awesome opossums.

An opossum in a tree branch in winter at Crow’s Nest Preserve

Opossums are the only marsupial in North America, in the same family as kangaroos, koalas, and wombats. They are often misunderstood, so here are some facts about these remarkable creatures. Or scroll down to view a video presentation all about opossums. 

• Opossums are mammals, which means they have fur and feed their offspring milk.
• Opossums in our part of the world are Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), different from their counterparts in Australia, the possum (no ‘O’) (Trichosurus vulpecula). They are in the same class but different order.
• The name opossum is derived from Powhatan language, meaning “white dog” or “dog-like beast”—likely due to their size and resemblance to our canine friends.
• Opossums are variable in size but generally the size of a house cat or small dog (4-7 pounds). Males tend to be slightly larger, and opossums are also larger in the northern range and in urban areas.
• They are largely nocturnal but can be out during the day; an opossum seen in the daytime is NOT generally sick.
• Opossums are omnivores; they will eat anything that fits in their mouths.
• You may have seen posts on social media about the amount of ticks opossums consume. However, scientists haven’t concluded that these marsupials favor them as food. A study of more than three dozen wild opossum stomach contents did not include ticks.
• Opossums have a marsupium, which is derived from the Greek word for “pouch.” Baby marsupials are referred to as joeys.
• Marsupial reproduction is unique among mammals. They have a poorly developed or no placenta and can have up to 20 babies at one time. Yet only one in 10 survive to adulthood.
• Their young are born altricial, meaning they are fully dependent on their parents for their care. When born, they’re the size of a honeybee.
• Joeys stay in the pouch for 2.5 months, then are carried on their mother’s back.
• Mother opossum will lick a trail from her marsupium (pouch) to her teat for the babies to show them the way to nurse.
• Breeding season is from December through October, with two to three litters each year.
• Opossums only live a year or two. As they age, they have a high chance of blindness and often get cloudy, crossed eyes. They are also prone to arthritis, which makes predation rates higher.
• They are perhaps best known for “playing opossum,” an extreme fear response where they feign death. Their heart rate and breathing will slow and their bowels release, as if they have truly died. This can last for hours.
• Opossums are very slow creatures, which sadly means they are no match for cars on busy roads.
• These amazing animals are naturally resistant to rabies due to a lower body temp (94-97 degrees).
• They were once a popular game animal, introduced during the Great Depression to the West Coast. “Possum Pie” appears in cookbooks from this time.

Anatomy of the Opossum

• Opossums have 50 teeth—the most teeth out of any North American mammal (even more than humans, which have 32).
• Their prehensile tails allow them to grip and wrap (but they do not sleep upside down as seen in some depictions).
• Their skulls have a large sagittal crest or “bone mohawk.”
• They have 13 nipples, 12 in a circle and one in the center.
• Their pawprints have five toes on the front and five on the back with opposable digits sticking out to help them climb.
• Each toe has a claw except the opposable back toes.

Learn even more by watching this presentation about opossums by Julie Travaglini, senior director of education and curriculum for Allegheny Land Trust.