Technically, I think this is considered a “juvenile” opossum. It’s just at that age where it can leave it’s mother’s back and go out for a bit on it’s own.
He/She keeps showing up in our yard and since our dogs are WAY too friendly they all get along. At the time I took this photo, the opossum was maybe big enough to fit into both my hands (not counting it’s tail length). The older opossum we’ve seen around for the past few years is most likely it’s mother. She nor this guy was aggressive.
We have checked with our vet. The dogs are up to date on all their shots and medications, plus ticks aren’t a thing down here in coastal Texas and the vet said that opossom’s body temperature is too low for rabies.