Are opossums blind?

They're not blind.

Contrary to popular belief, opossums aren't blind at all. They just have terrible eyesight during the day. Their pupils are always dilated, and as nocturnal animals, an opossum's eyesight improves drastically at night.

Are opossums blind and deaf?

They Carry Their Young in a Pouch

Young opossums are tiny at birth — about the size of a bee — and are blind, deaf, and furless.

How smart are opossums?

Despite all this, opossums actually excel in intelligence tests. In one study, scientists tested opossums' ability to remember where food had been hidden, and they scored even higher than cats, rats, dogs, and rabbits. In another study, opossums demonstrated that they can solve maze puzzles faster than cats and rats.

Do opossums have good night vision?

Opossums have excellent night vision but relatively poor distance vision and overall visual acuity. They have excellent hearing and outstanding senses of smell and touch which they use extensively to find and evaluate food.

Are opossums friendly?

Opossums Are Gentle Wild Neighbors

Opossums are peaceful animals that prefer not to fight although they may hiss, growl, and even bite if cornered. It is much more likely that the opossum will faint or “play dead” at the prospect of a confrontation. This physiological response is involuntary and automatic.

Top 7 Amazing Opossum Facts!!

How do you befriend a possum?

Let your pet rest its feet in the crook of your arm so that it can feel safe and properly supported. Allow your pet opossum to sit in your lap and eventually crawl onto your shoulders and arms, which is its nature. Once you have gotten to this point, you will truly have a tame pet opossum.

Can possums hear?

Opossums are nocturnal animals (they hunt at night). They have poor eyesight and sense of hearing, so they need to rely on their sense of smell during the hunt. Luckily, their sense of smell is excellent.

Are possums afraid of water?

The water will frighten away the possums and keep your plants well-hydrated. Another option is to install a few motion-activated lights in your backyard. Possums are nocturnal little creatures that enjoy the cover of darkness.

Are possums aggressive?

Opossum are not aggressive: their open-mouth, defensive hissing is merely a bluff to look vicious. And if that doesn't work they play dead when really scared! If there is an opossum in the backyard, don't worry. They aren't a threat, and more than likely they will be moving on in a short while.

What do possums hate?

Did you know possums hate the smell of garlic? That's right! So, you could consider crushing garlic pods and spreading them around the area. They even hate mothballs and can't stand the smell or sight of them.

What is a possums favorite food?

They particularly like berries and fruits such as apples and persimmons. Possums will also eat nuts and seeds, although with less frequency than other foods.

Do possums eat cats?

Opossums do not prey on cats or other larger mammals but will attack them if cornered, or if competing for food. Opossums cause loss to home gardens by eating nuts, berries, fruits, and grapes. They eat pet food left outside and may raid compost bins.

Are possums dumb?

Opossum intelligence? Yes, despite their undeserved reputation for stupidity and a brain that is only one-fifth the size of a cat's, opossums are better at remembering where food is hidden than are dogs, cats, or rats.

Do possums freeze when scared?

Opossums freeze up and “play dead” when frightened or threatened, and can stay in this catatonic state discouraging predators, from minutes to 6 hours!

Do possums eat their babies?

Cannibalism has been found to be a normal behavior in many animal species in the wild. It may be part of natural selection, a way to eliminate a young or old animal that is sick or unhealthy.

How many babies does a possum have?

Opossums may give birth to as many as 20 babies in a litter, but fewer than half of them survive. Some never even make it as far as the pouch.

Where do possums sleep during the day?

>> Virginia opossums are nocturnal (most active at night). They sleep during the day in a den in a hollow tree or in an abandoned rodent burrow.

Should I let a possum live under my house?

A: Often times, you do not need to do anything. Opossums are typically harmless animals -- their only defense is to play dead! Likewise, they do not tend to cause structural damage to the foundations of buildings they are living underneath.

Can possums see in daylight?

Daylight activity isn't natural for possums, in part because they have such poor eyesight that it's difficult for these animals to see well in broad daylight. For this reason, a possum that's out during the day may be more likely to “play dead” if it is startled or feels threatened.

Do possums scream at night?

Grunting, growling, hissing, screeching: if your home is making these noises, you probably have possums.

Do possums like water?

Water is beneficial for opossums in that they need to drink it to survive. However, they also simply enjoy swimming in general. Not only do they enjoy swimming, they're extremely proficient at it, too.

How do possums show affection?

“They do something we call 'sliming,' which is where they'll lick your skin and rub their head against you. It's a sign of affection, but it's an experience when, in the middle of the night, you're awakened by a big opossum licking your face.”

Do possums eat apples?

They can feed on these foods all day long and enjoy eating all sorts of fruits such as kiwifruit, pear, pawpaw, tomatoes, watermelon, honeydew, grapes, carambola, rockmelon, apples, oranges, berries, bananas, and many others. Possum families can be quite damaging in gardens because they also consume various plants.