GENERAL INFORMATION

The opossum is the only marsupial found in North America.  Like other marsupials such as the kangaroo and the koala, opossum young are born very early and undergo most of their development in the mother's abdominal pouch.

DESCRIPTION

The opossum is a medium-sized mammal about the size of a domestic cat. Adult opossums average about 28 inches in total length including the foot-long tail and generally weigh around 4 to 5 pounds. Males are usually slightly larger than the females. The fur is white at the base with black tips and interspersed with longer white guard hairs, giving the opossum an overall grizzled appearance. The hair on the face is short and white and the snout is pointed. The ears of the opossum are short, leathery, and unfurred, black at the base with pinkish-white tips. The tail is long and scaly with only a few scattered hairs, also colored black at the base and pinkish-white elsewhere. The legs of the opossum are short and the front feet are quite dexterous, allowing the opossum to grasp and hold food in its front paws. The hind feet sport a thumb-like opposable toe without a claw. Female opossums have a fur-lined pouch located on the underside of the abdomen. The underside of the adult male opossum's neck is stained yellow from a gland located beneath the skin.

HABITS AND HABITATS

The opossum is found throughout most of the eastern United States and has expanded its range to the north and to the west. It is very common throughout most of its range and is an extremely adaptable animal, often living in very close proximity to humans. Its preferred habitat is forested areas close to water. It is a nocturnal mammal feeding on a wide variety of items including fruits, berries, and other plants, insects, earthworms, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and small mammals. It does not hesitate to feed on carrion and is often encountered searching for dead animals along roadways. Opossums are active year-round but often den up when the weather is extremely cold. They will utilize just about any sheltered location for a den including hollows in trees and fallen logs, rock cavities, brush piles, and the burrows of other animals. Denning sites are changed frequently. The opossum uses its prehensile tail to bring nesting material such as leaves, grass, and other material into the den and does not use its tail for hanging contrary to popular belief. Opossums begin breeding in late winter and early spring. Two to three litters a year are born after a gestation period of only 12 to 13 days. The young are largely undeveloped at birth except for their mouth and front legs. They crawl along a
pathway licked by the mother from the genital opening to the pouch and then attach themselves to one of the teats, which usually average 13 in number. Litters often number more than the available teats. Those young failing to find a teat will perish. The young opossums remain attached to the teat for about 2 months.   Not long after this, they begin to move around within the pouch and may leave the pouch briefly to climb about on the mother's back when they are around 3 months old. Eventually as they ride about on the mother's back they begin to fall off and are then left to fend for themselves

HISTORY

The opossum is often referred to as 'possum by many people, particularly those living in the southern states where the opossum is particular common. They are often mentioned in folklore and other stories, resulting in many interesting but common misperceptions. One is the belief that the male opossum breeds the female through her nose and then she sneezes the young into the pouch! This tale came about because of the unusual bifurcated or forked penis of the male opossum. Opossums are sometimes trapped for their fur, and in some areas of the south, opossums are still relished for their meat. Since opossums often live close to humans, people sometimes encounter them as they raid backyard garbage cans, food left out for domestic pets, or even bird feeders. Most folks are probably more familiar with a dead opossum than a live one since many of them are killed along our highways as they attempt to cross or as they feed on other road-killed animals.

INFORMATION LINKS

'Possum Network
National Opossum Society

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©2002 WNC Nature Center