Mythbusting Opossum Facts | Backyard Nature

What's the difference between an opossum and a possum? Are opossums really disease-driven? Explore the myths and misconceptions about the misunderstood opossum with wildlife filmmaker Alex Goetz.

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[chasingsuns]

I have one living under the shed in my backyard. Sometimes I see him in my garage during the day sleeping. He's pretty chill, I leave him be.

[Hiznogood]

Anything that eats ticks is a good neighbor any day of the week! I wish we had opossums here in Sweden, because ticks are getting to be a huge problem spreading Borrelia (Lyme disease), TBE and other dangerous health issues.

[AdirondackRuby]

We have an opossum that lives in the hedges between my house and the neighbors. We found it because it would come out at night and eat the cat food we leave out for the neighborhood strays. We named it Cotton.

[tajindersingh]

I think Possums are ADORABLE!!! ❤ We have one in our backyard, so cute, love them.

[patribtr]

So sweet to show the calm demeanor of oposums. I like to have them in my garden!
I usually have them around my yard and am not afraid of them. My little dog bugs them so I have to keep him away .

[rhondahuggins]

It's difficult to 'rile' an opposum! I live in a rural area and have had numerous opposum encounters. Many years ago, I had a dog that was very territorial about his outside dish. On this particular night, an opposum got too curious about the dog dish and my dog went after the possum. It collaspsed, played dead, but hadn't quite got the concept that you need to stay like that to fool the dog. And so began a cycle of barking, chasing and playing dead playing out across my yard, until the pair got far enough from the dog dish. At the edge of the yard, the possum waded into the weeds and my dog being very proud of his heroic defense of his dish trotted back to patrol his area.😎

[demonorse]

If they eat t ticks we should be feeding them and taking care of them. Ticks have gone insane in Michigan.

[ManDuderGuy]

I've come to love these little guys. They're all over in rural GA where I'm from.

[arnaldorentes]

This is the environmental education that works. And very well done.

[mariaanglin]

I feed them every night with left over food dogfoods and fruits and veggies with raccoons and stray cats. They all eat side by side. Been years feeding them. I put buckets of fresh 💧 too before I go to work. Its a stress release for me as a frontliner. I love them too.. they know when to come when my light is on they come. I watch them behind my back door.. they come back every night with their babies. I don't interact with them
They are still wild.

[brianmfieldwick]

Hi Alex
Thankyou for showing the opossum in such a great way. I live in Ontario Canada and I rescued opossums for 16 years. They are the most unique and misunderstood animal around. They are amazing creatures. Unfortunately I had to give up my rehab rescue, however if I find an injured or orphaned opossum it still gets taken care of. Opossums are adorable. Leta from Possum Junction

[Sidorio]

They look so adorable in this video compared to the majority of Opossum footage I've seen online (I live in the UK so I've never seen a wild one)

[judywhite]

When I lived in Myrtle Beach SC I had a family of opossums living under my shed with a family of feral cats. They ate the food I put out for and with the cats and never fought. There were 2 adults and 2 babies living there. An all around good experience.

[TheBitPianist]

They are incredibly cute. The video was beautifully shot, too!

[_anan_onel_]

Myth: Opossums are ugly and creepy
Fact: Opossums are cute

[donnawoodman]

I often wondered what, if any, the difference was between the two words. Now I know so thank you 😊

[hadoke]

Just a few days ago, I was cleaning out my parent's shed in the backyard, got everything out and went to go pick up a broken down heater and low and behold there sat an Opossum, scared the shit out of me, he hissed at me and jumped back and gave him his space. Was not mad at him or anything, totally understand why he would be pissed since we were dismantling his home.

[supersmashbro]

opossums are underrated in their cuteness.
afaik they seem pretty chill. don't threaten them and they won't threaten you.

[mspinkbubbles]

I see these little guys every now and then and yes I do dislike them but looking at this video has changed me view :) hehehe thanks!

[janedunn]

We just had an opossum roaming our yard during for 3 days. We stopped seeing him and hope he’s still alive and well. We’re in Northern Westchester, NY. We were so excited to finally experience one. I did some research online and came across this video. Thank you, Alex Goetz, for educating people. When I told friends of our recent visitor a few asked, “What are you going to do?” I remarked that we have 2 acres of woods, why do I have to do something? Now, I know more and will spread the fact they eat lots of tick since we are in prime Lyme country.