Can you keep an opossum as a pet?

While it is legal to own an opossum in some states, it is generally not recommended to keep one as a pet. Opossums are wild animals and may not adapt well to a domestic environment. Additionally, there are certain health and safety risks associated with keeping opossums as pets.

Some of the concerns include:

1. Disease:

Opossums can carry diseases that can be harmful to humans. Some of these diseases include tularemia (a bacterial infection), which can lead to symptoms such as fever, chills, aches, and skin ulcers; leptospirosis (a bacterial infection), which can cause high fever, headaches, muscle pain, and nausea; and relapsing fever (a bacterial infection), which is associated with recurrent episodes of fever, body aches, and headaches.

2. Sharp Teeth and Claws:

Opossums have very sharp teeth and claws. These can cause severe injuries to the owner if the opossum accidentally bites or scratches them.

3. Strong Odor:

Opossums can release a strong, unpleasant odor that can be difficult to eliminate.

*4. Destructive Behavior:

Opossums are not very trainable and can be quite destructive to furniture and other household items.

Due to these potential risks, it is generally best to leave opossums in the wild where they can thrive naturally.