Opossums

Description

The opossum is the only North American member of the order Marsupialia. Marsupials (or pouched mammals) carry their young in a fur-lined pouch on the belly of the female. The opossum is roughly the size of a house cat, weighing 9-13 lbs., but with a broader body and shorter legs. Its face is white with a pinkish pointed nose, dull orange eyes and paper-thin black ears. It is whitish-gray in the north to nearly black in the south. Its round scaly tail, black at the base and white at the end, is prehensile- adapted to grasp objects. The opossum has the most teeth (50) of any North American land mammal all of which it bears when threatened by potential predators. It has five toes on each foot with an opposable inside toe on each hind foot.

Habitat

The opossum prefers farming areas, but can also be found in woodlands and forests along streams. Food habits and high adaptability to urban areas brings the benign creature close to humans, however it is often unnoticed because it is nocturnal. The opossum will make a den in any suitable place, carrying nest-building materials such as leaves and twigs with its tail. Among favorite nesting sites are in wood piles, hollow logs, beneath outbuildings, in culverts and in brush piles.

Habits

The female opossum bears litters of up to 14 kits, each premature about the size of a honeybee. Immediately after birth the tiny animals crawl their way up the mother’s abdomen to complete their development in the pouch or marsupium. There they attach to the mammae and nurse for several months. After emerging from the pouch, they ride on their mother’s back for another few weeks until they drop off to fend for themselves. They may breed several times a year.

Diet

The opossum is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat, eggs, insects and carrion. It is also a scavenger and will root through loose garbage, compost piles and vegetable gardens. It is advisable to clear pet’s feeding dishes after eating, as the remains will entice opossums to the area.

Common Misconceptions

It is not true that opossums hang by their tails. When learning to climb, very young opossums will use their tails to break their falls and stabilize their movements. They may even be suspended by their tails while they regain their footing. The tail is not strong enough to suspend an adult.