Opossums are marsupials found across the Americas, from southern Canada through Central and South America. The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial species native to the United States and Canada. These adaptable creatures have distinctive features, including a pointed snout, hairless ears, and a prehensile tail. They have an ability to thrive in diverse environments, from forests and wetlands to human-populated urban and suburban areas.
Daily Habits and Living Spaces
Opossums are primarily nocturnal, most active during the night. Their activity often peaks between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM. During daylight hours, opossums seek out secluded places to rest and avoid predators.
They do not construct their own dens, instead utilizing existing shelters like hollow logs, rock crevices, brush piles, or abandoned burrows. In human-populated areas, they take refuge under porches, in sheds, attics, or garages, adapting to available structures for temporary shelter. Opossums are generally solitary and nomadic, moving frequently between various temporary dens within their home range as food and water sources dictate.
What and How Possums Eat
Opossums are omnivores, consuming a variety of plant and animal matter. Their diet includes insects like crickets, beetles, snails, and slugs, as well as small vertebrates such as mice, rats, birds, frogs, and even snakes. They also eat fruits, berries, vegetables, grains, and eggs. Opossums are opportunistic foragers and scavengers, using their keen sense of smell to locate food, including carrion and human food sources like garbage and pet food. They are known to consume skeletal remains, indicating a need for calcium in their diet.
How Possums Defend Themselves
When threatened, opossums use several defense mechanisms. Initially, they may hiss, growl, or bare their fifty sharp teeth, which are more than any other North American land mammal. If these displays do not deter a predator, they may resort to “playing dead,” scientifically termed thanatosis.
This is an involuntary physiological response, similar to fainting, where the opossum becomes motionless, its body rigid, and its breathing and heartbeat slow to barely perceptible levels. During this state, they may also drool, foam at the mouth, discharge urine and feces, and emit a foul-smelling secretion, making them appear unappetizing to a predator. Their prehensile tail and opposable thumbs on their hind feet aid in climbing as an escape method.
Possums and Their Environmental Role
Opossums contribute to their ecosystems in various ways. As scavengers, they consume carrion, helping to clean up decaying organic matter and potentially preventing the spread of disease. They also prey on insects, rodents, and other small pests, contributing to natural pest control.
While some studies suggested opossums consume many ticks, research indicates ticks are not a preferred dietary item for wild opossums. Opossums also aid in seed dispersal by consuming fruits and berries, aiding plant regeneration. Additionally, opossums have a naturally low body temperature, making them less susceptible to certain diseases, including rabies.