According to the National Pest Management Association, Termites cause over 5 billion dollars in damage per year in the United States. While opossums are rarely dangerous, you might want to read about opossum predators. And that’s why knowing how to eliminate them becomes a … A low body temperature makes rabies extremely rare and even then, opossums are unlikely to attack or even defend themselves from humans or larger animals. As a homeowner, you may see opossums as unwanted pests, but they can also be helpful critters. What Do Possums Eat and Are They Dangerous? Possums and rabies do not go together, but an opossum has extremely aggressive habits including biting, scratching and clawing when agitated. Do possums attack humans? Possums belong to this type. They usually only attack as a last resort, if they are being attacked themselves. This animal is the size of a small cat with over 50 teeth. So, if the possum is threatened enough, it can get aggressive with negative results. Are Garter Snakes Poisonous? While possums are rarely dangerous, the opossum is a predator when it comes to cats. How about your pets? Opossums aren't strong enough to pose a danger to most pets. In general, possums don't have many, outside of the very people who help them thrive. They can also threaten livestock and crops of farmers. Possums attack pets or even humans with massively pointed teeth. The opossum is North America’s only marsupial and often carries common misconceptions. (Or fleas, etc.). These critters are pesky, disrupting homes, gardens, chicken coops and areas meant for pets while looking for food. They do not ONLY play dead or attack. The question is, can it use either of those to hurt you or your children or your pets? In this case, a possum is dangerous to a dog or any other pet, like a cat. Their invasive and destructive behaviors are why it’s important to know how to recognize both the ants themselves and where they reside. Not really. Their habit of eating disease-carrying ticks and dead stuff … Opossums are scavengers and clean up dead animal carcasses. Well, the good news is that possums are usually pretty docile rather than dangerous to dogs. We’re here to fill you in on the misunderstood marsupial and how this wildlife creature may or may not fit in to your home life. The truth is that possums are gentle and non-aggressive animals. Diet. Call now. Like any other species, the possum is only offensive when attacked. Opossums have a natural resistance to rabies and botulism, so they aren’t likely to spread these diseases. Known to carry leptospirosis, tuberculosis, coccidiosis, spotted fever, tularemia, and other diseases, the pesky creatures pose serious health threats when they invade urban environments. Centipedes vs. Silverfish: What's the Difference? If you’ve recently come across an opossum, more commonly known as a possum, rabies might be on your mind. These critters are pesky, disrupting homes, gardens, chicken coops and areas meant for pets while looking for food. But, if they feel threatened enough, they can even attack. Opossums are omnivores and survive by eating a variety of foods. Click to attach a photo related to your comment. They also rarely carry rabies, which is … Critter Control Logo. The red-imported fire ant, often referred to as RIFA, is an invasive species and has been known to prey on other native insect species as well as plants, with some fire ants even preying on small mammals many times their own size. Research has shown that this is like a reflex action originating in the possum's brain, lasting from just a few minutes to an hour. Do Opossums Carry Diseases Like Rabies? When these wildlife animals enter your residence, they do pose the possible threat of damaging its structural integrity. The bottom line is that this is a peaceful animal, and it's not involved in many altercations, either as predator or prey. 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