Virginia Opossums

STATUSLeast Concern

COMMON NAME (SCIENTIFIC NAME)Didelphis virginiana

DIETthey are opportunistic feeders and eating small animals, insects, fruit, eggs, and carrion.

RANGEVirginia opossums are found in southern Canada down to northern Costa Rica. Their native range is the entire eastern United States.

HABITATThey are typically found in wooded areas near water such as forests, grasslands, and marshes. They are able to adapt to a wide range of environments. They will seek shelter in hollow trees, logs, or even under buildings.

  • Not yet evaluated
  • Least Concern
  • Near threatened
  • Vulnerable
  • Endangered
  • Critically Endangered
  • Extinct in the wild
Virginia Opossums

Physical Description:  

Opossums are a medium sized marsupial distinguished by their long-pointed snout, pink nose, black eyes and ears, and long prehensile tail. They have whitish gray fur and short legs with opposable thumbs on their hind feet. Females will have a fur lined abdominal pouch for their young. They are the size of a house cat weighing up to 15 pounds and about 24-35 inches in length (including the tail).  

Predators: 

Common predators consist of dogs, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and large owls. 

Lifespan: 

Opossums have a short live span of up to 1-2 years in the wild, under human care they can live up to 3-4 years.   

Reproduction: 

Opossums breeding occurs in February to September with females having two litters per year. They have a short gestation period of 12-13 days, where undeveloped young will crawl into the mother’s pouch and continue to develop for two months. After leaving the pouch, the babies will emerge and stay on the mothers back for up to four months. Sexual maturity is reached at 6 months to a year. The babies are called joeys. Opossums are typically solitary animals. 

Fun Facts: 

  • Opossums are the only native marsupial in North America. 
  • They are known for “playing dead” which is an involuntary reflex to a threat. Also known as “playing possum.” 
  • They are resistant to rabies due to their low body temperature.  
  • Opossums can eat up to 5000 ticks in a season. 
  • Opossums are great swimmers due to their prehensile tail helping them propel through water.  

 

Conservation Messaging: 

T- Together with Nature 

Opossums are often seen as pests since they will go through your garbage, garden, get close to humans, and sometimes scavenge throughout the day. Opossums can look scary and mean to people as they will show their teeth to try to scare off predators. However, they are more fearful of you than you are of them and will often “play dead” if nothing else is working. They do not carry any diseases or pose any threats to humans but instead are important at pest control to keep populations at bay. So please keep your distance from them to allow them that opportunity to flee. Ways to co-exist safely with opossums are to keep your outside trash lids secure and keep trash inside your car while driving. Often time’s opossums are killed when trying to eat such things as banana peels or apple cores on the side of the road and often get hit by cars. No matter where you are, always “Leave No Trace.”. If wild animals are not causing damage or posing danger, the best solution is to coexist! 

 

 

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