Many people find possums frightening with their sharp teeth, hissing sounds, and glowing eyes that stare from dark corners. If you’ve ever wondered “are possums scary?” this definitive guide has the answers.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: While possums can look intimidating, they are generally docile creatures that prefer to avoid confrontations. They pose little threat to humans.
Why Possums Appear Scary
Sharp Teeth and Noises
Possums have 50 sharp teeth that they use to eat plants, insects, snails, rats, mice and even poisonous snakes. Their sharp chompers can appear quite intimidating, especially when a possum opens its mouth and hisses. This defensive maneuver exposes the alarming dental weaponry.
Some people have described possum hisses as sounding similar to a cat’s growl but more nasal and elongated. These unexpected sounds late at night around the backyard can unsettle unsuspecting folks.
Glowing Eyes and Night Activity
An additional spooky feature possums possess stems from the reflective layer behind their eyes that aids their vision. This layer causes possum eyes to glow an eerie whitish-green when light hits them.
As nocturnal animals that forage at night, their shining peekers peering out from the darkness can resemble ghostly apparitions. Imagine taking out the trash after dark and catching sight of radiant orbs floating across the lawn!
Furthermore, nighttime serves as prime possum patrol hours as they search far and wide for food while most other animals sleep.
Playing Dead and Baring Teeth When Frightened
Perhaps the most well known odd behavior possums exhibit involves falling over and playing dead when extremely threatened. This involuntary response gets triggered as a last resort to convince predators to lose interest.
While pretending to be a lifeless lump, they emit a foul-smelling green fluid from their anal glands and even bloat out their tongues. They may also peel back their lips to expose their teeth in a petrifying pose. This over-the-top act aimed at self-preservation ironically backfires in terms of public perception.
Instead of recognizing it as defensive, people see only the ugly theatrics designed to disturb.
Possum Behaviors Explained
Foraging and Hunting Habits
Possums are opportunistic omnivores with very adaptable diets. They will eat fruits, vegetables, insects, snails, frogs, birds eggs, and even rodents. Possums are primarily nocturnal and do most of their hunting and foraging at night.
They have excellent night vision and a great sense of smell to help them locate food sources. Possums will eat just about anything they can find, including pet food left outside, garden vegetables and fruits, trash can scraps, and small animals. They are constantly on the search for their next meal.
Possums prefer to live in areas close to water and food sources and will remember locations that provide easy access to their dietary needs. They are very resourceful and can inhabit many urban and rural environments.
Interaction With Humans and Pets
Possums tend to be shy, non-aggressive animals that prefer to avoid interactions with humans. They are not typically considered dangerous and usually retreat or play dead when threatened.
However, possums will defend themselves or their young if provoked. They can bite, scratch, hiss, growl, and screech. Their sharp teeth and claws can lead to injuries, but attacks are uncommon.
To avoid encounters, it’s best not to leave pet food outside, secure trash cans, pick up fallen fruit from trees, and keep a tidy garden area. Possums may see homes and yards as easy places to find a free meal.
If a possum takes up residence in a garage or crawl space, it’s best to call animal control or a wildlife removal service for humane trapping and relocation.
Reproduction and Protecting Young
The possum breeding season is generally between January and July. After a gestation period of only 12-13 days, a female will give birth to up to 20 baby possums, called joeys. The joeys are born blind, hairless, and tiny – about the size of a bee or jellybean.
The joeys immediately crawl into the mother’s pouch, where they will nurse and continue to develop. At about 2-3 months of age, the joeys will emerge from the pouch and ride on the mother’s back as she hunts for food.
The joeys are weaned between 4-5 months old but may continue to temporarily retreat into the mother’s pouch until they are 8-9 months old. Possums mature quickly and can start reproducing as early as 6 months of age.
Mother possums are very protective of their young. They may hiss, growl, or bare their teeth if they sense a threat. It’s best to avoid getting too close to a female possum with joeys.
Dealing With Scary Possum Encounters
Understanding Possum Body Language
When confronted with a possum, it’s important to understand their body language to properly assess the situation. Possums will often bare their teeth and hiss when threatened – this defensive behavior is meant to scare away predators, not attack.
If the mouth is wide open with the lips curled and teeth bared, the possum is saying “back off! “.
However, a possum may also play dead, falling over on their side with mouth and eyes open. This instinct comes from trying to convince predators they are diseased by pretending to be a carcass. So while startling, this reaction means the possum feels fearful, not aggressive.
Deterring Possums Safely
If a scary possum takes up residence where they are unwanted, there are some safe deterrents to try first before removing them:
- Sprinkle ammonia-soaked cotton balls around the den area – possums dislike the strong odor
- Place a radio tuned to talk radio near their homes – the sounds of human voices can drive them away
- Install motion sensor lights and sprinklers in the area to startle them at night when they are active
Physical barriers like fencing off any access points to buildings can also make an area less welcoming. Be sure to avoid using poison or other harmful traps, as these are inhumane and illegal in many areas.
When to Call Wildlife Control
In some cases, scary possum encounters may require professional help. Licensed wildlife control experts can safely remove possums from homes and relocate them. Wildlife Control recommends calling for assistance if you notice these signs of serious possum problems:
| Multiple possums in an indoor space | Aggressive hissing, lunging, or biting |
| Possums in the ceiling or walls | Evidence of babies in an inconvenient area |
With some understanding of their behavior and deterrent options, the scare factor of possums can be reduced. But when in doubt about how to handle an encounter, wildlife professionals have the tools and knowledge for humane removal.
Conclusion
While their appearances and behaviors can seem scary, possums are generally harmless creatures trying to survive. Understanding their habits and deterring them humanely will allow us to coexist safely.
