Should you encounter an opossum that is sick, injured or is too young to survive on it's own, contact your local wildlife agency for assistance. If you don't know whom to call, check with your state wildlife agency to find assistance in your area. You might also try calling a veterinarian in your area. They can be helpful in directing you to a person who is trained to care for wildlife.

If you happen to see a healthy opossum making nightly rounds, take a few moments to observe this unusual animal.

Appreciate the fact that, as an omnivore, the opossum will eat many of your troublesome garden pests such as snails, rodents, snakes and cockroaches. There is no need to be concerned about the opossum ruining your garden because he or she is not digging animal or an animal that chews on plants.

His evening meal might consist of the food you have put out for your pet or of overripe fruit that has fallen from a tree. Observe him long enough and you might see him climb a fence or a tree.  If he happens to find convenient access, an opossum might wander into your shed, garage or even your house as he searches out a safe, quiet place to sleep.

 As a non-aggressive animal, he will not attack you, your children or your pets. He may look mean if he opens his mouth and shows you his teeth, but this is just an attempt to intimidate you so you will leave him alone. He performs this act only when provoked by what he perceives as a threat. 

If he becomes extremely frightened or stressed, he will faint and go into a comatose state known as "playing possum" until the threat passes. This playing dead routine keeps him safe because most predators will not eat an already dead animal.