Living with Opossums
Opossums are marsupials. This means
the female has a pouch where her young fasten themselves to a nipple and hold on
for over two months. Mating season is from January to October, and it usually
peaks from February to June.
Opossums have between two and three
litters a year and bear an average of 8 young but can have as many as 13. Being
nocturnal, the opossum looks for food during the night. They eat just about
anything. They are found on farmlands and woodlands but have slowly migrated
into more urban communities. A mature opossum measures 2 to 3 feet long. Their
tails alone can be as short as 8 inches and as long as 12 inches. Their bodies
are covered, predominantly, with grayish-white fur, but the head is usually
white. Both ears and tail are fleshy, with a leather-like texture. An opossum
is distinguishable: thick bodied, short-legged, a prominently pointed face, and
a long rat-like tail. However, they are often mistaken for very large rats.
Opossums are omnivores and eat foods
such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, meats, fish, eggs, carrion, grains, and small
mammals. They have been deemed scavengers because they raid garbage cans.
Opossums, however, are pretty indiscreet about garbage can raids and are often
caught red-handed.
WANT TO AVOID THEM
Here are some valuable tips:
*** Pick up your animal's food dish
at night if you feed him/her outdoors. Opossums are not above a free domestic
animal's meal. Keep animal doors locked at night.
*** Fence in your backyard or
garbage can area. If you catch an opossum in the midst of a raid, do not
attempt to pick up or corner the animal; they have very bad tempers and 50 very
sharp teeth. Instead use bright lights or loud noises to frighten the animal
away. Opossums may roll over on their side and play dead if startled. If they
do this, just leave them alone. They may lay there for an hour but eventually
they will scurry away when it is safe.
*** Securely fasten garbage can
lids.
*** Place ammonia-soaked rags,
mothballs in socks, and/or cayenne pepper in strategic places surrounding the
area most plagued by opossums.
*** Bang pans, rustle paper,
open/close doors, keep outdoor lights on, or play a radio to deter the opossums
from coming into your yard.