Virginia Opossum

Habitat:
Deciduous forest, open woods, brushy wastelands, and farmlands.

 

Range:
Most of e U.S., except n Minnesota, n Michigan, and n New England; extends southwest to e Wyoming, Colorado, and c New México. Also s British Columbia south to Baja California and east into c Idaho; and se Arizona.

A solitary nocturnal animal, the Virginia Opossum is terrestrial and arboreal, and climbs well. Although it does not hibernate, during very cold weather it may hole up for several day at a time, risking frostbit on its naked ears and tail to seek food when hunger strikes. Carrion forms much of its dies, and many individual are killed on highway while attempting to feed on road kill. The diet also includes insects, frogs, birds, snakes, small mammals, earthworms, and berries and other fruits; persimmons, apples, and corn are favorite foods. The Virginia Opossum makes a leaf nest in a hollow log, fallen tree, abandoned burrow, or other sheltered place. Several defensive behaviors have been described in opossums. When threatened, an individual may roll over, shut its eyes, and allow its tongue to loll, feigning death, or “playing possum,” for some time, More often, it tries to bluff its attacker by hissing, screeching, salivating, opening it mouth wide to show all of its 50 teeth, and sometimes excreting a greenish substance.