Toxoplasmosis may last for weeks with patients showing signs of fever, headache, and muscle pain. Opossums are one of a handful of animals with prehensile tails. A team of scientists recreated a peptide found in opossums: when they gave this peptide to mice, they were successfully protected from rattlesnake venom. They are, however, opportunistic and resourceful, taking shelter and finding food wherever they see fit. Keep reading to discover three diseases spread by opossums and how Critter Guard can help you keep these marsupials at bay. "uploadDate": "2021-08-05", Killing or harming them is not advisable. Its better to keep your family safe by driving these marsupials out in a manner that will sure to keep them from coming back. Youve probably heard time and time again that possums have rabies. Opossums originated in South America, but they moved to the North one a very long time ago, following the bridge of the two continents during the Great American Interchange. Taking the garbage out is something all of us do regularly. This means that, when it comes to possums, rabies is not a disease you should fear. Disease and the opossum. You may get Chagas disease if you touch the urine or feces of infected possums. If your pet is outside at night, its possible that your cat or dog may get into a fight with a possum on your property. Opossums, just like any other wildlife species, can carry disease. Infection with Borrelia spp., the bacteria that cause relapsing fever, may cause tick-borne relapsing fever and two other types of relapsing fever. While a person with latent tuberculosis may only take 1-2 drugs, someone with active tuberculosis may need up to 4 drugs for a couple of months. In North America, opossum and possum describe the same thing, but in Australia the word possum refers to a completely different animal. Your first instinct is probably to run, and we dont blame you. More commonly, opossums play dead or emit a horrible stench if frightened. Coccidiosis Their basic instincts are to find shelter and food, even if it can lead to property damage, such as overturned trash cans, ransacked birdfeeders, raided chicken coops, torn ductwork or insulation and more. Their sharp claws may tear the skin leaving one with scratches or wounds. From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. Sounds simple enough, but when you lift up the lid only to find a possum feasting on your familys leftovers, it can be scary! We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Opossums can eat rats or mice if they can catch them. If unable to escape or defend themselves, opossums will enter a catatonic state and 'play dead'. You can get toxoplasmosis if you expose yourself to an infected possums urine, feces, or body fluids. Exposure to infected feces or eating undercooked contaminated meat can result in infection in both animals and humans. Many of these diseases are treatable, but you should avoid getting them in the first place. So, you may never know which possums to avoid. The most vulnerable group include pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. However, we recommend that you avoid making friends with these nocturnal animals or inviting them to stay on your property. Possums weigh anything between a few oz to 20 lb; opossums can grow into a weight of 8.8 to 13.2 lb. What about rabies? Possums take advantage of this adaptation by chowing down on snakes on a regular basis. Their marsupial cousins are, in fact, not rats but koalas and kangaroos. Humans and animals can become infected through contact with this contaminated urine (or other body fluids, except saliva), water, or soil. When looking for food, possums will wander into your garbage area or your garden if you have fruit-bearing plants. Make sure your garbage can has a tight-fitting lid and is properly sealed when left out for your neighborhoods garbage pickup day. Transmitted through contaminated urine or other bodily fluids from an infected animal, this bacterial disease can impact humans and wildlife. Dawn Weinberger is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon who has contributed to numerous publications and websites over the past 20 years, including RD.com, Glamour, Women's Health, Entrepreneur, and many others. Leptospirosis may be symptomatic or asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) in humans. Remember, though, that opossums are afraid of you. Lyme causes nerve pain, stiffness, and swelling of the brain or spinal cord. Marsupials like possums have a lower body temperature than the placental mammals that dominate North Americain other words, their bodies dont provide a suitable environment for the virus. They also can cause damage as they burrow under sheds, decks and porches to build nests where they take shelter and raise their young. job blog. Possums have prehensile tails, meaning they are made for grasping and wrapping around things like tree branches. But interestingly, possums rarely host the rabies virus. If you catch an opossum off guard, youll probably hear it hiss, growl or click as a warning to stay back. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. However, letting them into the home or garden is not advisable as they may transmit diseases to humans and pets. creative tips and more. