The Virginia opossum’s range extends throughout the United States, except in extremely mountainous or arid regions. Though they aren't picky about where they hang out, opossums love trees and will stay aloft in trees as much as possible. They reside in a variety of homes including abandoned burrows, tree cavities, hollow logs, attics, garages or building foundations. Opossums are considered a generalist species that can utilize a wide variety of foods and habitats. Adults weigh from 6 to 15 pounds. What Do Opossums Like to Eat? Learn everything you need to know about opossum facts, behavior and habitat. Prior to European settlement of North America, the opossum was found only in Central America and the southeastern United States. Opossum World is a unique, possum themed educational attraction located in Napier, New Zealand. It is also found in southern Canada. Their colors are more diverse including black, chinchilla gray, and fox silver-gray and gold than those of opossums. As marsupials, the pests carry their young in pouches. They naturally prefer deciduous wooded areas near water sources, but can also be found in farmlands or marshes. They are not adept at digging, so they often utilize burrows that anothe… with moderately long fur that ranges in color from white to dark gray. The only native marsupial (mammals with pouches) in North America, opossums are the size of a large house cat. During the 1900s, its range expanded northward and westward. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the single species found in the United States, but at least 103 species occur in the Western Hemisphere.The word "opossum" comes from the Powhatan or Algonquian name for the animal, which roughly translates as "white dog." Message and data rates may apply. The common opossum and Virginia opossum are found in the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America and Canada. The opossum’s home ranges are more often a longer course rather than a circle shaped course (McManus 1974). Reply STOP to opt out. Zip Code. Thanks to their whole acting-and-smelling-like-a-corpse … The species has expanded its range north and west during the past century. These animals, around the size of a small cat, have 50 teeth. The animal lives in a wide range of habitats, … Opossum World features a vast range of New Zealand manufactured Possum and Merino fashion knitwear available for purchase online. Opossums are excellent climbers and will climb trees or hide in bushes when chased. Typical opossum litter sizes range from as few as 4 to as many as 25 joeys. The size of a house cat, males average about 3 kg (6.6 pounds), females about 2 kg (4.4 pounds). Geographic Range. Range Opossums are found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, south through Central America. The opossum’s ancestors evolved in South America, and the creature invaded this continent about 800,000 years ago, following the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. It is also found in Mexico and Central America. First name. Opossum A relatively new mammal to Maine, ‘possums’ have expanded their range northward to become residents here. THEY’RE CONSTANTLY SELF-GROOMING. They have become very common in urban, suburban and farming areas. Opossums were once uncommon in northern portions of the United States. Opossums, sometimes mistakenly called possums, are marsupials native to the Americas. Both a local / tourist attraction and souvenir shop / gift shop. Virginia opossums live in most parts of the United States that are east of the Rocky Mountains, and along the west coast from British Columbia in Canada and to Baja California. The Virginia or American opossum, sometimes referred to as the possum, is the only marsupial that lives wild in the United States. range due to the excessive movement of opossums. They are excellent climbers, and they wrap their long prehensile tails around tree limbs for balance. One study showed that one in every four dens in the range was occupied by the opossum. Opossums are nocturnal, meaning they venture out of their dens in the evening in search of food. Opossums like to eat a wide variety of foods, ranging from fruits, grasses, insects, mammals, birds, fish and even carrion. In the past half-century, opossums have extended their range and are now found in Canada. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), commonly known as the North American opossum, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. These animals occur in every Indiana county, but their numbers can be reduced in northern counties during severe winters. The opossum is a marsupial of the order Didelphimorphia (/daɪˌdɛlfɪˈmɔːrfiə/) endemic to the Americas. The Central American Woolly Opossum is a medium-sized marsupial of the rainforests of Central America and northwestern South America. The Grand Forks specimen marked a 137-mile northward range extension for the Virginia opossum, the only marsupial found in North America north of Mexico. The opossum (order Didelphimorphia) is the only marsupial found in the Americas. The length of possums ranges from the length of a human finger to four feet, while their weight ranges