Symptoms of Sick Opossums

Rabies is always the biggest concern when it comes to sick wild animals, and the opossum is no exception. The great news is that rabies in opossums is rare, as the virus does not survive long in the opossum’s low body temperature. That being said, there is always a chance, and one should exercise caution around any wild animal, healthy or sick. 

Leptospirosis is a nasty bacterial disease that can cause a lot of damage to humans. Kidney damage, liver failure, respiratory issues, meningitis, and eventually death can all happen to someone exposed to this illness. Opossums can only transmit it to humans through their urine. Humans can get it if they come into contact with urine that has been on the ground, or water near where the opossum urinated.

This disease can be passed to humans by coming into contact with infected tissue, scratches, or bites. In the same spirit of leptospirosis, you can also get this disease by coming into contact with any soil or water that has been contaminated by this disease. If left untreated, tularemia can cause skin ulcers, fevers, chills, body soreness, and a multitude of other nasty symptoms. This is yet another example of why it is so important to be cautious around opossums, sick or not.

This disease is not so much caused by opossums directly, but by the parasites they carry. Fleas and other small creatures carry this disease, and if a flea-infected opossum comes into contact with a human, these fleas can transfer murine typhus bacteria to the human. As it is a form of the typhoid fever, if left untreated, it can cause body aches and pains, chills, fever, and many of the common bacterial type fever symptoms.

Always treat every opossum as if it is sick. Even if the opossum looks perfectly healthy, it could be an asymptomatic carrier of a disease. There is no room for being complacent around sick or even dead opossums, as these diseases are nasty and can wreak havoc on a human.

There are many symptoms to look for when determining whether or not an opossum is sick, including:

• Fur discoloration, manginess, and/or balding
• Ulcer-like spots or sores on the skin 
• Very lethargic, tired behavior
• A very aggressive opossum, as they are usually docile
• Dead opossum; treat every dead opossum as a hazardous material
• Lots of saliva
• Diarrhea 
• Throwing up
• Wheezing sound when breathing