Species guide
Virginia opossum
HarmlessDidelphis virginiana
How to recognise it
About house-cat sized, with grayish fur, a pointed white face, pink nose and ears, and a long naked prehensile tail. North America's only marsupial.
Is it dangerous?
Largely harmless and beneficial — it eats ticks, slugs and pests, and rarely carries rabies thanks to its low body temperature. When scared it hisses, drools, or 'plays dead' rather than attacking.
What to do
Leave it alone — it will move on within a night or two. Secure trash to avoid attracting it.
Recorded 64,324 times in the wild worldwide.
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