Fascinating Facts About Opossums!

• Opossums are the only marsupials found in North America. Just like kangaroos, they carry their babies in a pouch!
• The babies are born in only 2 weeks and are the size of a jelly bean!  They have to crawl up their mom’s fur and find her pouch, where they stay until they are a couple months old before they start to come out and ride on top of their mom’s back until they are just too big for her.
• They have a unique defense mechanism called “playing possum.” When threatened, they pretend to be dead by lying on their side, sticking out their tongue, and emitting a foul odor. It’s their way of saying, “I’m not worth your trouble!”
• Opossums have opposable thumbs on their hind feet, which helps them climb trees and hold onto branches. They are excellent climbers!
• These clever critters have a prehensile tail, meaning they can use it to grasp and hold onto objects. It’s like having an extra hand!  They can even roll up hay and leaves and carry them back to add insulation and warmth to a hole or den in the winter.
• Opossums are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They have a varied diet that includes fruits, insects, small mammals, birds, and even carrion (dead animals).
• They are great at pest control! Opossums help keep the environment clean by feasting on pesky insects, mice, rats, ticks and even stink bugs. They are nature’s little exterminators.
• Unlike many other animals, opossums are resistant to rabies due to their lower body temperature. So, they are unlikely to transmit the disease.
• Opossums have a remarkable immune system that helps them fight off venomous snake bites. They are immune to the venom of rattlesnakes, copperheads, and other poisonous snakes.
• They are excellent swimmers! Opossums can paddle through water using their long, hairless tail as a rudder. They are quite graceful in the water!
• Did you know that opossums have more teeth than any other land mammal? They have 50 teeth in total! That’s a lot of pearly whites.
• Opossums as a species have been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth!  Scientists have found opossum fossils dating back around 65 million years ago.  They are resilient little animals.

These are just a few of the amazing fun facts about opossums. Next time you spot one of these unique creatures, take a moment to appreciate their fascinating features and the important role they play in our ecosystem. Who knew opossums were so interesting?!  Feel free to share this with others!