Possums are unique marsupials found across diverse environments. These adaptable creatures thrive in various settings. They are the only marsupial species found north of Mexico, specifically the Virginia opossum in North America.
Their Diverse Diet
Possums are omnivores, consuming a wide array of foods. Their diet includes insects like beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and cockroaches. They also consume small animals such as mice, voles, lizards, frogs, birds, and their eggs. Possums are known to eat snakes and possess an unusual resistance to certain snake venoms.
Beyond animal matter, possums forage for plant-based foods. This includes fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, and grains. They also consume leaves, blossoms, and other vegetation. In human environments, they scavenge for discarded food, including pet food, birdseed, and table scraps. They also consume carrion, or dead animals, which helps clean ecosystems.
Preferred Habitats and Shelter
Possums are highly adaptable in their choice of living spaces, inhabiting a variety of environments. They are commonly found in wooded areas, particularly near streams, ponds, lakes, swamps, and marshes, where water and cover are abundant. Beyond natural settings, possums adapt to suburban gardens and urban areas. These human-modified landscapes provide available food sources and shelter opportunities.
For denning, possums do not construct their own burrows. Instead, they utilize existing shelters. These can include tree hollows, fallen logs, rock crevices, and burrows dug by other animals. In residential areas, they often seek refuge in human structures, such as attics, sheds, garages, and spaces under decks or porches. They may line their dens with insulating materials like leaves and grass.
Nocturnal Habits and Activities
Possums are primarily nocturnal, active at night. This helps them avoid many daytime predators and capitalize on cooler temperatures. Their eyes are adapted for low-light conditions. While typically active at night, it is not uncommon to observe possums during the day, especially if food is scarce or they have been disturbed from their dens.
Possums forage for food, utilizing their keen sense of smell. They are skilled climbers, employing their prehensile tails and opposable thumbs on their hind feet to navigate trees and other structures. Possums generally lead solitary lives, interacting with others mainly during breeding seasons. A notable defensive behavior is “playing possum,” an involuntary response to extreme threat where they enter a catatonic state, appearing deceased and sometimes emitting a foul odor.