Opossums, the only marsupials native to North America, are recognized by their pointed snouts, prehensile tails, and grayish-white fur. These adaptable animals are widespread across diverse habitats, from woodlands to suburban areas. They are opportunistic omnivores and scavengers, consuming insects, fruits, small animals, and carrion. Their nocturnal habits mean they are most active under the cover of darkness, foraging for food during the night.
Predators on the Ground: Mammals
Mammalian predators pose a substantial threat to opossums. Coyotes are common predators that use their keen senses to locate opossums. While opossums may hiss and bare their teeth, these bluffs are typically ineffective against larger canids. Coyotes can easily overpower an opossum, which averages between 4 to 15 pounds, compared to coyotes weighing up to 50 pounds.
Red foxes also prey on opossums. Foxes are cunning hunters that use their superior sense of smell to find opossums in burrows and tree hollows. Although smaller than coyotes, foxes can overcome opossums, especially if encountered during the day when less active. Bobcats, another feline predator, are skilled nocturnal hunters that can take down opossums. Larger felines like cougars may also prey on smaller or young opossums, and domestic dogs can pose a threat.
Threats from Above and Below: Birds and Reptiles
Opossums also face threats from avian predators, particularly large birds of prey. Great Horned Owls are formidable nocturnal hunters known to include opossums in their diet. Their silent flight and acute hearing allow them to locate prey even in complete darkness, making them effective against slow-moving opossums.
Hawks can also prey on opossums, especially younger or smaller individuals. These birds spot targets from a distance and use sharp talons to seize prey.
Reptilian predators, primarily large snakes, can also be a danger to opossums, particularly in warmer climates. Snakes, acting as opportunistic hunters, may prey on young or incapacitated opossums. While not a primary food source, venomous snakes might attack opossums. Venomous bites can incapacitate or kill an opossum, though such encounters are less common than those with mammalian or avian predators.
How Opossums Evade Their Hunters
Opossums employ a range of behavioral and physiological strategies to avoid predators. One widely recognized defense is “playing dead” or thanatosis, an involuntary physiological response to extreme fear. When threatened, an opossum may fall over, become limp, and appear lifeless, with its breathing and heart rate slowing. To enhance this illusion, the opossum might drool, loll its tongue, and excrete a foul-smelling fluid, mimicking a deceased animal. This state can last for minutes to several hours, often causing predators to lose interest.
Opossums have other defensive behaviors. When confronted, they may hiss, growl, and display their 50 sharp teeth as a warning. If this bluff fails, they might attempt a false charge or bite if directly attacked. Their nocturnal nature helps them avoid many diurnal predators. Opossums are also skilled climbers, using their prehensile tails for balance as they ascend trees to escape ground threats. They seek refuge in hollow trees, burrows, or dense brush piles during the day to remain hidden.