Do opossums really eat ticks?
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a careful groomer. While cleaning itself, it does swallow some of the ticks that try to feed on it. So the short answer is yes, opossums eat some ticks. The bigger question is whether they eat enough to truly protect your yard. That is where the popular story falls apart.
Where did the "thousands of ticks a week" claim come from?
A widely shared figure, often quoted as several thousand ticks per week, traces back to a single laboratory study from around 2009. In that experiment, captive opossums were exposed to ticks. Researchers then estimated a large number from how many ticks the animals groomed away. The eye-catching per-week figure that spread online came from that controlled setup. It was not a measurement of wild opossums going about their lives.
What does newer research say?
More recent field research has cast real doubt on the claim. Scientists examined the stomach contents and droppings of wild opossums. They found few ticks, or even none. That suggests opossums are not eating ticks in anything like the numbers the viral figure implied. The fair, honest summary today is simple. Opossums remove some ticks through grooming. But they are probably not the tick-vacuuming superheroes the popular claim suggested, and you should not rely on them as a tick-control strategy.
Why are opossums still good to have around?
Even setting the tick numbers aside, opossums bring benefits to a yard:
- They are generally docile, non-aggressive, and only rarely carry rabies, partly because of their naturally low body temperature.
- They eat insects, slugs, snails, carrion, and overripe fallen fruit, helping clean up a yard.
- They typically do not gnaw into structures the way some rodents do.
Do opossums help with ticks in any other way?
There is another angle beyond grooming. Ecologists often describe opossums as poor reservoirs for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. In other words, ticks that feed on an opossum are less likely to pick up the pathogen than if they fed on certain other animals, such as white-footed mice. This is a separate point from the "how many ticks do they eat" question. It is one reason biologists generally view opossums as neutral-to-helpful members of a backyard ecosystem, even if they are not the tick exterminators the internet made them out to be.
Should I attract or remove them?
If an opossum is just passing through, it is usually best to leave it alone. Opossums and other wildlife may be protected under state law. The rules on trapping or relocating them vary widely. So contact your state wildlife agency or a licensed wildlife professional before taking any action. Attracting wildlife on purpose is generally not a good idea, since it can create other nuisance or health issues.
How should I actually control ticks?
Rely on proven, direct measures rather than on wildlife:
- Keep grass short and remove leaf litter and brush where ticks shelter.
- Create a dry barrier between lawn and woods.
- Do regular tick checks on people and pets, and use EPA-registered repellents according to the label.
