Virginia Opossum

 

Playing possum - This phrase has come into common usage as a means of avoiding an undesirable event by playing "dead". When the opossum has exhausted his first methods of survival in the presence of a threat (walking away, climbing a tree, baring his impressive 50 teeth and hissing), he will feign death.  Most predators need to kill as part of the stimulus for eating and will pass on what seems to be carrion (dead animals). The opossum appears to be dead as he lays on his side, doesn't move, tongue hanging out, and emitting a putrid odor. There are differences of opinion as to whether this coma-like state is from an opossum being frightened into shock or a more voluntary reaction under his control. In spite of the fact that he is very good at fooling an observer, he still is no match for determined dogs and automobiles.

 

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The opossum first came to our attention last April 2009. Until we researched this amazing animal, we were very apprehensive about harboring this strange guy in our backyard. We learned that he was actually very clean, does not carry rabies, is non threatening to humans. His diet of small garden pests and carrion means a cleaner, healthier backyard. His paws are too soft to dig, he can't turn over garbage cans, he is quiet and is only an occasional visitor. Interestingly he frequently appeared with a skunk. It was never clear if they simply weren't concerned about each other or if they weren't even aware of being with a fellow forager.

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August 12, 2009 - Here is a juvenile out for an evening meal. He seems much bolder than mama or it could be that she has monopolized the feeder leaving him to rummage on the ground by himself. Oh well, it's a learning experience.

 

Size:	Head and Body Length: 14-20 in      Tail Length: 9-15 in       Weight: 2-15 lb
ID:	Male: Fur is grizzled gray and white in appearance; white hairs are longer than black ones; head white with black, narrow rings around black beady eyes (shine red in light) and darker line in middle of forehead; head white; ears are black usually with white tips; tail (rat-like) is naked and black near base ending in long pink tip;  long snout with four rows of long whiskers and pink nose; 50 teeth (most of any land mammal in North America); short dark legs; feet black with five pink toes; hind feet have opposable inner thumb for grasping; cat sized body Female: Similar to male; only marsupial (pouched) mammal in North America Juvenile: Similar but smaller than adult
Habitat:	Wooded country near water and meadows or suburban neighborhoods; very adaptable and will live almost anywhere that has food, water and potential den sites for shelter
Diet:	Omnivorous; eats wide range of animal and vegetation (will eat almost anything); garbage and carrion; large insects and small animals (snakes, snails, slugs, frogs, birds and moles
Family Behavior:	Mating Habits:  Shortest gestation period of any North American mammal at 12-13 days after mating;  breeds end of winter; male finds female in heat by smell; 1-2 litters (8-16 young with survivors attaching to milk source in pouch) Nests: Builds with leaves carried with coiled-up tail Baby:  Born less than 1/2 inches long and weighs 1/15 oz; blind and hairless; newborns move from under the mother's tail, across her belly hairs and attach to one of thirteen nipples inside her pouch and stay there for 8 weeks until the size of a small mouse and weighing about an ounce; exit the pouch fully weaned after 75-85 days old; ride on mother's back for 4 weeks; fully independent about 3-4 months of age
Activities:	Nocturnal; shy; loners; uses abandoned burrow of other animals in winter (does not hibernate but sleeps more in colder weather); when threatened runs (slow-moving in general), stays and fights (only rarely), climbs a nearby tree (agile climber using prehensile tail for balance) or plays possum (appears dead); hairless tail easily suffers from frostbite; provides excellent rodent control
Predators and Dangers:	Dogs; hawks and owls, fox and coyote; hunted in South (for food or pelt); automobiles (tends to be too slow, when eating carrion found along roads; occasionally hunted for meat
Sounds:	Mostly silent; growls and hisses when threatened; male makes clicking sound when courting female
Range:	Most of Eastern and Central US from southern New England, through southern Ontario to parts of Minnesota and south to parts of New Mexico; some introduction along west coast
Lifespan	2-4 years; high rate of mortality in first year