Opossums, which include roughly 100 species, are some of the most misunderstood animals in the Americas. They are frequently viewed as dim-witted, filthy beings whose best trick is acting like roadkill.
Contrary to popular belief, opossums are more intelligent, hygienic, and helpful to people than many of their forest companions. Opossums are intriguing in many ways.
Keep reading for seven fun facts about opossums!
1. Opossums Help Prevent Lyme Disease
Opossums are opportunistic omnivores, which means they consume both plants and animals whenever they have the chance. They often eat from our trash or break into food containers for an easy meal. Opossums are meticulous groomers, consuming up to 90% of the ticks that cling to them, unlike other animals that carry parasites and spread Lyme disease.
By consuming decaying fruits and vegetables, these animals help in eliminating insect sources as well. They control more than just ticks; they also eat cockroaches and small rodents like rats and mice. A scavenger in the wild, opossums eat roadkill and rodent skeletons to supplement their calcium needs.
2. They Have Superpowers (Sort Of)
Although they aren’t invincible, opossums have several important natural immunities. Rabies is extremely uncommon in these animals. Marsupials have lower body temperatures than the placental animals that dominate North America; as a result, the virus cannot survive in their bodies.
Opossums almost have superpowers in that they are unaffected by poisons like botulism and are immune to the venom of poisonous creatures including rattlesnakes, scorpions, and honeybees, among others. An opossum sees its future meal when it sees a snake or scorpion. Except for the coral snake, the animals are resistant to the venom of almost all snake species present in their natural habitat.
For many years, scientists have attempted to harness the antivenom properties of opossums. Researchers recently discovered that mice fed a peptide from opossums plus rattlesnake venom were successfully shielded from the venom’s harmful effects.
3. Opossums Are North America’s Only Marsupial
The Virginia opossum is the only native marsupial in North America. Marsupials include kangaroos, wombats, koalas, opossums, and others that carry young in a pouch. Two-thirds of the world’s more than 330 marsupials reside in Australia.
In North America, opossum and possum describe the same thing, but in Australia the word possum refers to a completely different animal, the most well-known being the brushtail possum. Both creatures are small to medium-sized, omnivorous marsupials, but the similarities end there. The possum looks like a cute cross between a squirrel and a chinchilla, and it belongs to a different order than the opossum.
4. Opossums Are Acrobats
You might have thought an opossum was a clumsy little animal if you’ve ever seen one bumbling around outside. While they can only run at speeds of about five miles per hour, their opposable thumbs and prehensile tails make them incredible tree climbers. Despite preferring to move on land, they are excellent swimmers as well.
The opossum is one of few animals to have a prehensile tail, occasionally utilizing it as an additional arm. It is a myth that opossums can hang by their tail for extended periods of time; this could injure an adult opossum, so this behavior is only seen in babies.
Sadly, opossums in northern areas frequently have abnormally short tails because frostbite has destroyed the ends.
5. “Playing ‘Possum” Isn’t an Act
Opossums are known for “playing ‘possum” when threatened, which is akin to acting dead. This behavior is not voluntary; in the face of perceived danger, an opossum becomes unconscious, similar to fainting. Opossums also occasionally display their teeth while in this condition, froth at the mouth, and release foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands to simulate illness.
Once catatonic, an opossum may stay that way for up to four hours, serving as a potent deterrent to predators who ordinarily stay away from carrion. Once they are awake again, if no real injuries are present, they will continue on their path.
6. Baby Opossums Are Called “Joeys”
Opossums reproduce between the months of January and October, when they can have up to two litters of four to eight joeys each. Like baby kangaroos, newborn opossums are born only a little bigger than a honeybee and are known as joeys.
Joeys spend their first 50 days in the pouch before starting to emerge. During this season, it’s possible to witness newborn opossums riding on their moms’ backs, which is a truly adorable sight. Young opossums separate from their moms to locate their own home ranges after around 100 days.
7. Some People Keep Opossums as Pets
Depending on where you live, you can keep an opossum as a pet. Many states require a permit, and in some places, it is entirely illegal, so do your research before deciding to bring one of these animals home.
As pets, opossums can be compared to lazy housecats, and they can even be trained to use a litter box. They keep themselves very clean and are quiet. Despite their defense mechanism of secreting a foul-smelling liquid, a happy opossum is generally odorless. As with all exotic pet animals, opossums require a generous amount of research and planning before owning one.
They require special diets. If they do not get all the nutrition they need, especially when they are young, they will very quickly develop metabolic bone disease, or rickets. However, with the proper diet and care, opossums can be a low-maintenance, friendly, and unique companion.
Opossums Are Misunderstood Creatures
Although opossums are frequently misunderstood, they are wonderful animals to have around. They’re calm, non-aggressive, unlikely to harm pets or spread disease, and they aid in controlling insect populations. As non-confrontational creatures, they will mind their own business. So, next time you see one, allow them to stay and clean rather than shooing them away!
