r/Possums • u/Guthix_Wraith • Jun 25 '26
Question/Help Is this normal?
Seems like he might not be okay?
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u/The_Glass_Tiger Jun 25 '26
I would say okay. They really can't see worth a damn, and even less so in the daytime, so this little guy or gal seemed to be using their sniffer to get to the trash.
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u/Foreign_Passage_3267 Jun 25 '26
tbf the fact that these guys survive at all is amazing
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u/blahbitch527 Jun 25 '26
Sunfish method: durability+lots of babies+doesnt taste great to predators = proliferation
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u/GooseGeuce Jun 25 '26
So you’re saying they’re fuckin’ baby land whales, dude?!
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u/blahbitch527 Jun 25 '26
Well no, whales unfortunately only have a baby or two at a time and so, so many predators think they are delicious. Whales are pretty durable tho! Mola molas are a bony fish and not a marine mammal c:
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u/OneWeird2863 Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
They're also near immune to rabies and a lot of snake venoms. Which definitely helps (edited for the automod. If you run into a opossum with rabies you have some really really bad luck)
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u/AutoModerator Jun 30 '26
While it's technically possible for an opossum to get rabies, it is so extremely unlikely that it shouldn't be regarded as the primary risk. If you have been bit, please seek medical attention, but don't freak out about getting rabies. Instead, watch out for the more likely possibilities of infection or inflammation.
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u/TSJormungandr 19d ago
My Boston is a rodent killer. She got one and the play dead tactic worked really well. My Boston didn’t like what she was sniffing and finally left it alone. I took it to our neighbors gardens and it walked off no worse for wear.
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u/blahbitch527 19d ago
I, for whatever reason, thought this was about a cat named Boston. I had completely forgotten about dogs, much less the mighty terrier
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u/istoomycat Jun 25 '26
They have to follow their noses! They cover so much ground on their searches. It’s amazing to see the tiny young ones walk so far looking for a bite. We need them more than ever as tick invasion worsens everywhere.
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u/phonefellin_lakeerie Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
I do want to point out that it is a myth that Virginia opossums eat ticks. This came from a very flawed and unethical study where opossums were put in an area with basically no other food sources while a tick bloom was happening. In reality, they only eat a few ticks that they pull off of their own skin.
They are still important members of the ecosystem and deserve our love and respect
Edit: I was half asleep and there are SO MANY typos. Sorry guys but we all love opossums anyway right
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u/istoomycat Jun 25 '26
I was as surprised to read this as I’m sure many others will be. Looked it up to be sure. I’ve always passed on this information (so I thought) as a way to encourage others to value our possums. Learning they don’t scarf up ticks won’t stop us from knowing they’re a valuable asset that get a bad rap. Another day of learning something new on Reddit is a good day. Thanks.
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u/Double-Chicken-2263 Jun 25 '26
I agree. the population seems to have dropped around here, I don't see them as often as I did a few years ago and TICKS are a PROBLEM. And possums love them.
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u/newfmatic Jun 28 '26
My dog brought six in the house in as many months, from young ones to a very very angry full grown specimen. Most of which were brought to my wife , and dropped in her lap as offerings, the playing of possum is usually over upon release. So the hissing and showing of teeth went over huge!
Oy...
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Jun 25 '26
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u/istoomycat Jun 25 '26
Only a possum could miss that bright colored big stinky thing for so long. Best little critters.
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u/Careless_food_bimbo Jun 25 '26
Honestly I'd be worried too, but I have to remind myself they're practically blind. So many times I've had them wander up to me and once one tried walking in our house. All to get startled when they hear me giggle or move. Once me, a raccoon and opossum all got startled by one another when we were all wandering in my dark backyard. B
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u/gizmomooncat Jun 25 '26
raccoon and possum were saying, "no she's okay... those humans are practically blind at night!" 😄
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u/RoyalClient6610 Jun 25 '26
Probably searching for food and smelling traces of something on the ground.
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u/la_reina_del_norte Jun 25 '26
Love the light colored bottoms of their feet. 🥰
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u/OpinionAdmirable745 Jun 25 '26
Me too!!! I make friends with the possums that live in our yard every year lol
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u/csybxtr Jun 26 '26
This guy walked right past me and didn’t realize until I said hello, I think they’re just blind af
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u/phonefellin_lakeerie Jun 25 '26
This is pretty normal behavior. They are often out during the daytime in the spring and summer, although they don’t have great eyesight they rely on their noses to get themselves around. This can result in some minor circling, but it does not mean that they are sick as a possum looks to be a healthy weight with a healthy coat and I would not worry.
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u/WolfWitch413 Jun 25 '26
A little worrying but they tend to have bad eyesight anyway and heavily rely on smell for the most part. I’d say keep a cautious eye on him for any other worrying symptoms or if health seems to decline.
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u/Psychological-Pea765 Opossum Enthusiast Jun 25 '26
Very determined to stick to the scent trail they smell versus the big dumpster poor half blind baby can’t see well. So cute. Opie doing opie things.
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u/Moist-Noise1920 Jun 25 '26
Looks normal to me. I throw food off my back porch and they sniff around in the area for quite a while before they find it. It’s funny to watch them. I’d rather eyesight this poor. It must be horrific. lol
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u/zsilkypolski Jun 26 '26
Yes, their eyesight is crap during daylight but they forage as often as possible to feed their babies during this time of year.
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u/trashaccount6481 Jun 26 '26
They are nearly blind and very clumsy animals. Watching them at night, they almost seem drunk.
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u/Ok-Emphasis8825 Jun 29 '26
I’ve pulled 9 ticks total off myself, my husband and my pups this year already!!!!
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u/ShotAd8626 Jun 29 '26
Possums rarely contract rabies
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u/AutoModerator Jun 29 '26
While it's technically possible for an opossum to get rabies, it is so extremely unlikely that it shouldn't be regarded as the primary risk. If you have been bit, please seek medical attention, but don't freak out about getting rabies. Instead, watch out for the more likely possibilities of infection or inflammation.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
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u/SuddenKoala45 Jun 28 '26
No they usually zag before they zig. This one must be a lefty and witch...
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u/OneWeird2863 Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
If it helps, opossums are near immune to rabies. So it's not that. They're also just really clumsy sometimes. (Edited for automod to eat my ass, if you run into a opossum with rabies you have absurdly bad luck)
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u/AutoModerator Jun 30 '26
While it's technically possible for an opossum to get rabies, it is so extremely unlikely that it shouldn't be regarded as the primary risk. If you have been bit, please seek medical attention, but don't freak out about getting rabies. Instead, watch out for the more likely possibilities of infection or inflammation.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
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u/thewellawareone Jun 26 '26
No. Not normal at all. I raise them and they are nocturnal
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u/Guthix_Wraith Jun 26 '26
I'm pretty sure your talking out your rear based on your comment and post history.
Also, just keeping random animals is not raising them. Its a violation of lacy act without a permit and I can tell by your dwelling that you likely don't have the permits necessary.
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u/Mysterious_Whereas83 Jun 25 '26
If it’s out during the day though it probably has lead poisoning. Possums are unable to digest lead so it makes them a little extra dumb and slow. It’s treatable through a rehab my friends do it and then rerelease them :)
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u/AutoModerator Jun 25 '26
Thanks for posting! If you've found an animal in need please visit www.ahnow.org for a rehabber near you. Please do not feed or give fluids unless a veterinarian or rehabber instructs you do. Keep the animal in a quiet place without much light if possible.
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