One summer evening a few years ago, I sat with a book on my back patio. Unwinding from a busy day, I let the setting sun fade away. Only a handful of string lights dimly illuminated the pages of my book. In the warmth and near-darkness I could see Fred, the orange cat, sitting regally to my left, his long fur looking rather leonine on his small house-cat body. I went back to my book, and thenmovement out in the darkness caught my eye. I strained to see what it was, and soon a rather large possum waddled forth from the cover of night. I sat still and watched. The possum slowly, methodically, and, frankly, obliviously, picked its way across the yard and towards the cat, who was as unmoving as I. The possum reached the cat and reached its snout forward. Fred, ever the benevolent king, touched noses with the possum before the possum promptly turned and wandered back into the darkness.
 
A vassal paying homage to his king.
 
Ever since I was a young girl and saw a stuffed animal possum at Cracker Barrel, I have really loved possums. Their prehensile tails, cartoonish eyes, wide smiles–I just think they are adorable. I understand that I am in the minority by feeling this way, so I am writing this to correct some common misinformation and spread possum love. I am also aware that the official name is ‘opossum,’ but for the purposes of this post, ‘possum’ does just fine.
 
First of all, possums are CUTE.
 
But you protest: No! They aren’t cute–they are just giant rats! But if rats and mice and other rodents weren’t cute, where would Disney be? What about Ratatouille, Chuck E. Cheese, and Speedy Gonzales? The ‘rodent’ argument just doesn’t stand up. What’s more is that POSSUMS ARE NOT RODENTS.
 
Just check out that toothy grin. There are no large front teeth that demark a rodent, but rather sharp, long canines, much like what you would see in a cat or dog. What’s even better about possums is that they are marsupials. That’s right. Possums are in the same category as kangaroos and koalas, and they are the only marsupial in North America. Their babies spend the first few weeks and months hanging out in their mothers’ pouches before emerging to cling to her back as she spends her time either in a tree or foraging on the forest floor. Often, familiarity breeds contempt, and this is no different for much of North American wildlife. Possums have been branded as a varmint and a pest despite being very cool marsupials and only having positive effects on their environments from a human standpoint.
 
Your next argument against them may be that they definitely are responsible for the spread of rabies and other diseases. Another misconception.
 
After the possum encounter with Fred the cat, I did my research to make sure I didn’t need to take Fred for any booster shots. I was surprised by what I read. It is extremely rare for possums to carry rabies or other viruses because their body temperature runs too low, at about 94-97° F, for a virus to survive. While wild animals always carry a risk of disease for humans, it is rare that a possum will be the culprit.
 
This low risk is largely due to the passive and non-confrontational attitude that possums possess. They lead transient, scavenging lives, remaining in any place for just a few days at a time. Their diet consists of much worse pests, such as spiders, cockroaches, rodents like rats and mice, and even snakes. Some varieties of possum are immune to rattlesnake venom, which helps them to create a safer environment for humans. A single possum can eat around 5,000 ticks per season, and they don’t exclude mosquitoes either. Overall, their main diet consists of things that I really don’t like and that often have negative consequences for humans. Did you know there is a tick that makes you allergic to red meat? Let’s bring in the possums to keep those ticks at bay.
 
Possums are non-violent and will not attack your pets. It’s not uncommon for possums and adult cats to regard each other with respect. However, dogs will often attack possums, which, as we have learned, is not helpful for the roach and tick problem we have in Texas. As an exception, possums will eat chicken eggs and chicks, and they have been known to take down full-grown chickens. If you are reading this and own chickens, do what you must, but I hope you walk away with a little more respect for this American marsupial.
 
My final argument for possums is that their tails are interesting enough to override the “ewww rodent” reflex that so many of us seem to have. Their tails are prehensile, much like a monkey’s tail. They can wrap their tails around branches and trees to assist their movements, and the babies are even able to hang upside down by their tails for brief periods of time. The prehensile tail is just one more reason why I believe possums should be admired and esteemed for their uniqueness in North American wildlife. Just think–if they lived in central Asia instead of North America and there were documentaries touting their pouches and prehensile tails, adults and children alike would cherish these creatures instead of being disgusted by them. Instead, they are in our own backyards, and we can appreciate them close-up if we choose to be open minded!
 
If you see a possum, please stop and admire it. They don’t seem to hear or see very well or be aware of their surroundings, so it’s possible for them to get quite close before realizing you’re around. Admire them, but do not attempt to touch or catch them. I know my writing has converted you to be a huge fan of these cuddly-looking critters, but use restraint, and let them continue on their ways undisturbed. If you see them in your yard and don’t want them around despite their positive impact on their surroundings, make sure you don’t leave out cat or dog food or rotten fruits or veggies, and make sure that trash and compost is sealed. Like any of us, they spend the most time where there is easy access to food, so if access is removed, they will likely take your house out of their routine.
 
As marsupials, baby possums are heavily dependent on mama. If you see a young possum alone, contact wildlife services. It means the mother is injured or dead, and the baby or babies need to be taken care of.
 
I am not a possum expert, only a fan. There’s a lot more interesting information out there concerning possums, but I have presented what I consider the highlights to spark your interest. My hope is that you, too, will decide that possums are very cool and decide to learn more about them.
Comment with a fun possum story—I know you have one!
 
Kalen Johnson is a doctoral student in the Deparment of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology.