Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Opossums are nocturnal animals, usually active only at night.  They use an excellent sense of smell to find food and sensitive whiskers to find their way in the dark.  With 50 sharp teeth, an opossum can crunch through almost any kind of food—small mammals, insects, snails, even the scraps of food we throw away.

The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial species in North America.  Its relatives are kangaroos and koalas.  Marsupial moms have pouches where babies grow.  When born, opossum babies are very small, about the size of a bean.

Although they start out small, opossums grow very quickly.  In the wild, they usually live only one to two years.  In captivity, somewhere like Lindsay Wildlife where they are protected and receive excellent husbandry (clean living conditions, food, and water) and veterinary care, they can live three to four years.