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Found a Dead Possum? What to Do

Opossums come up a lot in my work — I've mentioned them as one of the animals most often found in a crawlspace, under a deck, or under a porch. They're also one of the more misunderstood animals people find dead in their yard, so this is worth its own honest explanation.

Is It Actually Dead, or Playing Possum?

This is a real, well-documented defense behavior called thanatosis — an involuntary response to extreme fear, not a conscious choice. A "playing possum" opossum typically lies on its side, eyes closed or glazed and unresponsive, breathing shallowly, tongue lolling, body limp, and often releasing a genuinely foul-smelling fluid from its anal glands as part of the act. This state commonly lasts anywhere from a few minutes up to around four hours. If an opossum hasn't moved after several hours, or shows signs of actual decomposition — a different, decay-specific odor, insect activity, sunken eyes — it's genuinely dead. If you're not sure, the safest move is to leave it alone and check back later rather than handling it to find out.

Do Opossums Really Not Carry Rabies?

Opossums have a real, unusually low body temperature — roughly 94 to 97°F, confirmed by a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Mammalogy. Wildlife organizations commonly suggest this may make them a poor host for the rabies virus. I want to be honest about the limits of that claim, though: opossums can contract rabies, it just happens rarely, and I couldn't find a controlled study actually confirming body temperature is the reason why, as opposed to it simply being a widely repeated explanation. The honest version is: confirmed rabies cases in opossums are genuinely rare, but "rare" isn't the same as "impossible."

Are They Actually Good to Have Around?

Opossums eat carrion, insects, and slugs, which is a real, genuine benefit. You may have heard the claim that a single opossum can eat thousands of ticks in a season — that traces to a real 2009 study, but it's worth knowing that a 2021 follow-up study examined the stomach contents of 32 wild opossums and found no ticks at all, concluding ticks aren't actually a preferred food item under natural conditions. Scientists are genuinely divided on this one, so I'd rather tell you honestly that it's disputed than repeat the more dramatic number as settled fact.

Real Health Risks

The clearest, best-documented risk is fleas. The CDC has directly documented opossums as a reservoir host for flea-borne (murine) typhus in a suburban transmission cycle involving cat fleas — though this has mainly been studied and reported in warmer regions like Texas and Southern California, and I couldn't confirm it's a significant concern here in Washington specifically. Leptospirosis is another real risk associated with wild mammals generally, spread through contact with urine-contaminated soil or water. Washington's own wildlife agency is direct about the basic precaution: anyone handling a dead or live opossum should wear rubber gloves and wash their hands well afterward.

What Washington Law Actually Says

Washington law requires notifying WDFW or the Washington State Patrol by phone before removing wildlife found dead on your property — the statute defines "wildlife" broadly enough that opossums fall within it, even though they're classified as "unclassified" wildlife (legal to trap or kill without a permit). I couldn't confirm how strictly this notification rule is actually enforced for an everyday opossum versus a game animal like deer, but it's the law as written, so when in doubt, a quick call is the safer move. Once you're clear to remove it, Washington's general dead animal disposal rule applies the same way it would to a pet — at least three feet of cover, at least 100 feet from any well or water source, disposed of within 72 hours.

What to Actually Do

• If you're not sure it's dead, leave it alone and check back in a few hours before assuming the worst
• Call WDFW or WSP before removing it, since Washington law requires notification before removing wildlife found dead on your property
• Wear rubber gloves if you do handle it, and wash your hands thoroughly afterward
• Keep pets and kids away from the area until it's been removed

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if an opossum is really dead or just playing possum? Thanatosis (playing dead) typically lasts minutes to about four hours. If it hasn't moved after several hours or shows signs of actual decay, it's genuinely dead.

Do opossums carry rabies? Very rarely. Their low body temperature is commonly cited as a possible reason, though I couldn't confirm that's a scientifically proven mechanism — it's a real, low-alarm risk either way.

Do opossums really eat thousands of ticks? That claim comes from a real 2009 study, but a 2021 study found no ticks in wild opossums' stomachs at all — the science is genuinely disputed, not settled.

Do I need to call anyone before removing a dead opossum from my yard? Washington law technically requires notifying WDFW or WSP before removing any wildlife found dead on your property, opossums included.

Found one you'd rather not handle yourself? Call or text (253) 905-2220 or request a quote — I'll take care of it.

Sources: Journal of Mammalogy, Opossum Society of the United States, Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (2021), CDC, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Administrative Code 246-203-121 and 220-400-040.