Opposum Facts

Opposums (Didelphis virginiana), often called possums for short, are small mammals often seen in residential areas of the United States.

Opposums belong to a distinct class of animals, marsupials, which are distinguished by the fact that females carry their young in a pouch after birth. They are the only marsupials in the United States, making them the United States equivalent of the Australian Koala, absent the cuteness factor.

The top picture shows an opposum walking along the ground. They are equally comfortable in trees, with a prehensile tail serving as an added appendage.

They are fairly common in the eastern part of the United States, and a small population is established along the coastal areas of the West Coast.

As omnivores, opposums eat practically anything found in residential areas, including garbage.

Although they are not particularly agressive animals, an opposum will fight with small dogs and cats if threatened. Their sharp teeth pose potential problems for small, feisty pets.

Opposum Facts