Opossum facts pdf free

Opossums have prehensile tails and opposable big toes. The virginia opossum didelphis virginiana, or opossum as it is commonly known, is a native mammal in georgia. The opossum is not a rodent, it is a marsupial like a kangaroo. Thousands of new, highquality pictures added every day. They are light gray in color and basically look like big rats. The opossum is often called possum, leaving off the o old world possums and new world opossums are not closely related. What makes an opossum unusual, and what are some facts about. The opossum helps keep neighborhoods clean and free of unwanted, harmful garden. Though a relative of the kangaroo, opossums are much slower. They live in many parts of the united states with the exception of the rockies, western plains and parts of the northern region.

For more information about opossums or other horticultural topics, feel free to contact us. The virginia opossum, didelphis virginiana, is the only marsupial native to north america. Find out cute facts about possums that will change your mind about the animals. The female carries and nurses her young in her marsupium until they are about 2 to 3 months old. Because of this behavior, which is in fact a bluff, the opossum is. They are omnivores, eating almost anything, live in a wide variety of habitats, and have many adaptations including a pouch. Opossums may give birth to as many as 20 babies in a litter, but fewer than half of them survive.

Possums are generally regarded as pests when folks find them lurking in their yard or near their homes in the middle. Jess grew up in oklahoma before moving to new york to become a writer. North americas only marsupial female has a pouch mammal. With long, brown or gray hair and a long, scaly tail, opossums can also give off a repulsive, musklike odor. The size of a large cat, opossums are the only marsupial found in north america. Opossum rabies is actually more rare than in skunks, raccoons or foxes. The opossum is the only marsupial, or pouched mammal, found in the u. Opossum facts, behavior and habitat mother earth news. There are several dozen different species of opossum, which are often called possums in north america. Along the way, we learned facts such as when the battle. They are closely related to the kangaroo and koala.

With its odd looks, clueless demeanor and taste for trashcan fare, the opossum is widely considered to be only a halfrung above a rat on the. To donate by mail please make check or money order payable to. Opossums usually live alone and are only active at night. Opossums have five toes on each foot and a tail with no fur. Another interesting fact about opossums is that these solitary creatures have been. Opossums provide free pest control services by eating all kinds of bugs, small snakes, mice, dead birds killed by cats, and even baby rats. Commonly known as possums, these pests are the only marsupial native to the united states. In fact, between 2004 and 2014 there were only 25 cases of. Opossums are mostly immune to rabies, and in fact, they are eight times less likely to carry rabies compared to wild dogs.

Did you know that opossums are north americas only marsupial. The common opossum and virginia opossum are found in the united states, mexico, central america, south america and canada. Though they arent picky about where they hang out, opossums love trees. Opossums are the only marsupial found in north america. The opossum is a type of mammal that is the only one of its kind in north america. Pdf on jan 1, 2005, william j krause and others published the opossum.