Are There Opossums in South Carolina?
Yes, opossums are common throughout South Carolina, from coastal plains to foothills. These marsupials thrive in forests, suburbs, and urban areas. They are active year-round. If you live in South Carolina, you may encounter one in your yard. This guide covers where to find them, how to identify them, and how to coexist safely with these nocturnal animals.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
Virginia Opossum · Public domain CC0
Virginia Opossum · Public domain CC0
Eastern Virginia Opossum · Millie Basden CC BY
- 472
- GBIF records
Yes, opossums are in South Carolina. Next you'll want:
Yes, opossums are common throughout South Carolina, from coastal plains to foothills. These marsupials thrive in forests, suburbs, and urban areas. They are active year-round. If you live in South Carolina, you may encounter one in your yard. This guide covers where to find them, how to identify them, and how to coexist safely with these nocturnal animals.
Where Opossums Are Found in South Carolina
Opossums are found throughout South Carolina in nearly every habitat type. They inhabit coastal marshes and barrier islands of the Lowcountry, swamps near the ACE Basin, and pine forests of the Midlands. In the Piedmont region, opossums thrive in deciduous forests and extend into the foothills near the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Congaree National Park and Francis Marion National Forest both support healthy populations. Whether along the Savannah River, Pee Dee River, or Catawba River valleys, opossums have successfully colonized suitable habitat. These adaptable marsupials are equally at home in pristine wilderness and suburban neighborhoods. From sea level in coastal areas to mountain foothills, opossums have established populations across the state. Learn more aboutopossum habitats on our wildlife guide.
When Opossums Are Most Active in South Carolina
Opossums are active year-round in South Carolina because the state's mild climate allows them to remain active even during cold months. They are primarily nocturnal, becoming most active during the warmer months from spring through fall. During winter, they rest for extended periods but do not truly hibernate. They may reduce their activity during the coldest weeks but emerge during warmer nights to forage. Spring is the breeding season, and you may encounter opossums more frequently during this time as they search for mates and establish territories. Summer and early fall offer the best times for wildlife watchers to observe them. Visitour South Carolina wildlife hubfor more information about seasonal activity patterns of local animals.
How to Identify an Opossum
Opossums are distinctive and fairly easy to identify once you know what to look for. They are about the size of a house cat, weighing 4 to 14 pounds. Their most recognizable features are a pointed white face, rounded grayish ears, and a pinkish nose. Their fur is grayish-brown on the back and lighter on the underside. They have a long, bare, rat-like tail that lacks fur. Both males and females look similar in coloration. Opossums have short legs and a stocky body. They move with a distinctive slow, shuffling gait. When threatened, they often bare their teeth and hiss. Unlike other marsupials, they do not have a visible pouch from the outside. If you see an opossum, look atour detailed opossum guidefor more identification tips.
Where Sightings Concentrate in South Carolina
Opossum sightings in South Carolina concentrate in areas where forests meet human settlements. They are frequently spotted in suburban neighborhoods with mixed yards, gardens, and shrubby areas. Backyard encounters often occur near compost piles, garbage cans, and garden beds where they forage for food. Wooded areas adjacent to residential zones attract them regularly. In the Lowcountry, they concentrate in cypress swamps and areas near marshlands where food is abundant. Agricultural areas and farms see regular opossum activity, particularly around barns and outbuildings. Parks like Congaree National Park and Francis Marion National Forest have active populations, though you must venture at dusk or night to see them. Storm drains, basements, and crawl spaces provide shelter in urban areas. Your backyard may be ideal opossum habitat if it offers tree cover, food sources, and protective shelter. Check thewildlife page for South Carolinato learn about other common local animals.
Opossum Behavior and Habitat Needs
Opossums are primarily nocturnal scavengers that eat almost anything available. They consume insects, earthworms, snails, mice, and other small animals. They also eat carrion, making them valuable for removing dead animals and reducing disease. Vegetation, nuts, berries, and garbage supplement their diet. Unlike most mammals, opossums are largely immune to rabies due to their lower body temperature. They are generally solitary and have large home ranges that may cover several blocks in residential areas. When threatened, opossums rely on their famous defense mechanism of playing dead or entering a catatonic state called thanatosis. They produce a foul-smelling liquid from anal glands when stressed. Opossums are excellent climbers and often rest in trees or elevated spaces during the day. They do not aggress toward humans and prefer to flee or play dead. They create dens in tree cavities, abandoned burrows, brush piles, or man-made structures. Females raise young in their pouch for about two months.
Living Safely With Opossums
Opossums are beneficial animals that pose no threat to humans or pets in most cases. They are not aggressive and rarely bite unless cornered or protecting young. To coexist safely, secure garbage cans with locking lids and bring them in after collection. Remove pet food from outside overnight and keep yards clean of fallen fruit or seeds. Trim tree branches away from roofs to prevent roof access. Seal gaps in sheds, crawl spaces, and attics with wire mesh or hardware cloth at least a quarter-inch thick. Do not attempt to poison or trap opossums yourself. In South Carolina, opossums are protected from hunting and trapping during most of the year. If an opossum enters your home, open doors and windows to allow it to leave naturally. Contact a licensed wildlife removal service only if the animal cannot leave on its own. Most conflicts resolve naturally when the opossum moves on. These marsupials are protected by state law and regarded as beneficial wildlife. Learn more aboutwildlife protection and coexistence.
Species Easily Confused With Opossums
Several species in South Carolina might be confused with opossums at first glance. Raccoons are similar in size but have a distinctive black mask and ringed tail. Unlike opossums, raccoons are more aggressive when threatened. Woodchucks are stockier and lack the long tail and pointed face. Rats and mice are much smaller and have darker coloring. Young raccoons might resemble young opossums, but raccoon tails are distinctly banded in black and white. Nutrias are larger, more aquatic, and have orange-yellow teeth. Muskrats are smaller and primarily aquatic. Skunks are stockier and have bold white stripes. The pointed white face, thin tail, and grayish-brown fur make opossums fairly distinctive once you see one clearly. Their distinctive shuffle and clumsiness help identify them. Opossums hang from branches by their tail, a habit not shared by most other South Carolina mammals. If you see an animal with these characteristics at night, you likely found an opossum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an opossum's tail do? Opossums have a prehensile tail that helps them balance and climb but is not strong enough to support their full body weight. Is it true that opossums play dead? Yes, when threatened, opossums enter a catatonic state called thanatosis where they appear dead. Can opossums get rabies? Opossums are largely immune to rabies because their body temperature is lower than most mammals. Will an opossum attack my pet? Opossums rarely attack healthy adult pets and usually flee when threatened. They may scavenge around pet food left outside. Do opossums need to be removed? Most opossums need not be removed if they are not causing problems. They actually help control rodent and insect populations. Are opossums endangered? No, opossum populations are stable and often increasing in South Carolina. Can I keep an opossum as a pet? No, it is illegal to keep wild opossums as pets in South Carolina.
Plan your opossum sighting in South Carolina
472 verified opossum records have been logged in South Carolina, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in South Carolina
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Ninety Six National Historic Site · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Congaree National Park · Find hotels
- Cowpens National Battlefield · Find hotels
More places to see opossum
More wildlife in South Carolina