Opossums are present in Utah and have adapted to various environments across the state.
The Utah Opossum Population
The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the species found in Utah. This particular species holds a unique distinction as the only marsupial found in North America. Marsupials are mammals that carry their young in a pouch, similar to kangaroos or koalas.
The Virginia Opossum is roughly the size of a domestic cat. They typically have a grayish-brown coat, with white fur on their faces, and possess long, hairless tails that are prehensile, meaning they can grasp objects and branches. Their ears are also hairless, and they have a long, flat nose. Opossums have 50 teeth, more than any other land mammal in North America.
Where Opossums Live in Utah
Opossums thrive in a variety of habitats throughout Utah. They show a preference for areas near water sources, such as streams, rivers, and wetlands, which provide access to food and cover. Opossums are also frequently found in human-settled areas, including urban and suburban environments, where they can find readily available food sources like pet food, compost piles, and garbage.
They inhabit diverse landscapes, from woodlands to prairies and even marshes. They often seek shelter in hollow trees, logs, rock crevices, or abandoned burrows dug by other animals. It is also common for them to reside under human structures like woodpiles, decks, or sheds. While not originally native to the entire western United States, their range has expanded over time, with populations now established in parts of Utah, including the Wasatch Front.
Living with Opossums
Opossums are nocturnal, meaning they are most active between dusk and dawn. They are solitary animals and are not aggressive. When threatened, an opossum might hiss, screech, or bare its teeth, but it rarely bites. A defense mechanism is “playing possum,” where the animal enters an involuntary, coma-like state, appearing dead, which can last for several hours. This behavior can include drooling and emitting a foul odor to deter predators.
As omnivores, opossums have a diverse diet, consuming a wide range of items including fruits, vegetables, insects, small mammals, birds, eggs, and carrion. Their scavenging habits can be beneficial, as they eat ticks and can even prey on venomous snakes, to whose venom they possess immunity. To humanely deter opossums from properties, remove potential food sources by securing trash cans with tight-fitting lids and avoiding leaving pet food outdoors. Installing barriers around decks or sheds can also prevent them from seeking shelter in these areas. Opossums have a lower body temperature than many other mammals, making them less susceptible to rabies, so cases of rabies in opossums are uncommon.