Playing Opossum
You may have encountered this critter in your travels but you may not realize just how unique it is.
The Virginia Opossum has the distinction of being the only marsupial in North America. This animal has been around since the time of the dinosaurs dating back almost 70 million years.
Despite this ancient lineage, ’possum are relative new comers to the north west. According to Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife these animals were first introduced into the state in the early 1900s as pets and novelties.
Opossum share a similar body type with rats and many people mistakenly believe they are related, but that’s about where the similarities end.
Opossum have personalities similar to cats and tests suggest their mental abilities are slightly greater than that of dogs. They are able to figure out how to open gate latches and hooks.
Thumbs on all four feet allow them to grasp small objects and climb very efficiently.
They have a prehensile tail that they use like an extra hand. (I’ve seen opossum running along on all fours dragging branches and wads of insulation with their tails.)
Opossum are omnivores and will eat almost anything. They are efficient scavengers and will consume carrion, slugs, snails, snakes, frogs, fruit and pet food. They are also effective predators of rats and mice.
They forage constantly and seldom remain in the same place for more than a day or two.
These unique adaptations have allowed them to survive for millennia and still help them survive today.
Opossum are marsupials, which means their babies are born underdeveloped and spend their first days maturing in a pouch.
After mating a mother opossum will carry her young only 12 to 13 days before giving birth to between 3 and 9 bumble bee sized babies.
Once birthed, the young must find their way into the mothers pouch were they attach themselves to a nipple.
They will not emerge from the pouch again until they are about two months old. The young then emerge from the mothers pouch and spend most of their time clinging to her body.
At around 3 1/2 months the young are weaned and left to fend for themselves.
In the wild opossum rarely live beyond 18 months with the oldest known animals not surviving beyond 3 years.
Many predators including coyotes and hawks prey on opossum but the most significant cause of mortality appears to be the automobile.
Opossum have a very low body temperature which likely makes them resistant to contracting rabies and other diseases that can be transmitted to man.
The most significant disease of the opossum appears to be a virus that is occasionally transmitted to horses.
These animals are not typically aggressive unless cornered or fed by humans until they loose their natural instinct to avoid us.
Opossum are not fast runners and when confronted or startled may adopt a death pose that includes falling over and remaining still, drooling, and defecating. This often leads to adverse encounters with dogs. (adverse for the opossum)
If you come upon an opossum the best way to handle the encounter is to leave the animal an obvious escape route.
Never assume an apparently dead opossum isn't faking it to effect an escape.
To reduce the chance of negative encounters there are some basic habits you can adopt.
Bird food, pet food, and trash cans should be kept in sealed containers. (this also helps control rats & mice) Avoid free feeding pets outside or adopt a schedule for feeding your pets, to insure they consume all their food in each setting.<