I’m sure they can bite but rarely choose to do so. They would rather cower and “sull” than fight if they can’t run away.
Harmless, yes, but possums have to be among the stupidest animals God ever created.
I see them all the time around here. The cats are highly amused, but I am not, when they walk around on the screened roof of the patio. I am always chasing them around underneath with a broom, so that they don’t plant themselves in the corner under the eaves to take a nap.
They are welcome to stay in my yard and eat all the pesky insects they can find, but stay off my patio roof and out of my garage!
We have the washer and dryer in the garage, and one time there was a baby possum behind them. We could hear some critter scuffling around there, and when I saw it was a baby possum, I opened the side door (right next to the dryer), to let it get free, but it wouldn’t take the hint. I reached behind the dryer with a broom, trying to guide it, and it scooted over the broom and went behind the washer. Stuck the broom behind the washer, and it scooted back behind the dryer. Over and over and over again this happened, and the little bugger was becoming hissing mad at me. It never went to the open door that was right there. Finally, it came out from that side of the dryer, and scooted right past the open door, and ensconced itself underneath a wide shelving fixture that had plenty more space to go back and forth under. So I gave up. I figured it would be best to let it alone, and give it time to calm down and find its own way out.
Not too bright at all. Their mommas aren’t much smarter. I finally saw the baby and its mother out in the yard about an hour later.