Number of young: Females may bear up to 20 young, but generally about 8 joeys will survive. The captive specimens have a maximum life expectancy of about 4 years. Live Weird, Die Young: The Virginia Opossum | The Outside Story Let us consider the similarities and differences. If a pregnancy does not occur within the 36 hours or so she is in heat, she will continue to enter estrus in 28-day cycles until breeding is successful. The young opossums will produce sneeze-like sounds when they call out for their mothers. Heres an interesting question, is it possible to convert an opossum into a household pet? The opossum shares a common ancestor with the possum of Australia and nearby islands. You may wonder whether or not this nocturnal animal poses any danger to your pets and family. As the Opossum Society of the United States points out, it is illegal in most states to keep opossums as pets. One of the most obvious adaptations of the opossum is its pouch. The opossum is found in North America, South America, Australia, and Oceania. This makes their diet varied, and they are considered omnivores. Furthermore, having moved from its natural habitat to the borders of cities and towns, the opossum also feeds on leftovers from food and the remains of other animals. But theyre not rodents even though they look similar in many ways. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. What if this growling scavenger carries diseases? Monarch Butterfly In the absence of predation, island opossums have been subjected to natural selection, resulting in a group with a longer lifespan. Opossums have been referred to as living fossils, with remnants found preserved from the Interglacial Pleistocene era, 40,000 to 100,000 years ago, and are so well adapted that they can integrate themselves into many biomes but prefer wet areas with vegetative cover. The oldest reported opossum in captivity was four years and five months old. Opossums need a lot of exercise and a regular diet. Known, Red foxes are an iconic species found across much of the Northern Hemisphere, from North America, What do Possums Eat Possums Diet What to Feed Possums, How Long Do Grasshoppers Live Grasshoppers Lifespan, How Long Do Polar Bears Live Polar Bear Lifespan, Polar Bear Life Cycle Birth to Death, Stages, Facts, Diagram, Worksheet, Adaptations Of A Grizzly Bear Behavioral, Structural & Physiological, How strong are gorillas compared to humans, Adaptations Of A Red Fox Behavioral, Structural & Physiological, Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears Mate: An In-Depth Look at Hybrid Bears, How Strong Is A Praying Mantis Unraveling the Secrets of Natures Powerful Predator, Adaptations Of A Wolf Behavioral, Structural & Physiological. The ring-tail opossums, like gliders, are less vocal and produce the soft call. In the UK, you actually have to apply for a license to own certain wild animals. There are over 100 different opossum species, ranging in size from the pocket-sized pygmy opossum to the domestic cat-sized Virginia opossum. They are omnivores, eating almost anything, live in a wide variety of habitats, and have many adaptations including a pouch for their babies (joeys) and the response to play dead. However, in the wild, opossums have a much lower life expectancy and do not commonly make it past their first year. ), snails, mice, and rats. They generally live for about 2 4 years. It would be best to look closely at an opossum when they are in this state. When confronted by other wild animals or predators, they usually play dead. Opossums in the wild, on the other hand, have a significantly shorter life expectancy and seldom survive through their first year. Basically, their survival instinct sucks! Generally, the opossum lives in forests or swamps that get plenty of rainfall, but they are wildly adaptable and able to live among humans in open country as well as urban areas. Compared to any other mammal, opossums kill and eat significantly more ticks. How long does a possum live in captivity? Another factor that can contribute to the short lifespan of possums is exposure to harsh weather conditions. They will remain with their mother until they are 3 to 4 months old. Opossums start life small, often the size of honeybees, and grow to the size of a cat. Piggyback. The male opossum detects a female in heat while foraging at night. The ones that are lucky enough to locate a teat will increase their chances of making it into adulthood. The lifespan of an opossum is relatively short for a mammal of its size. Possums are not well-adapted to extreme cold or heat, and they can suffer from exposure to these conditions. With 50 teeth in their mouths, there are many possibilities. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. They are also a source of food for many other predators, including humans. Opossums are primarily nocturnal and are omnivorous, opportunistic hunters and foragers. Its best to bring cat or dog food into the house before dark, so the opossums, skunks, raccoons and foxes of the world wont find it. After birth, the helpless babies must crawl into their mother's pouch in order to nurse and continue development. Moreover, the mother and offspring develop inimitable communication that can be compared to the noises of birds. After some time, its certainly possible for an opossum to convert into a pet. Humans and domesticated animals like dogs and cats also pose a problem to the small opossum. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Opossums are omnivores, meaning that they will eat anything. Domestication takes many many generations of selected breeding by humans and there is a genetic difference between domestic and wild populations. It is recommended to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they are just playing dead. Life Expectancy. The possum can also eat highly toxic leaves. Some pet companies even have formulated opossum food. The popular term playing possum is a well-known colloquialism for a bluff and originated from the unique behavior adopted by the opossum in times of stress. The opossum is the only marsupial, or pouched mammal, found in the U.S. . They set up their nests in trees or forest dens in the fallen hollow logs, piles of bushes, and rock crevices. A well-ventilated aquarium (at least 20 gallons) with a tight-fitting lid or a narrow-mesh wire cage should work well. But opossum droppings are not broken in small pieces and are generally one large dropping. If an opossum lives in an area with remotely no predators, the likelihood