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North Carolina Wildlife Federation
The opossum deserves better PR. Yes, they raid garbage cans. They hiss when they feel threatened. And their tendency to
North Carolina Wildlife FederationOctober 2, 2026

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The opossum deserves better PR.

Yes, they raid garbage cans. They hiss when they feel threatened. And their tendency to “play dead” probably hasn’t done much for their reputation. But there’s a lot more to Virginia opossums than meets the eye. 👀 They feed on snails, mice, cockroaches, slugs, and other small animals. And they’re remarkably resistant to the venom of North Carolina’s venomous snakes and have even been known to eat copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes. One thing they get blamed for? Seeing one during the day doesn’t mean it has rabies. Maybe one of North Carolina’s most misunderstood neighbors deserves a second look. What do you think?
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