from six ounces to 32 pounds. In comparison to other opossums, it is rather cute, with a thick coat of fur, gray in color with extensive reddish or … Opossums originated in South America and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of the two continents. A group of opossums is called a passel. Its face is long and pointed with dark, rounded, paper-thin, hairless ears. Opossums can, however, carry other diseases like tularemia, tuberculosis, spotted fever and toxoplasmosis. In the United States the Virginia opossum is found east of the Rocky Mountains and in Canada in southwestern Ontario. It was Captain John Smith who used the term opossum for the first time in 1608. One should never handle dead wildlife directly. Virginia opossums inhabit Central America and the eastern half of the United States, as well as parts of the west coast, where opossums had just been introduced during the Great Depression. The Opossum Society of the United States; Get News and Action Alerts. Email address. Mobile Number. 2 , 4, 5 , 11 , 18 , 22 , 24 , 29 Unlike most wild animals, the opossum flourishes in urban areas, and the presence of human settlements actually serves to increase the opossum’s habitat and population size. When the babies are born, they only weigh between one and two tenths of … Opossum Habitat Males are usually larger than females. You will receive text messages with ways to help animals right from your phone. You may encounter opossums in the back yards of houses, leading some people to worry about the threat these creatures pose to humans and their pets. The home range of an opossum is about 50 acres. An adult opossum is about the same size as a house cat, but with much shorter legs. ‘Possums’ have a pouch, so are marsupials just like kangaroos. The Virginia opossum was once widely hunted and consumed in the United States. They originally were found only in southeastern U.S., but in recent years their range has expanded west and north all the way into northern Minnesota. One study provided a home range of approximately 11.5 acres but that is only an estimation. Male Virginia opossums may grow to 100 cm (40 inches) but average about 76 cm (30 inches) in total length (including the tail); females average about 72 cm (28 inches). The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 110 or more species in 19 genera. Their population is stable. Today the Virginia opossum’s range covers Central America from Costa Rica to Mexico and several parts of the United States. They also prefer areas that are wet, like marshes, swamps and streams. The cat flea rarely exchanges hosts, so it stays on the animal until the host’s death. Total length ranges from 24 to 33 inches. The Grand Forks specimen marked a 137-mile northward range extension for the Virginia opossum, the only marsupial found in North America north of Mexico. They generally live around people in suburban and urban areas, foraging on a variety of foods as omnivores. On a continental scale, it ranges from southeastern Canada south through New England to Florida, west to Minnesota, Nebraska and Texas, and south to middle America. Opossums inhabit a wide variety of habitats. Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) have a wide range throughout Central and North American, which continues to expand.Currently, Virginia opossums can be found from Costa Rica to southern Ontario, Canada. They are very secretive, slow, and solitary. Opossums inhabit a wide range, from sea level to elevations over 10,000 feet. The name was adapted from the Native American Algonquin term ‘apasum’, which mean white animal. Their fur ranges in color from snow white to jet black, and their tail is nearly hairless and rat-like. Except for higher elevations, opossums now occupy most human-occupied habitats in western Washington. The opossum has a narrow, tapered head with a pointed muzzle, pink nose, black eyes and bluish-black ears that lack hair and look leathery. The opossum is common in wooded areas throughout Pennsylvania. Many opossum ranges overlap, and good quality habitats may support 20 opossums to the square mile. They are not territorial to the extent that they defend their ranges from other opossums. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet, and reproductive habits make them successful colonizers and survivors in diverse locations and conditions. The biggest possums rarely grow beyond the size of a house cat. Managing Opossum Problems The opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a house cat sized mammal (4 -14 Ibs.) Thank you for signing up for text alerts! Opossums range in size from 24 and 33 inches long and typically weigh between 6 and 15 pounds. Opossums are related to kangaroos and other marsupials found in Australia. The flea has expanded its range to dogs, opossums, rats, mice and other animals. Opossums are wanderers, being nomadic and not staying in one specific territory. The Virginia opossum has a total of 50 teeth, more than any other North American mammal. Although they prefer deciduous woodlands with streams, they use all habitats within their range. 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