They have natural immunity

First and foremost, one of the most interesting facts about opossums is they have natural immunity. Opossums are often mistakenly thought to be disease-bearers due in part to their looks. But because of their generally low body temperatures, opossums rarely carry the lethal rabies virus. Opossums are significantly less likely to be rabid than bats, raccoons, and skunks when compared to other wild animals. However, opossum feces can infect humans with diseases like leptospirosis or Salmonella. Additionally, they frequently carry fleas to domesticated animals.

Opossums are frequently bitten by bees and scorpions, but they are remarkably resilient to their venoms. Despite being often bitten by ticks, they rarely contract Lyme disease. In actuality, they frequently consume the ticks before they have a chance to transmit the disease. Opossums are particularly strong against snakes. They are either completely or partially immune to the venom that rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and other pit vipers produce. The peptide identified in opossums is being recreated by scientists in an effort to create a low-cost rattlesnake antivenom.