| Appearance: |
The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial that is
native to the United
States. Opossums are generally light gray in color with phases of
darker colors throughout. The tail is hairless and the female has a
well
developed marsupium pouch. The adult opossum is about 12 inches in
height
and about 32 inches long including the 12 inch tail. The opossum have
sharp
teeth with 10 upper incisors. Body weights vary from 2-12 Lb.. |
Breeding
Information: |
Breeding seasons for opossums is usually from February-
June and they
can have 1-2 litters per year. Litters of 5-13 or more are common.
Newly
born opossums are kidney bean sized at birth. They climb into their
mothers
pouch as they futher develope. The young become independent at about 14
weeks old. |
| Activity |
Opossums are active year round and are nocturnal
emerging from their
dens at dusk and return by dawn. Opossums do not hibernate, however
during
extreme weather they may stay in dens for weeks at a time using up
stored
body fats. They are slow of foot and are unwary. Opossums will often
employ
threats or play dead to avoid predation. Home range can be 6-7 acres
but
the area can be smaller or larger depending available food sources. |
| Diet: |
Opossums are true omnivores and will eat almost any
food source including:
garbage, fruit, vegetables, green plants, insects, snakes, frogs, fish,
crustaceans, mushrooms, eggs, birds and small mammals. |
| Distribution: |
Opossums are found throughout most of the eastern half
of the United
States. |
| Damage: |
Opossums nest in crawl spaces and attics of homes and
commercial buildings.
They can also be found in dens under ground, below sheds and in hollow
trees and logs. They can cause structural damage. Opossums will dig up
beautiful lawns in search of earthworms and grubs. They frequently raid
garbage cans and tear open plastic bags set out for disposal. |
| Diseases: |
The Opossum is known to carry tularemia, leptospirosis,
relaspsing
fever, murine typhus and rocky mountain spotted fever. They are often
infested
with many ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas. |
