02/25/2026
You see an opossum in the backyard. What do you do?
Scream? Throw water? Try to kill it?
Stop. Look again.
That animal on your wall is a MOTHER.
A female Virginia opossum can give birth to more than a dozen babies at a time, though usually only as many survive as can fit in her pouch â typically around 8â13. After growing in the pouch, the young ride on her back as she forages at night.
Theyâre tiny. They depend completely on her.
Opossums are solitary animals â the mother raises her young alone.
Just her. The babies. And the night.
And what does she do in your yard while you sleep?
Opossums are omnivores. They eat:
Insects, including cockroaches
Small rodents
Carrion (dead animals)
Fruits and plants
Occasionally small reptiles and amphibians
They may eat ticks while grooming themselves. Some studies suggest opossums can consume ticks, but claims that they eliminate thousands per week are not strongly supported by field evidence. They are not a guaranteed tick-control solution.
They can help reduce certain pests â but they are generalist feeders, not specialized pest exterminators.
About rabies:
Opossums can contract rabies, but cases are rare compared to many other wild mammals. Their lower body temperature may make infection less likely, but they are not immune.
If you see an opossum:
Do not hit it.
Do not pour hot water on it.
Do not poison it.
Opossums are typically non-aggressive and will avoid confrontation. If threatened, they may hiss, show their teeth, or âplay deadâ â a stress response called tonic immobility.
Most will move on quietly if left alone.
If you find a baby opossum alone and it is very small (less than about 7â8 inches long excluding the tail), contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Young opossums that are larger than that are often old enough to survive on their own.
A wild mother raising her young alone.
No applause. No help. Just instinct and survival.
She isnât disgusting.
Sheâs a wild animal doing exactly what nature designed her to do.
