If you spot an opossum waddling through your backyard in Louisville, your first instinct might be disgust. With their hairless tails, beady eyes, and tendency to hiss when threatened, they often get a bad rap as “giant rats.”

However, the Virginia Opossum is North America’s only marsupial, and it is one of the most misunderstood and beneficial animals in our local ecosystem. Before you call us to remove one from your garden, consider the free pest control services they provide.

The Tick Vacuum

This is the opossum’s superpower. Opossums are fastidious groomers, similar to cats. As they wander through the tall grass in your yard or nearby parks like Cherokee or Iroquois, they pick up ticks.

Unlike other animals that just carry the ticks, opossums groom them off and eat them. A single opossum can consume up to 5,000 ticks in a single season.

By hosting an opossum in your neighborhood, you are actively reducing the population of ticks that carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, protecting your family and pets.

Immune to Venom

Opossums have a superpower in their blood: a peptide that neutralizes snake venom. They are immune to the bites of Copperheads and Timber Rattlesnakes, both of which are found in Kentucky.

Because of this immunity, opossums will actually hunt and eat venomous snakes. If you live near a wooded area or creek in Louisville where Copperheads are a concern, an opossum is a great ally to have around.

The “Clean Up Crew”

Opossums are opportunistic omnivores and scavengers. They clean up:

• Carrion: They eat dead animals (roadkill), preventing the spread of disease from rotting carcasses.
• Rotting Fruit: They clean up fallen apples and produce that would otherwise attract yellow jackets and ants.
• Garden Pests: They eat slugs, snails, beetles, and cockroaches.

The Myth of Rabies

Many people fear opossums because they think they carry rabies. In reality, it is extremely rare for an opossum to have rabies. Their body temperature is too low (around 94-97°F) for the rabies virus to survive and replicate effectively. While any mammal can get rabies, opossums are far less likely to carry it than raccoons, skunks, or bats.

When Do They Become a Nuisance?

Despite their benefits, opossums can be a problem if they decide to move in with you.

• Under Decks/Sheds: They love to den in the dry, dark spaces under structures.
• Garbage Raiding: They will raid unsecured trash cans.
• Pet Food: They are attracted to cat or dog food left outside.

The Verdict

If an opossum is living inside your crawl space, garage, or attic, it needs to be professionally removed and excluded. They can cause damage to insulation and ductwork just like any other animal.

However, if you simply see one passing through your yard at night? Consider letting it be. It’s likely just on patrol, eating the ticks and slugs you don’t want around anyway.