Opossum Facts: Miscellaneous

MISCELLANEOUS:

• The word opossum refers to the North American species (those found in other areas are called possums)
• The Virginia opossum is only found in the United States
• Opossums are related to Kangaroos, Koalas, Tasmanian Devils, and Brazilian Short-hair Pigmy Possums
• Opossums help gardens by eating snails, slugs, insects, snakes, rats and overripe fruit.
• Opossums are highly resistant to diseases such as rabies because of its efficient immune system and lower body temperature.
• Opossums are not a public health threat.
• There is far less of a risk of infection from opossums than from house pets.
• Opossums can be infested with fleas and ticks.
• The opossum's greatest enemies are cars and domestic pets.
• Another predator of opossums is people, who hunt them for food, sport, and pelts.
• Other enemies include owls, foxes, and larger wildlife.
• Opossums compete with sheep and rabbits for food.
• Opossums have more teeth than any other North American land mammal (50).
• Opossums are not territorial and move to wherever food is available.
• Opossums can not hang upside down by their tail, but use their tail to climb.
• Opossums also use their mouth to climb. For this reason, it is not advised to hold a fully-developed opossum on your chest or shoulder, as they will attempt to climb up your body and use their teeth to assist them along the way. It is advisable to position an opossum on a flat surface and hold onto it by the base of its tail. This does not hurt the opossum. In fact it makes him feel very secure and he will wrap his tail around your fingers.
• Marsupial refers to the reproductive system, which entails the very young embryos being born and attaching to the mothers nipples
• Not all marsupials have pouches. Embryos of species without a pouch simply attach to a nipple and remain on the underside of the mother until grown enough to detach.
• Opossums do not have good eyesight or hearing -- they rely mainly on their sense of smell.
• Opossums are very clean animals and groom themselves much like a cat does.
• Opossums are also found in Australia and South America