Are Opossums in Control When They Play Dead? Unraveling the Mystery

Have you ever heard the phrase playing possum? This refers to a behavior of opossums (Didelphimorphia), specifically Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), which are also called North American opossums. When these marsupials feel threatened, they have an unusual reaction: They play dead. This is much different from other animals that run, freeze in place, or become aggressive and go on the attack. So, why do opossums play dead? How long do they stay still on the ground? Is this a successful tactic against a predator’s attack? Read on to get the answers to these questions and uncover more about this mysterious marsupial.

Why Do Opossums Play Dead?

Opossums don’t pose a serious threat to other animals. Adults are between 21 and 36 inches long, including their tail, and weigh 4 to 12 pounds. Males are typically larger and heavier than females. These small mammals move with a slow, awkward gait and are unlikely to outrun a predator.

Playing dead is the most effective way opossums have to protect themselves against predators. Most predators don’t want to eat an animal that’s already dead. So, they usually move on when they encounter an opossum’s lifeless body.

What Does an Opossum Look Like When It Plays Dead?

When an opossum plays dead, it doesn’t just fall over onto the ground. This mammal really looks like it’s dead! Its feet curl up in tiny balls, and its body goes rigid. It opens its mouth like it has just taken its last breath. It may even start to drool. Its eyes may appear glassy or closed. A predator can sniff it, flip its body over, or push it across the ground. An opossum that is playing dead will not move or get up and try to run.

Besides looking dead, an opossum also smells like it’s dead. When they play dead, opossums release a liquid from glands near their tail, which mimics the odor of rotting flesh. The appearance of being dead, combined with the awful odor, has helped countless opossums escape capture. The ability to feign death when threatened is called defensive thanatosis. Playing possum is an idiomatic phrase that means to pretend to be dead. It comes from a characteristic of the Virginia possum, which is famous for playing dead when threatened. Possums can play dead from 40 minutes to four hours. It’s easy to imagine that an opossum jumps up and runs down the trail the moment a predator or threat is out of sight. However, they are in a state of shock, so their body must have a chance to recover.

Is Playing Dead an Opossum’s Only Defense?

Though its ability to play dead is an effective way to deal with predators, an opossum has a couple of other defenses. When threatened by a smaller predator, an opossum is likely to give a low growl to frighten it away. This long-tailed animal may also bare its very sharp teeth at the threat. Whether an opossum growls or plays dead depends on how threatened it feels.

Are Opossums Able to Control This Playing Dead Behavior?

No, opossums are not able to control whether or not they play dead. Playing dead is an involuntary response. This response is triggered when an opossum is cornered or is being stalked by a predator. Some biologists describe this behavior as going into shock or falling into a temporary coma.