Opossums 101 (Appearance, Biology, Life Cycle, Habitat, Diet, Behavior)

Opossums are the only marsupial found in Canada and the United States but that doesn’t make them any less pesky. Although there are about sixty different species of opossums, the Virginia opossum is the most common.

They have long, sharp claws on their front paws and tend to be about the size of a common house cat. They have opposable thumbs on their back paws which lack the claws seen on the front.

An opossum’s tail is hairless, and they can use it to grip things which aids in climbing. Their ears also lack hair and they have more teeth in their mouth than any other North American mammal. They are quite puzzling creatures, actually.



Habitat and Diet

Opossums are scavengers who tend to live in wooded areas. They typically stay near a water source and are excellent climbers. Many times, opossums will take up residence int eh hole of a tree as they avoid building shelters themselves. They will, however, inhabit dens that were previously constructed by other animals.

Opossums are omnivores that will eat whatever they can find. They will raid dumpster and eat carrion when they come across it. However, they will also eat fruit and nuts as well as hunt for birds, mice, snakes and other small animals.

Lifecycle

A female opossum may give birth three times annually between January and July. She can have a litter of up to twenty babies but less than half of them will survive long-term. The average litter is around nine.

The babies are about the size of honeybees at birth and they climb directly into their mother’s pouch. This is where they stay for up to one hundred and twenty days. As the babies grow, they will begin to leave the pouch or ride on their mother’s back as she searches for food.

Behaviors

Opossums are best known for playing dead. They are easily frightened and typically use this behavior to deter predators. They can lie lifeless on the ground for five hours without moving. Opossums are actually even capable of secreting a foul-smelling stench to convince predators that they have been dead for a while.

They will also urinate, defecate and belch in an effort to get away. Interestingly, opossums are immune to many venoms that could kill other animals quickly. They can endure a bite from a rattlesnake, a pit viper and even a cotton mouth.

Opossums should never be handled as they have a nasty bite and many of them carry the rabies disease.


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