Opossum


length:
30 - 50in.
weight:
4 - 10 (lbs.)
home range:
10 - 60 acres
description:
About the size of a large house cat with a cone shaped head, pointed snout, beady eyes and a naked scaly tail. Coarse shaggy grayish-white fur. They have a prehensile tail.
Other color variations:
albino

The opossum is the only marsupial in the United States and is a very effective scavenger.

Opossums are omnivorous and will eat just about anything it comes across. Its penchant for carrion also keeps it high on the list of road kills.

Just as it eats almost anything, it will live almost anywhere. It usually adopts abandoned dens or finds a crevice, building or drainpipe to call home.P>

Usually a nocturnal animal, and very slow the opossum is well known for playing dead. Sometimes the sight of a predator alone can cause this reaction. An opossum will growl, hiss and lunge when threatened also.

Opossums breed twice a year and the young are born in only thirteen days. After being born they migrate to their mothers pouch and attach themselves to a nipple where they remain for about 50 - 65 days after birth.

Opossums have many predators and carry leptospirosis and rabies.

Suggested trap sizes: 1 long spring.

Suggested sets: blind set, trail set.


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