Meet the Animal Park's Opossum

NATIVE RANGE

Virginia opossums can be found from Costa Rica to Mexico and in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains and north into Ontario, Canada. They were introduced to the U.S. West Coast and British Columbia, and are expanding northward. They occupy a variety of habitats, preferring wet areas like woodlands and thickets near streams or swamps

DIET

They are opportunistic omnivores that eat a variety of foods depending on the season: small mammals, birds, insects, worms, plants, fruits, and seeds. Depending on their habitat, they may also eat reptiles or amphibians. They are scavengers who raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and other containers of human-related resources.

BEHAVIOR

Virginia opossums are solitary and nocturnal, active between dusk and dawn. They don’t hibernate but do reduce their activity during the coldest seasons. Abandoned burrows, buildings, hollow logs, and tree cavities are generally used for den sites.

FASCINATING FACTS

• They are the only marsupial found north of Mexico.
• Their long, hairless tails are prehensile and can help them grip when climbing.
• If caught on the ground and not able to escape, an opossum may become catatonic. Most body functions remain normal, but the animal appears to be unconscious or dead, a behavior that’s given rise to the expression “playing possum.”