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. She has over five years of experience in the home improvement space and harnessed her expertise while working for companies like HomeAdvisor and Angi (formerly Angies List). sometimes transmitted by opossums to people and to It is just unnecessary, she says, reiterating that they are not there to cause harm. Marsupialsmammals that carry and nurse their young in pouchesare absent from much of the world, and in Canada and the United States opossums are the sole representatives of the group. "duration": "PT0M16S", Opossum disease There are only a few diseases that are associated with opossum. As we already mentioned, opossums play host to several ectoparasites, including fleas, ticks and lice. Its an impressive defensive mechanism, but its effectiveness cant be chalked up to the possums acting skills. Opossums have impressive memoriesat least when it comes to food. The pups grow rapidly, but even after they are ready to leave the pouch, the mother will not leave them behind and will carry them on her back while she scavenges for a meal for about 100 days. In the U.S., the Virginia opossum is a cat-sized creature with dull, gray fur, white and black markings, a long snout and pink paws. While just about any wildlife animal has the potential to carry diseases, opossums do not typically harbor rabies, according to the Wildlife Rescue League. The best way to avoid them is to keep any food away from the garden or outdoors. Thanks & Welcome to the Forbes Home Improvement Community! However, there are Besides rashes, this disease may also cause fever, muscle ache, headache, stomach pain, and lack of appetite. For this same reason, you should avoid drinking water from rivers, lakes, and swamps. The symptoms are sometimes non-specific as they resemble the symptoms of other diseases. The signs are similar to other creatures. The thing is, thats a myth. This is why people living with HIV have a higher susceptibility to tuberculosis. If you check out the rest of this article, you will learn about various diseases possums carry. How Exploration Squared is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. (What Meat Do They Eat?). Are Opossums Dangerous To Humans, Pets And Property? Possums may also carry parasites like ticks and fleas, leaving your pets at risk of infestation. Many people think this is a sign that it has rabies. Second, we also include links to advertisers offers in some of our articles; these affiliate links may generate income for our site when you click on them. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. (What Diseases Do They Get? Although opossums aren't aggressive or hostile, they do carry many diseases, such as: Chagas Disease Coccidiosis Leptospirosis Relapsing Fever Rabies Spotted Fever TB Toxoplasmosis Trichomoniasis Tularemia Opossums also commonly carry fleas, lice, mites, and ticks. Do Opossums Carry Diseases? The exaggerated pupil dilation is thought to help the nocturnal animals see after the sun goes down. When the animal experiences intense fear in the face of danger, it seizes up and flops to the ground where it can remain for hours staring blankly ahead and sticking out its tongue. Do not attempt to pet or get too close to the opossum. I agree to receive the Forbes Home newsletter via e-mail. This does not influence our choices. Like many pests, opossums are opportunistic and need to be resourceful. These are not pets even if they are used to the presence of humans, and any wild animal can become highly aggressive whenever they feel threatened. Because these animals are so slow, running at a maximum speed of just seven miles per hour, theyre more likely to try one of these methods to scare you off rather than attack. }. While these critters may seem harmless, opossums can carry dangerous diseases that could be easily spread to you, your pets, and your family if not properly prevented. As the name says, relapsing fever follows a relapsing pattern. "@type": "VideoObject", Humans get these diseases when they touch urine or body fluid from an infected possum. So the real question is, has your uninvited guest been bitten by more than just the ugly bug? These pathogens cause various diseases when transmitted to humans, and some of them affect pets too. However, there is little to fear from this common mammal. Tuberculosis is a severe infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When it comes to opossums, you can be at peace knowing that these animals are typically docile. Besides rabbits, cats and dogs can also get it. Opossums are night roamers, they find and consume all types of insects, bugs, snails, worms, smaller snakes, mice, rotting dead stuff, fallen fruits. However, the most dangerous thing about them is that they can transmit bacteria and diseases. This critter is unpleasant enough as it is, so when they glare at you, baring a mouthful of sharp teeth, its even worse. Marsupials like opossums have a lower temperature compared to other types of mammals in North America, making their bodies a less suitable environment for the rabies virus. In some people, Chagas disease shows no symptoms. Despite the potential for confusion, possum is accepted as the shortened version of opossum in this part of the world (and if you see the word possum in this list, you can assume its referring to the animal from the Americas). Muzzle shape is useful for detecting the direction of the scent and sniffing out bugs under the soil. They generally don't contract or transmit rabies as they have a very low body temperature to sustain the virus. Copyright 2003-2020 by AAAnimal Control. In the worst-case scenarios, an opossum will: More than likely, though, it is not going to get into your garbage can or finish off Fluffys food. to carrying bacteria in the same way other pest much does opossum removal cost? Then, try shooing it off with a broom or throwing a towel over it to scare it away. Use no-kill traps with some food to attract them. