Why do opposums play dead?

The most important reason why opossums play possum is to avoid conflict. It is a defense mechanism that helps to avoid a deadly encounter with a predator or a human. Predators tend to focus their attention on larger meals as they take more time to catch and kill. They also leave less of a chance of the predator facing injury to themselves.

It is also believed that playing dead is an effective way to deceive predators. Predators are often deterred by the smell or sight of a dead or rotting organism, and they will leave the opossum alone. When an opossum plays dead, it releases a foul smell that mimics the scent of a dead animal, which further discourages predators.

Additionally, playing dead can also help opossums conserve energy. When an opossum plays dead, it dramatically reduces its heart rate, breathing, and muscular activity. This helps to conserve the opossum's energy and allows it to recover from the trauma of the attack as it pretends to be deceased until the threat has passed.