Fun Facts:
Opossums can pretend to be dead when they are frightened.
Adults will hiss, screech, show their teeth or run away when threatened or scared.
Females can have 4-25 babies, called joeys, which are only the size of kidney beans!
They are the only marsupials north of Mexico.
They are immune to snake venom!
Adults will hiss, screech, show their teeth or run away when threatened or scared.
Females can have 4-25 babies, called joeys, which are only the size of kidney beans!
They are the only marsupials north of Mexico.
They are immune to snake venom!
Benefits:
Because of their snake venom immunity, researchers are developing affordable anti-venom based on opossum protein, which could help save many human lives.
They are great for gardens! Opossums eat slugs, small rodents, and snails. They will also clean up messes that other critters leave behind as well as decaying fruit that has fallen.
Opossums disperse seeds which benefits ecosystems.
They are great for gardens! Opossums eat slugs, small rodents, and snails. They will also clean up messes that other critters leave behind as well as decaying fruit that has fallen.
Opossums disperse seeds which benefits ecosystems.
Challenges:
They can occasionally get into open garbage cans, but this is rare and is usually the result of another critter.
They may very rarely kill chickens.
They can move into patio spaces and decks.
They may very rarely kill chickens.
They can move into patio spaces and decks.
Tips for living alongside them:
Keep tight fitting lids on garbage cans.
People often kill opossums thinking they carry rabies, but the chances of this are actually almost non-existent.
Leave them be and they will usually move on very shortly.
Keep holes under patios and decks filled.
If an opossum does get in, wait until she leaves the den (about 2 hours after dark,) and then cover the hole with netting or loose straw. This way, if one is still trapped inside, they can dig out, but if one is outside, they won't bother moving it to get back in. If left untouched for a few days, seal the hole.
People often kill opossums thinking they carry rabies, but the chances of this are actually almost non-existent.
Leave them be and they will usually move on very shortly.
Keep holes under patios and decks filled.
If an opossum does get in, wait until she leaves the den (about 2 hours after dark,) and then cover the hole with netting or loose straw. This way, if one is still trapped inside, they can dig out, but if one is outside, they won't bother moving it to get back in. If left untouched for a few days, seal the hole.
Range and habitat
They are widespread, from Costa Rica to Mexico, east of the Rocky Mountains in the US, and north into Ontario, Canada.
They prefer woodlands and thickets near water, and will venture up to an altitude of about 3,000 meters.
They prefer woodlands and thickets near water, and will venture up to an altitude of about 3,000 meters.
sources
Davenport, M. (2015). Opossum Compounds Isolated Help Make Antivenom. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/opossum-compounds-isolated-to-help-make-antivenom/
Siciliano Martina, L. (n.d.). Dedelphis virginiana. Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Didelphis_virginiana/
Virginia Opossum. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/virginia-opossum
What to do about opossums. The Humane Society of the United States. Accessed March 20, 2022. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-opossums
Siciliano Martina, L. (n.d.). Dedelphis virginiana. Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Didelphis_virginiana/
Virginia Opossum. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/virginia-opossum
What to do about opossums. The Humane Society of the United States. Accessed March 20, 2022. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-opossums