What’s an Opossum, Anyhow?

Merriam-Webster defines an opossum as “any of a family (Didelphidae) of small- to medium-sized American marsupials that usually have a pointed snout and nearly hairless scaly prehensile tail, are typically active at night, and are sometimes hunted for their fur or meat

especially : a common omnivorous largely nocturnal mammal (Didelphis virginiana) of North and Central America that is a skilled climber, that typically has a white face and grayish body and in the female a well-developed fur-lined pouch, and that when threatened may feign death by curling up the body and remaining motionless and unresponsive”

The plural of opossum is opossums.

The ‘O’ is not silent. 

Virginia Opossum 

What about a possum?

“any of various small to medium-sized, nocturnal, chiefly arboreal marsupial mammals (especially families Phalangeridae, Pseudocheiridae, and Petauridae) of Australia and New Guinea that have thick, soft fur, a prehensile tail, and a rounded head with protruding eyes and that are mainly herbivorous”

The plural of possum is possums.

Common Brushtail Possum

Put simply, the difference between possums and opossums is primarily based on location (US and Canada have opossums whereas Australia has possums). There are physical differences, as well. Australia has 23 species while the only ones on our side of the water are the Virginia opossum.

Basic Facts About the Virginia Opossum

-The ONLY marsupial in North America

-Gestation period is only two weeks 

-Sexual maturity occurs at around one year of age

-Female opossums can have two litters a year

-Newborns remain in the mother’s pouch for about two months 

-Lifespan in the wild is only two-three years

-Grow to about two-three feet long and weigh six-thirteen pounds

-They are nocturnal (primarily active at night)

-Have existed since prehistoric times

-They have fifty teeth, the most number of teeth found in any land mammal

-They are omnivorous scavengers and eat pretty much anything, to include carrion and ticks which helps control the spread of diseases in the ecosystem 

-Much like fainting goats, they have an involuntary self-defense mechanism. Opossums will play dead to avoid prey.

-They have opposable thumbs. This helps them with climbing.

Myths About Opossums, Debunked  

-They do NOT hang from their tails to sleep

-They are VERY unlikely to contract rabies due to low body temperature and amazing immune system 

-They are NOT a nuisance species. They are an important part of the ecosystem and do not cause property damage 

-They do NOT make good pets. These are wild animals and trying to domesticate them will do more harm than good to their survival.