An Illinois Driver’s Guide to Dealing With Frozen Opossum in the Road

This morning on my way to work, I was driving down Madison Street when I saw a opossum right in my direct path.  It wasn't moving, it actually looked frozen in its tracks.

At first, I assumed it would scurry off like animals do when headlights approach, but as soon as I got closer, it didn't move an inch.  It was just staring into my soul from the middle of the street, trying to decide whether to stay where it was or move out of the road so it didn't get hit.

Get our free mobile app

It didn't move at all. I swerved when I realized this thing was not budging.  Luckily, I barely missed him by a couple inches.

Related: Illinois City Ranks Among Most Pest-Filled in U.S.

Later, I remembered that this is basically what possums do.  When they're scared of threatened, they "play dead", freezing up as a self-defense mechanism.  It's not a conscious choice, but more of an automatic response.

Why it's common for possums to freeze up in the most random places

Possums don’t rely on speed the way raccoons or squirrels do. Their bodies aren’t built for fast escapes, so when they feel threatened, freezing often makes more sense than trying to outrun a predator. This can look odd to homeowners expecting them to sprint, but for possums it’s a survival strategy that works. [treasure-coast]

Read More: Illinois Spring Bug Alert: What to Watch For

So if you were also wondering why so many opossums end up dead in the road or why they freeze up in the most inconvenient places, this is why.  Expect the unexpected!  I heard you can actually pick them up by the neck and move them out of the road when they're frozen, and they won't attack or try to bite because they're frozen.

I wouldn't do it, but I know someone out there will.