.
Don’t use cotton balls right on the wound—those little fibers can stick and irritate your skin.
Control Bleeding Safely
If you see blood, press a clean cloth or some sterile gauze gently on the spot. Hold it there until the bleeding slows down or stops.
Don’t press too hard or use anything tight that could cut off blood flow. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes, get emergency help.
Try to keep your bitten hand or arm raised above your heart. That can slow the bleeding a bit.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if the bite seems minor, check with your doctor. Opossums almost never carry rabies, but their bites can still cause nasty infections.
Your doctor might suggest a tetanus shot or give you antibiotics. Watch for swelling, redness, or fever—those mean you need medical care fast.
If you’re bleeding a lot or the bite is deep, don’t wait—head to urgent care. People with diabetes or other health issues should be extra careful.
Reporting the Bite
Let your local health department or animal control know about the bite. This helps them keep track of disease risks in your area.
If the opossum was inside your house, call a professional to remove it. Don’t try to catch it yourself, or you might get bitten again.
Write down what happened, what you did to treat the bite, and anything odd about the animal’s behavior. Health officials may ask for these details.
You can read more from experts on wildlife bite management.
Assessing Health Risks and Rabies Concerns
If an opossum bites you, you’ll want to know what health risks you might face and what to do next. Rabies isn’t common in opossums, but other wild animals can be a bigger threat.
You should also watch for infections or other diseases that sometimes follow animal bites.
Rabies Risk in Opossums and Other Wild Animals
Opossums almost never get rabies—their body temperature is just too low for the virus. Other wild animals, like raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats, are much more likely to carry rabies.
If a raccoon or bat bites you, don’t wait—get medical attention right away. Even pets like cats or dogs can spread rabies if they aren’t vaccinated.
Rabies is deadly if you don’t treat it, so always take wild animal bites seriously. For more details, check out the CDC’s rabies info for veterinarians.
When to Consider Rabies Vaccination
If you’re bitten or scratched by an animal that might have rabies, act fast. Wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes to help remove the virus.
Your doctor will decide if you need rabies shots, called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This means a series of shots and sometimes a dose of rabies immune globulin.
You’ll probably need PEP if you can’t catch the animal to test it, or if the animal is a known rabies carrier. If a pet bites you, ask the owner for proof of vaccination.
When in doubt, call your local health department for advice on rabies shots and timing. Early treatment really matters.
Risk of Infection and Other Diseases
A wild animal bite—even from an opossum—can easily lead to infections beyond just rabies. Bacteria might sneak into the wound and cause swelling, redness, or pain.
Keep an eye out for warning signs like pus, fever, or pain that keeps getting worse. If you notice these, a doctor will probably want to prescribe antibiotics.
Animal bites, whether from wild or domestic creatures, can spread other diseases too. It’s honestly safest to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.
Your doctor could recommend a tetanus shot if it’s been a while since your last one. That’s something a lot of people forget about.
To help protect yourself, wash the wound thoroughly and slap on a clean bandage. You can find more info about wound care and infection risks from the Ohio Department of Health on animal bites.
