06/04/2026
They may look like giant white rats but theyre the best defense we have against ticks and other pest. If you see one out during the day get it some water and give it some distance.
An opossum lying in the shade with its mouth hanging open can look alarming.
Most people immediately think: rabies.
But in most cases, that's not what you're seeing at all.
🌡️ Opossums struggle in hot weather. Unlike many mammals, they have very limited ways to cool themselves down. On a hot afternoon, they may drool, open their mouths, and become sluggish as they try to lower their body temperature.
During spring, the challenge is even greater for mothers carrying a pouch full of developing joeys. Their bodies are already working overtime, and an unexpected heat wave can push them close to their limits.
If you find an opossum panting in the heat:
💧 Place a shallow bowl of water in a shaded area nearby
🌳 Give the animal space and access to shade
🚫 Don't spray it with water
🚫 Don't try to pick it up or move it
📞 If it is still there the following morning, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator
Opossums are some of nature's most overlooked helpers.
They clean up carrion, eat fallen fruit, reduce slug populations, and quietly move through our neighborhoods without causing the damage many people assume they do.
That open mouth isn't a threat.
It isn't usually disease.
It's often an animal simply trying to survive a temperature its body wasn't built to handle.
Sometimes the best wildlife rescue is surprisingly simple:
A bowl of water.
A patch of shade.
A little understanding.
🖤 Wildlife doesn't always need saving. Sometimes it just needs a chance.
