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Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

September 17, 2017 by

Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Pennsylvania Counties for Opossum
Common Name: Opossum

Scientific Name: Didelphis virginiana

Habitat: Adaptable; able to live wherever water, food, and shelter exist. At home in trees; uses its prehensile tail to help stabilize position when climbing— it does not, however, hang by its tail.

Diet: Omnivorous—eats insects, snails, rodents, berries, over-ripe fruit, grasses, leaves, and carrion; occasionally will eat snakes, ground eggs, corn, or other vegetables.

Interesting Facts:
North America’s only marsupial (female has a pouch) mammal. One of the shortest lived mammals for its size, typically 2 to 4 years. Killed by many predators: humans (and cars), dogs, cats, owls, and larger wildlife.

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