Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

The common Opossum is a nocturnal and solitary mammal that is not often seen.  They have long, hairless, prehensile tails which can be used to grab branches and carry small objects.  An adult opossum is too heavy to hang by their tail. The opossum is the only marsupial found in North America.  They are short lived they typically do not live longer than 2 years.

Family:

Didelphidae (American opossums and opossums)

Description:

An adult a possum is 2 to 3 feet long and weighs between four and 12 pounds.  It has any elongated snout, a pink nose, black eyes and prominent, naked black ears. Its head is usually wide and its course body for is mostly grayish white but tends to be darker on its legs. Opossums have 50 teeth and opposable, clawless thumbs on their rear limbs

Habitat:

Opossums and raccoons share similar habitat requirements and both species use similar areas in similar manners.  Good opossum habitat includes a combination of large trees and shrubs tickets.  

These animals can be found in urban areas near human dwellings and garbage dumps, as well as agricultural lands. 

Range:

Prior to the European settlement of North America the opossum was found throughout much of Central and South America and southwestern  United States.  During the 1990s its range expanded northward and westward.   Its northern distribution is limited by winter temperatures and its western distribution is limited by dry, hot climates. The Opossum has been introduced along the Pacific Coast and is currently found from south California to southwestern British Columbia.

Diet:

Its diet includes a wide variety of foods, including insects, earth worms, small mammals, fruits, grains, plants and the flash of any  dead animals it happens to find.

Breeding:

A female opossum usually has two litters per year. Mating occurs in mid-January through February and continues into August. Young under-developed opossums are born 13 days after mating. They migrate to the female's pouch where they continue to develop for several weeks. The young emerge from the pouch when they are 1 1/2 to 2 months old and ride on their mother's back. They are weaned at three months. The adult female mates again soon after the first litter is weaned, and the first litter disperses within one month of weaning. Young from the second litter are weaned and on their own by September or October. There are 8 to 10 young in an average litter (can give birth to up to 50 young).

Comments:

An opossum is a very slow runner and will try to escape predators by climbing the nearest tree. When cornered on the ground, it initially exhibits a threatening posture, hissing and making low growls. If attacked, it generally lies very still as if paralyzed or dead, a habit called playing possum. It also emits a foul smelling substance when threatened. 

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