Are possums nocturnal11/9/2022 ![]() ![]() During the day these marsupials will stay in their dens, and they venture out at night to explore and hunt. Though they dont hibernate, opossums do slow down during the winter. The opossum and possum both lead nocturnal lifestyles, preferring to be active at night and sleep during the day. Then they will move out of the pouch and spend another four to six weeks on their mother's back. Opossums are nocturnal, which means they are awake at night and sleep during the day. ![]() They will stay in the pouch and suckle for 55-60 days. If they make it to the pouch, only babies who find one of the thirteen teats will survive. Some babies will not find their way to the pouch and will die. Possums will also eat insects, moths, grubs, snails, birds’ eggs and baby birds. Brushtail Possums are known to be tolerant of many plant toxins and will eat trees that other animals find poisonous. The babies climb up the mother's fur and into her pouch where they find a teat. Possums are mainly, plant eaters, favouring eucalyptus and other leaves, ferns, buds, flowers and fruits. Like most marsupials, opossums are very small when they are born - about the size of a navy bean. The reason opossums have so many babies to insure that some of them survive. Because so much carrion is roadkill, opossums are often killed by cars while looking for food on roadways.Ī Virginia opossum female may have as many as 25 babies, but she usually will have between seven to eight. It is omnivorous and eats just about anything, including lots of different plants and animals like fruits, insects, and other small animals. It tends to prefer wet areas like marshes, swamps and streams.ĭiet The Virginia opossum is nocturnal and uses its keen sense of smell to locate food. Habitat The Virginia opossum lives in a wide variety of habitats including deciduous forests, open woods and farmland. It is also found in Mexico, Central America and in British Columbia, Canada. The Virginia opossum can be found in most of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and on the West Coast. The opossum doesn't hibernate in the winter, but it often holes up during very cold weather because it runs the risk of getting frostbite on its hairless ears, tail, and toes. The hallux helps the Virginia opossum grab branches when it climbs. Hallux are clawless big toes that work like thumbs. Their tails aren't strong enough to hold them for that long! Some people think opossums hang from their tails and sleep. The opossum can hang from its tail for a short time. ![]() A prehensile tail is adapted for grasping and wrapping around things like tree limbs. It has grayish fur everywhere but on its ears, feet and tail. It has a triangular head and a long pointed nose. The opossum is about the size of a large house cat. The opossum has been around for at least 70 million years and is one of Earth's oldest surviving mammals! A marsupial is an animal with a pouch, like a kangaroo or a koala. ICUN Redlist - World Status: Least ConcernĬharacteristics The Virginia opossum is North America's only marsupial. ![]()
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