Opossums don't really get rabies. A veterinarian explains the risks and the top rabies carriers in NC. Opossum Diseases - One of the important concerns that many people will have if they come into contact with a wild animal is whether or not they could catch a disease, and how the disease can be transmitted. Opossums are more resistant to rabies than any other mammal; cattle, goats, dogs, cats, sheep, and the ice cream man are far more susceptible to rabies! This may have something to do with the opossum’s low body temperature (94-97º F) making it difficult for the virus to survive in an opossum’s body. Potentially, yes, but the reality of risk seems to be much lower. What Do Opossums Like to Eat? Opossums have a lower body temperature than most other animals in North America, so opossums almost never get rabies. This may have something to do with the opossum's low body temperature (94-97º F) making it difficult for the virus to survive in an opossum's body. Nourredine said the top rabies carriers in our state are in the following order: Racoons - 142 positive case samples in 2018 The usual reason people think they have rabies is the drooling that opossums do when approached and scared.” [image via Pixabay] opossum rabies. 8. Rabies. One important fact to note: Opossums do not carry rabies. Rabies is a terrible virus that attacks brain function. Nonetheless, in some rare cases, possums can carry rabies. Their bodies don’t provide a suitable environment for the virus. According to the Opossum Society website, this is thought to be due to the opossum’s low body temperature, an inhospitable environment for rabies. They also defecate, a lot, and when they get in your attic the droppings can contaminate the area and pose the usual excrement health risks, such as leptospirosis or Salmonella. In fact it is EXTREMELY rare if even POSSIBLE for opossums to get rabies because their body temperature is too low for rabies to survive and replicate well. Any mammal can get rabies, but of course a possum is not a mammal is not an ordinary mammal; it's a marsupial. It's not really ever documented in the North American Virginia Opossum (the only possum that lives in the USA). It's not really ever documented in the North American Virginia Opossum (the only possum that lives in the USA). These traits make it difficult for the opossum to develop rabies. Nourredine said the top rabies carriers in our state are in the following order: Racoons - 142 positive case samples in 2018 But it may ease your mind to know that rabies is extremely rare in opossums. Such reasons make it possible for the possum to be a host for rabies. No, most of the opossum species do not carry rabies. The answer is, "yes," but rabies in an opossum is EXTREMELY RARE. Opossum Facts. call animal control to see if they can find the possum and catch it. If your dog killed and ate a possum, don’t be too worried. Possums and rabies do not go together, but an opossum has extremely aggressive habits … Any mammal can carry rabies, as Sunil Bhatnagar answers, below. Furthermore, possums (as well as raccoons and skunks) can be active during the day even when they are perfectly healthy. Possums rarely contract rabies, but they do carry other diseases. Although theoretically any mammal can contract the rabies virus, opossums seem somehow immune to it. Possums have high immunity to disease and are more resistant to rabies than cows, goats, dogs, cats and sheep; however, this … Although an opossum might get rabies, it's very unlikely. Opossums also can carry fleas, ticks, mites and lice. Answer to: Do possums carry the rabies virus? Although theoretically any mammal can contract the rabies virus, opossums seem somehow immune to it. It is a common myth that they do, but opossums' body temperature is slightly lower than that of other mammals, and so the rabies … Opossums also can carry fleas, ticks, mites and lice. Rabies in Opossums The rabies virus is a particularly deadly disease that can infect all warm blooded animals. Resources Onset of symptoms can occur anywhere from one week to a year after the bite occurs. Although it happens on very rare occasions, opossums do not typically carry the rabies virus. However, in a rare case, opossum’s may carry rabies. “No, they do not have rabies. However, opossums do often carry fleas and other parasites, and the potential diseases that go along with those. This contrasts starkly with many similarly-sized animals that have carnivorous or omnivorous diets, such as skunks, foxes and raccoons, which are important rabies reservoirs. So can a possum get rabies? Consider these additional possum benefits: Opossums hunt, kill, and eat mice, rats, and snakes (including poisonous ones). Opossums don't really get rabies. However, the chance of rabies in an opossum is EXTREMELY RARE. Possums usually do not carry rabies because they usually don’t survive predatory attacks and their body temperature is too low to be an ideal environment for the rabies pathogen to grow and spread. While possums aren’t totally immune to rabies (a few cases have been documented), finding a specimen with the disease is extremely unlikely. Do Opossums Carry Diseases Like Rabies? Though possums are generally not associated with this disease, there is a possibility they may develop it. In fact, rabies is extremely rare in opossums, perhaps because they have a much lower body temperature compared to other warm-blooded animals. Despite their short lifespans, these animals are tough against natural pressures, and you don't need to worry that they'll pass any diseases on to you, your family, or your pets. The chance of your dog contracting rabies is slim, and providing your dog has been vaccinated, the risk of contracting disease from a possum is said to be slim. A lot of people think that opossums are disease-ridden or have rabies. Rabies and Opossums – While it is possible for an opossum to carry the rabies virus, it is extremely Opossums have an extremely competent immune system, and a low body temperature. However, this is just a bluffing behavior that opossums use as a defense mechanism. The National Opossum Society explains that possums generally pose a lower health risk to humans than dogs or cats. don't let your dog near any others, watch closely here are symptoms remember it can take 2 or 3 weeks to know for sure People often mistake the open-mouth hissing and drooling behavior of opossums as a sign of rabies. In terms of rabies and parasites, opossums are shockingly resilient. The bottom line is this; serious diseases like rabies are extremely rare in possums. possums do and can carry rabies, they are also nocturnal so they should not be seen this time of day, your dog can get rabies if some of the possum's saliva got in an open wound or in mucus membranes . No, they do not have rabies. THEY ALMOST NEVER GET RABIES. Opossums have a natural resistance to rabies and botulism, so … The truth is, while rabies might cause normally nocturnal animals like raccoons and skunks to behave in strange ways, including venturing out during daylight hours, possums aren’t actually likely to contract rabies. In fact it is EXTREMELY rare if even POSSIBLE for opossums to get rabies because their body temperature is too low for rabies to survive and replicate well. However, the Center for Disease Control reports that in the United States, the vast majority of recorded rabies cases come from the bite of 4 animals - raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. ANSWER: Answer: Any mammal can get rabies. This could possibly be because their body temperature is quite low for a mammal, somewhere between ninety-four and ninety-seven degrees, making it difficult for many pathogens, including the rabies … You ask; we VERIFY. Like all mammals, opossums can carry rabies, but scientists have found that opossums have a lower-than-average risk of carrying this disease. read more In all cases involving rodents, the state or local health department should be consulted before a decision is made to initiate postexposure prophylaxis. From 1990 through 1996, in areas of the country where raccoon rabies was enzootic, woodchucks (groundhogs) accounted for 93% of the 371 cases of rabies among rodents reported to CDC. It is because of their low body temperature which is around 34.4°C to 36.1°C that prevents Rabies virus to survive in an opossum’s body. Opossums are scavengers and clean up dead animal carcasses. By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Rabies is extremely rare in opossums, as their body temperature is too low for the virus to thrive. Admittedly, opossums do carry fleas (as do all wild and some domestic animals). 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