Why Opossums Are Actually Awesome

Let’s talk about opossums. Yeah, those weird little critters you sometimes see waddling around at night or pretending to be dead in the middle of the road. Turns out, they’re way cooler than they look and secretly doing your yard (and the planet) a huge favor.

Night Owls With a Purpose

Opossums are nocturnal, which means they generally do their thing while we’re sleeping. They creep around yards, woods, and urban settings, snacking on stuff most of us wouldn’t touch. Think of them like nature's janitors with fur.

Tick-Munching Machines

One of the coolest things about opossums? They diligently groom, killing every tick they pick up. Like, thousands of them. That's great news for us, because fewer ticks = less risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. 

Not Picky Eaters

Ticks aren’t the only thing on the menu. Opossums also eat slugs, snails, roaches, fruit that’s fallen off trees, and even dead animals (gross, but helpful). They'll even eat rats and venomous snakes. So if something’s stinking up your yard or slithering where it shouldn't be, an opossum might just take care of it for you.

The Drama of "Playing Dead"

If an opossum gets scared, it’ll flop over, stick out its tongue, and play dead like it’s auditioning for a nature documentary. Sometimes it even intentionally smells like death to sell the act. It’s not just being dramatic, this trick helps it avoid getting eaten. Unfortunately, this also means that a lot of them get hit by cars when people assume they’re already gone.

Opossums Are Kind of Adorable Moms

Baby opossums are tiny when they’re born, about the size of a honeybee. They crawl into their mom’s pouch and chill there until they’re big enough to ride on her back. Seriously, Google it. It’s cute overload.

Short Lives, Big Impact

• Lifespan: Most only live 1–2 years in the wild
• Weight: Around 6–13 pounds
• Teeth: 50, more than any other land mammal in North America
• Superpower: Resistant to venom from rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and even rabies.

They’re Even Helping Plants Grow

Opossums eat fruit and then "plant" seeds in new places (you can guess how). They help spread native plants just by doing their thing, which is pretty cool for biodiversity.

How to Be Opossum-Friendly

Want to help these little weirdos do their job? Here are a couple of easy ways to support wildlife like opossums in your yard:

Wildlife Sanctuary Sign

Let your neighbors know you’re a friend to local critters with a good-looking sign:

Low Water Fountain: A Backyard Bonus for Opossums

Opossums may not be picky about what they eat, but they still need a good drink after their nightly rounds of slug-hunting and tick-munching. A low-to-the-ground water fountain like this gives them (and your local birds, bees, and toads) a safe place to rehydrate. Plus, moving water helps keep things fresh and mosquito-free.

Welded Wire Fence

Protect your garden without shutting out helpful animals. This kind of fencing keeps out pests while still letting opossums do their rounds:

Tip: Bury the bottom a foot deep so burrowing critters can’t sneak in where you don’t want them.

Why Opossums Rock

While opossums might not win a beauty contest, they’re doing a ton of good. They eat ticks, clean up messes, help out your garden, and don’t ask for much in return. So next time you see one shuffling through your yard, maybe give it a little wave and say thanks (from a safe distance, of course). And maybe rock one of our best-selling opossum tees (wink).