O, opossum … You’re amazing

By John Gladden, Communications Coordinator

OK, first things first: It’s pronounced “possum,” not “oh-possum.” The first “o” is silent, like the “g” in “gnat” and the “k” in “knob.” Yet, opossums are not the same as possums.

Confused? Stay with us. It’s not as complicated as it sounds.

The Virginia opossum (a.k.a. the common opossum, as found in Ohio) is a cousin of the Australian possum, but they are two distinct animals. The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial in the United States and Canada. Marsupials are animals that carry their young in a pouch. Like us, opossums have opposable thumbs (toes, in their case) that allow them to grasp objects. Their tails are prehensile, which means they can hold onto things — like tree branches while climbing or a tuft of grass to carry home to a den for bedding.

When it comes to food, an opossum is omnivorous, opportunistic and nocturnal. (Honestly, fellow mammals, aren’t we all?) It will vacuum up just about anything its highly developed sense of smell leads it to in the dark of night: mice, insects, nuts, worms, fruit and more. That includes pet food, bird seed and household garbage, if left within their reach.

An opossum has an unusual reproductive system for such a humble creature. Females have two vaginal canals, but neither functions as the birth canal. Instead, a temporary passageway opens between them and then disappears after the babies are born.

A baby is about the size of a honeybee. Although born with no fur and unable to see or hear, these little troopers manage to climb from the birth canal to the pouch, where they get nourishment from the mama opossum’s mammary glands and begin to grow. Young opossums are called joeys. An adult male is called a jack and a female is called (any guesses?) a jill.

Here are a few more facts:

- Opossums are immune to snakebites and resistant to rabies.

- An opossum has 50 teeth.

- They are great tree climbers and adept swimmers. A mother opossum can put her pouch into waterproof mode so her babies won’t drown.

- Opossums can play dead when threatened. “Play” is a misnomer, since the response is an involuntary one, similar to a human fainting. Opossums may remain in this state from several minutes to several hours.

- They don’t hibernate, but they do have the capacity to stay holed up in their dens for a few days during stretches of severe weather. The tips of their ears and tails are susceptible to frostbite. That’s why older opossums can look a little ragged around the edges.

- “Older” is a relative term. Their remarkable bodies age quickly. Opossums live only one to two years.

- They are docile animals and handy to have around your yard. Opossums are tick-eating machines: It’s estimated they can kill up to 5,000 ticks in a single season.

O, opossum. You’re pretty amazing.

Sources: LiveScience.com, CaryInstitute.org, University of Missouri