The National Opossum Society welcomes you to the world of the Virginia opossum!





A Short Quiz ...

What animal goes on a honeymoon, and 13 days later gives birth? It lived during the age of dinosaurs: fossil remains have been found from 70 million years ago. It can eat almost anything.

It loves to eat insects (beetles, cockroaches, and so forth).

It eats snails and slugs.

It catches and eats roof rats.

It also eats cat food, dog food, people food.



hind feet!

It is very quiet, although it can make some sounds.

Learning and discrimination tests rank it above dogs, and more on the level of pigs.

Give Up? More clues...

It does not have a territory, but is always on the move, going to wherever the food is. Females stay in a smaller area while they care for their young.

It puts up a terrific bluff if cornered and can give the appearance of being really good at defending itself. NOTE: it is not good at defending itself!

Big Clue!

If attacked and unable to fight or run from danger, it collapses and appears to be dead!

An Opossum? That's right!

Females have litters up to twice a year (the father always skips town!). Babies, typically 5 to 8 in a litter are ready to leave mommy's pouch and walk around out on their own by 4 months of age. That's when they are 7 to 9 inches, nose to rump, and weigh about 10 to 16 ounces.

But 'possum life is rough! Very few survive to become adults. The few that make it are eager to have their own love affairs and repeat Nature's cycle.

Nature is very efficient. If an area will support them (has their favorite foods, water, and appropriate shelter) more opossums survive. If times are hard, fewer will make it.

If a lot of opossums are killed by predators (they have lots of predators- man is one of the biggest) there is more food for those that remain. Then these little furries will reproduce more successfully until they get back to their optimum number; or others will move in to fill the void (or niche) their absence creates. They can be replaced by opossums from outside the area, by rats, skunks cats, crows, raccoons, coyotes, etc.

Fortunately opossums are hardy little animals-; they have to be! In general they present a far lower health risk to humans than do dogs and cats! They seem to have a naturally high level of immunity to most diseases. Example? Opossums are more resistant to rabies than any other mammal; cattle, goats, dogs, cats, sheep, and the ice cream man are far more susceptible to rabies!





are

But they help to maintain a clean and healthy environment. They eat all types of insects, including cockroaches, crickets, beetles, etcetera. They catch and eat rats, roof rats, mice, and they consume dead animals of all types (carrion). They like over-ripe fruit, berries, and grapes. And they think snails and slugs are a delicacy! Nature's little Sanitation Engineers!!

Typically they go about their quiet task late at night, and you usually won't know they were around...unless your dog (being territorial) starts barking, or you happen to take a midnight stroll when one is munching insects or snails in your yard.

What to do if you encounter an opossum...

nothing!

Just watch an enjoy one of Nature's beneficial wildlife species. If you must do something, try counting the thumbs on your feet...

If one has chosen your your garage, attic, or other structure, as its temporary quarters, you may not want it there! There are relatively simple and non-lethal means to get them to leave for more suitable spots in your area.

In the meantime, and BEFORE you have a visitor to those structures, pick up pet food at night, keep lids on garbage cans, and close potential entrance points. You can still enjoy opossums as they wander through your yard, eliminating its various pests as they go through their nightly excursions.

What is the COST of Killing Opossums or Removing them from an Urban Environment?

In terms of the environment , the cost is ... loss of a harmless animal which eats all manner of pests and carrion.



leaving a vacant ecological niche which will be filled by adjacent opossums or by other mammals, such as rats, skunks, raccoons, etc. Opossums do not dig into the soil, nor do they destroy property; the risk of exposure to disease is lowest with them and higher with all other mammals; and they don't have a strong scent.



In terms of tax dollars, the cost is...

loss of North America's only marsupial, and the Earth's oldest surviving mammal family.



significant amounts of public funds and staff time spent by animal control agencies, removing and/or killing opossums;



the loss of these resources, which might have been better used for other purposes, such as rescuing stray or injured animals or impounding dangerous ones.



We must :

learn to live in harmony with our remaining wildlife species.



remember that it's still nice to "stop and smell the roses ", and watch an occasional opossum waddle by.