The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a unique resident of North America, holding the distinction of being the continent’s only native marsupial. These animals are recognizable by their grayish-white fur, pointed white face, and long, hairless tail. Opossums originated in warmer climates, leading many to assume they could not thrive in northern regions. The species has historically been associated with the southern United States, making its successful establishment in a state like Minnesota a recent biological surprise.
Distribution and Range in Minnesota
Opossums are established residents of Minnesota, though their presence is relatively recent in the state’s history. They arrived in the southeastern part of Minnesota around the turn of the 20th century and have been steadily expanding their territory northward. Their current range encompasses most of the southern two-thirds of the state, including the major metropolitan areas where human development provides abundant resources.
The northward expansion is closely linked to two primary factors: changes in climate and increasing urbanization. Warmer average winter temperatures reduce the limiting effects of extreme cold, which traditionally halted their spread. The availability of consistent food sources and sheltered den sites in human-settled areas—like suburbs and agricultural zones—has facilitated their movement.
How They Survive Northern Winters
The opossum’s physiology is not naturally adapted for enduring the extreme cold of a Minnesota winter. Unlike many northern mammals, they do not hibernate; they remain active year-round and must forage for food. Their fur provides only limited insulation, and their body temperature is naturally low, which makes them highly susceptible to hypothermia.
A major challenge is the vulnerability of their naked extremities, particularly their ears, toes, and prehensile tail, to frostbite. Many opossums observed in Minnesota have damaged or missing parts of these appendages due to exposure during severe cold snaps. To mitigate the risk, they seek out existing, well-insulated den sites, such as hollow logs, abandoned animal burrows, or spaces under buildings and porches. They use their specialized tails to gather and carry nesting materials, like dry leaves and grass, to line their winter dens for additional warmth. While they may shelter for several days at a time during blizzards or intense cold, they must eventually venture out to find sustenance.
Common Behavior and Human Interaction
Opossums are solitary creatures that are primarily nocturnal. They are opportunistic omnivores with a varied diet, consuming insects, fruits, grains, eggs, and carrion. This scavenging behavior often brings them into contact with human environments, where they consume fallen bird seed, pet food left outdoors, and discarded garbage.
They are beneficial neighbors due to their meticulous grooming habits, which are highly effective at controlling ticks. Studies suggest that opossums are capable of removing and consuming a vast majority of the ticks that attempt to feed on them, thereby limiting the spread of tick-borne diseases. When threatened by a predator, their defense mechanism, “playing possum,” is an involuntary physiological response of entering a catatonic state. Due to their unusually low body temperature, opossums are naturally resistant to the rabies virus, making transmission of the disease to humans or pets an extremely rare concern. To avoid conflicts, residents should secure trash cans with tight lids and refrain from leaving pet food outside overnight.