Virginia Opossum
Didelphis Virginiana
Written by Kathy Richards
The opossum is the only marsupial (mammal with a pouch) to live in North America. It is originally an animal from the southern US. The first known sighting in New England was in 1921. They live throughout the eastern US and Canada. The opossum is a common animal in Southern New England with the exception of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
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Sergey Yarmolyuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsHABITAT:
The opossum is very versatile and will live near streams, swamps, and farms. They will live in abandoned dens, hollow logs and stumps as well as tree cavities, rock piles and under buildings. They use a different den each night.
BEHAVIOR:
They are primarily nocturnal. They are active year-round but during very cold periods it will spend more time in its den and enter a state of torpor or dormancy (not hibernation).
The opossum is known for playing dead to ward off a predator when they encounter one. This consists of drooling, the tongue hangs out with lips drawn back, looking and smelling dead. This can last 2 min to 6 hrs.
They are very good climbers. Contrary to popular belief they do not use their tail for climbing or hanging (except for the young) but for balance. They are also good swimmers and will swim to escape danger/predators.
Opossums are solitary and do not get along with other adults.
FOOD:
The opossum is an omnivore. They will eat vegetables, fruit, grain, insects, baby birds, snakes, carrion, mice, squirrels, frogs, snails, berries, It is also opportunistic and will eat garbage and roadkill.
PREDATOR:
People, dogs, foxes, bobcats, hawks and Great Horned Owls.
Check out other animals in the exhibits nearby
Gray Fox
Fisher
Long Tailed Weasel