Do Opossums Carry Rabies? Almost Never, and Here Is Why — Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab

Q: Do opossums carry rabies?

Almost never. Virginia opossums run a body temperature of roughly 94 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit, cooler than most placental mammals, which appears to make them a poor host for the rabies virus. Cases have been documented, so it is not impossible, but an opossum is one of the least likely mammals to have rabies. In Tennessee the rabies vector species are raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats; opossums are not on that list. Hissing and drooling is a bluff display, not a symptom.

The short answer: almost never

Rabies in Virginia opossums is exceptionally rare. Opossums run a body temperature of roughly 94 to 97°F, noticeably cooler than most placental mammals, and that appears to make them a poor host for the rabies virus. Cases have been documented, so "impossible" would be too strong, but an opossum in your yard is one of the least likely mammals there to have rabies.

In Tennessee, the animals treated as rabies vector species are raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. Opossums are not on that list.

Then why is it hissing and drooling at me?

Because it is terrified and it has almost no other options. An opossum’s entire defensive repertoire is bluff: open the mouth wide to show fifty teeth, hiss, drool, and hope you leave. They are slow, they are not aggressive, and they very rarely bite.

The drooling in particular gets read as rabies. It is a threat display. If the bluff fails, they escalate to the other famous option and go into an involuntary catatonic state. Playing possum is not a decision the animal makes, and it can last for hours.

What opossums are actually good for

They are one of the more useful animals to have around. Opossums eat carrion, rodents, snails, roaches and overripe fruit. They groom obsessively. They are also unusually resistant to snake venom. Claims that a single opossum eats thousands of ticks a season have been overstated in some viral posts and later research has questioned the number, and we would rather tell you that than repeat a statistic we cannot stand behind.

What they can carry

Like any wild animal, opossums can carry parasites and bacteria, and they should not be handled bare-handed. If you have been bitten or scratched by any wild mammal, contact your doctor or the health department. That advice does not change based on species.

A dead opossum on the road in spring is not just one animal

This is the part we most want people to know. Opossums are marsupials. A struck female very often still has live young in her pouch, and they can survive for a surprisingly long time after she has died. If it is safe to stop, check the pouch. We have taken in whole litters that way.

Who is answering this

Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab is a TWRA-permitted wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit in Memphis, Tennessee, serving Shelby County and West Tennessee. Text 901-340-6534.