of living a full life is much higher than an opossum that lives somewhere with many predators. Weight - Mass, Density & Weight, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. They have a prehensile tail to help with climbing trees. They are often discovered when raiding human garbage bins. The best thing to do upon finding an injured or seemingly dead opossum is to leave it in a quiet place with a clear exit path. Certain species of possum have a prehensile tail, that is to say, it allows them to curl and cling to objects. Diet and life expectancy of possums . - Definition & Facts, What is a Neutron Star? Although some live longer, the average lifespan of the opossum is only 1-2 years. Virginia Opossum Facts, Lifespan, and Habitat - Donna L. Long The Virginia opossum, also called the North American or common opossum, is the only Didelphis species found north of Mexico. This means that even if they eat the remains of an animal with rabies, they don't get sick themselves and don't pass the illness along. They are still highly dependent on their mother. 6 What do possums eat and are they dangerous? Since you may not be feeding them a proper raw prey model diet, you may need other supplements. What should I do if I find an orphaned or abandoned opossum. Dog Can you use a stagecoach day rider on any bus? The marsupial, who is at least seventy million years old, has remained unchanged and maintains the same genetics. Once they have claimed the den, they fill it with grass and dried leaves. Who Would Win An opossum will grow bigger as they mature into adulthood. While you might be able to visit a local pet store and find an acceptable type of pet food for your opossum, there may be some better options as well. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, scientists believe the genetics of the opossum has remained relatively unaltered since they first came about. She has a background in Broadcast Journalism & Political Science from CUNY Brooklyn College. This scenario could cause a lot of stressful problems for opossum pet owners. Their curled-up tails help them to carry the soft materials for nesting. According to the Opossum Society of theUnited States, it is more likely that a dog will kill or injure an opossum instead of the other way around. They dont waste the food that they find. The lifespan of a possum can vary depending on a number of factors, including their environment and access to food and medical care. As mentioned previously, a large number of opossums don't even survive their first year of life. This wild creature has a unique appearance, and most of us enjoy watching marsupials, at a safe distance. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Taurine and other supplements such as calcium are important for opossums. Jack and Jilland Joeys. The opossum is an avid foodie who will eat anything and everything it finds, as you may have noticed by seeing one digging through your garbage can. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Snakes In Massachusetts for instance, any wild or exotic animal that is not on their exotic animal list or domestic list, can not be owned as pets, including Opossums. These environments provide possums with protection from many of the hazards of the wild, as well as regular meals and medical care. For females, this occurs at around 6 months. Tree nests in forestsOpossums are pretty at home in the forest. Its dens may be in wood piles, hollow trees, spaces in buildings, dug burrows, and rock crevices. "Playing Possum." Habitat Size Which is the most effective way to prevent viral foodborne illnesses? Ticks, particularly black-legged ticks such as deer ticks, which are responsible for the transmission of Lyme disease, appear to be a favorite of the opossum. The porbeagle is one of the few sharks that jumps out of the water. Opossums generally have larger litters to increase the chances of survival while investing few resources into parenting. Youll be surprised by the facts you find out, including just how long the opossum lifespan actually is! Gestation is just shy of two weeks. The opossum grows to about the size of a large cat, with an adult weighing around 4-6 kgs (8.8-13.2 lbs) and usually about 76 cm (2.5 feet76 centimeters) in length. These animals are protected from many of the hazards of the wild and have access to regular meals and medical care. A lot of this has to do with external factors that theyre not able to control. This animal is omnivorous; it feeds on fruits and seeds, but especially on insects and other small animals such as frogs, snakes, birds, earthworms, insects, and small mammals. Opossums prefer to sleep alone. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Find out here, NYTimes A Fast Life and Success That Starts in the Pouch, Sciencedirect Miscellaneous small mammal behavior, Cary Institute Opossums: Where Lyme disease goes to die, If you want to know more about why opossums play dead? Home at Last. However, in the wild, opossums have a much lower life expectancy and do not commonly make it past their first year of life. A nearby water source is an important feature when it comes to habitat. They carry their offspring in a pouch, like a kangaroo.Are Opossums Dangerous?This is a frequently asked question, Are opossums dangerous? The answer is that they are not aggressive, but if they feel threatened, they can be dangerous. If you are going to have a pet opossum, then you will need to find a veterinarian in your area that has experience with not only exotic animals but with opossums specifically. Tiger It does not store any personal data. Possums are known to eat large proportions of eucalyptus leaves , ferns , grasses , fruits , mosses , and herbs . They can also be found close by rivers, lakes, streams, or other water sources. Create your account. The majority of the children do not survive into adulthood because they cant locate a nipple there are only 13 nipples. By having your opossum inside most of the time, it would be very challenging for your opossum to receive an appropriate amount of exercise. This type of opossum also imbibes in carrion (already-dead animals) and even garbage. Thank you for reading! Endangered Many don't make it, and even those that do often die in their first year of life. Its fur is more or less dark gray all over its body, except for the face and the throat, which are white in color, and its pink nose. Stay Away! Virginia opossums may be preyed upon by owls, domestic dogs, coyotes, red foxes, raccoons, bobcats, and large snakes.