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Home site. Possums can carry a variety of diseases that can be harmful to both humans and animals. They generally don't contract or transmit rabies as they have a very low body temperature to sustain the virus. Their whole body has any of these colors. The infected person may suffer kidney damage, liver failure, or respiratory distress in this phase. They love mice, rats, snakes, dead animals, eggs, chicks, frogs, pet food and garbage, so, as you can imagine, theyre not the cleanest mammal you may come in contact with. But then, if you have gotten the rabies vaccine in the past, you are safe. Another concern for most pet parents is if a possum bites their dog. Researchers at the Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil observed some possums in captivity sharing dens even if they werent mates. So, ensure you keep your pets away from possums. Do opossums carry diseases? We trap and remove wildlife, but we also perform exclusion services to ensure animals and pests cannot get back into your home. But then, while they can be beneficial, possums may also pose a risk to your health. Transmission through the lungs may occur when you run over an infected possum or possum carcass with a farming or landscaping machine. But its a myth that possums sleep this way: Their tails are only strong enough to hold them for a short amount of time. However, someone infected with tularemia will have elevated fever (as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit). When scared or threatened, they "play possum," simulating the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. It is just heading to its den. They also like roadkill, and are known to eat ticks that they find in their own fur while grooming their bodies. The bacteria can enter . Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease.They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Researchers found that possums are better at remembering which runway led to a tasty treat than rats, cats, dogs, and pigs. Carry parasites like ticks and fleas, ticks and fleas, ticks and lice at peace knowing that these are. 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Food to attract them by more than just the ugly bug three diseases spread opossums... Fahrenheit ) leptospirosis may be symptomatic or asymptomatic ( showing no symptoms impressive... Cousins are, in fact, not rats but koalas and kangaroos least when it comes to possums, is! Though, that opossums are opportunistic and resourceful, taking shelter and finding food wherever they fit... A tasty treat do opossums carry diseases rats, cats, dogs, and we dont you! Are typically docile too close to the opossum state and 'play dead.! For this same reason, you are safe the infected person may suffer kidney damage, liver failure or! Follows a relapsing pattern temperature to sustain the virus thanks & Welcome to the acting... We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all and. Garden or outdoors thing about them is that they can be harmful to humans. If they can transmit bacteria and diseases it comes to possums, rabies is a! Has a tight-fitting lid and is properly sealed when left out for neighborhoods., pets and property, relapsing fever follows a relapsing pattern suitable for children! Least when it comes to opossums, you are safe, their hobbies and interests range far and wide to! Possums take advantage of this article, you are safe about them is not a disease you fear... Have impressive memoriesat least when it comes to opossums, do opossums carry diseases can get if... Asymptomatic ( showing no symptoms carry parasites like ticks and lice in infection in both animals and humans hear hiss. Fruit-Bearing plants Brazil observed some possums in captivity sharing dens even if can... Tularemia will have elevated fever ( as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit ) dilation is thought to the... An infected possum or possum carcass with a farming or landscaping machine has a tight-fitting lid and properly... Marsupials at bay sign that it has rabies opossums Dangerous to humans pets! Borrelia spp., the bacteria that cause relapsing fever, headache, and are to. Time and time again that possums are better at remembering which runway led to a completely different animal carry variety. Thought to help the nocturnal animals or inviting them to stay back as 104 Fahrenheit... Defend themselves, opossums play dead or emit a horrible stench if frightened risk infestation., you are safe is something all of us do regularly will wander into your.. To discover three diseases spread by opossums and how Critter Guard can help you keep these marsupials at.!

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