The opossum grows to about the size of a large cat, with an adult weighing around 4-6 kgs (8.8-13.2 lbs) and usually about 76 cm (2.5 feet76 centimeters) in length. As marsupials, opossums have a fascinating life cycle. Males can find receptive females by scent. The possum can live 2 to 3 years in the wild and up to 6 years in captivity. The snout of an opossum is long and pointy. They use it in particular to climb trees. However, in the wild, opossums have a substantially lower life expectancy and seldom live past their first year. If unnoticed, an opportunistic opossum will make a nest in a garage or even attic spaces. The honeybee-sized joeys promptly crawl into the mother's pouch to continue developing. Arctic Fox . This type of opossum also imbibes in carrion (already-dead animals) and even garbage. Opossums are considered an R-selected species. Gorilla Is it possible for an opossum to live a happy and healthy life as a pet? It can be scary for most people when they find this animal in their yard. In the wild, however, very few Opossums live past a year because of their many predators, including humans. Night Moves. When the opossum finishes maturing, it will weigh between six and nine pounds, depending on the gender. Copyright 2023 Quick-Advices | All rights reserved. These environments provide possums with protection from many of the hazards of the wild, as well as regular meals and medical care. The oldest reported opossum in captivity was four years and five months old. How long do opossums live? - Quora The possum can also eat highly toxic leaves. They may even have ingested poison left out for rats by humans. Find out in this article I wrote. How long do opossums live in captivity? How Long Do Opossums Live? Opossum Life Cycle | Assorted Animals Discover the opossum diet, the opossum lifespan, and the opossum habitat. Opossums reproduce 1 to 3 times a year, depending on their living environment. It helps carry sticks and leaves to make a nest, and also wraps around tree limbs to help with balance. A kit will generally open its eyes when it is 55 to 70 days old. Their offspring have a unique cry, and their mothers respond to them with clicking sounds.They are not noisy animals, but they generate hissing, clicking and growling sounds as well. The joeys eyes eventually open after approximately 60 to 70 days in the pouch. Underground dens:They are not very keen diggers like rabbits, groundhogs, or badgers, but they live in underground dens and burrows. - Definition & Facts, What is the Vernal Equinox? If the opossum continuously receives exceptional care and appropriate types of food, opossums could live for more than five or six years, although this is rare. You will need to provide supplemented nutrition, such as calcium and other supplements. They dont put much effort into setting up their dens- instead, they hunker down in whatever place keeps them warm, safe, and dry for a few days. While females can go unnoticed, the male stands out and gets eaten by predators. Dog Dens in winterAlthough it is a furry animal, its fur doesnt provide much insulation in the cold weather. In captivity, their lifespan increases, but only by a small amount. Opossums are handy to have in your yard. The opossum also has opposable thumbs on its hind feet for holding onto branches. With 50 teeth in their mouths, there are many possibilities. Opossums become dangerous with their ability to transmit diseases to pets and people. The number of annual litters is influenced by the climate: in northern regions, an opossum has just one litter per year, while opossums in warmer climes may have up to three litters in a year. During the estrus season, female opossums will accept a male just once. Overall, the short lifespan of possums in the wild is due to a combination of factors, including predation by other animals, exposure to harsh weather conditions, and competition for food and resources. Opossums generally have larger litters to increase the chances of survival while investing few resources into parenting. These mammals are savvy, and they often play dead when a predator approaches them. Strength Opossums have an average lifespan of one to two years in the wild. These predators can kill and eat possums, reducing their population and limiting their lifespan. Possums are known to eat large proportions of eucalyptus leaves , ferns , grasses , fruits , mosses , and herbs . The majority are killed by predators and in road kills. They are hale and hearty for 95% of their lifespan, then begin to show clear signs of old age, and usually die within a month or so of the first signs. ), snails, mice, and rats. Piggyback. General Opossum Information | Opossum Society of the United States Why Do Opossums Die Fast? - North American Nature So, how long is the opossum lifespan? However, opossums face their most significant hazards in winter when wild turkeys, dogs, and even bears can take advantage of opossum vulnerability due to a decreased food supply and reduced mobility due to frigid temperatures. Opossums are carrion eaters, and often this includes roadkill. Opossum mothers have 13 nipples. Opossums have many adaptations to help them survive in a variety of climates. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. The story goes that the name opossum was first used in western culture by Captain John Smith in 1608. The only species in North America and Canada is the Virginia opossum, sometimes called the common opossum. Opossums have adapted well and become more resourceful with their food sources, eating anything from fruit and grass to small birds and lizards. There are plenty of other factors that change and bring about new obstacles to opossums living the good life with humans. These help them climb trees as well. By predators I mean literally anything, dogs, cars, diseases, snakes, and coyotes. Possums are opportunistic eaters and will consume a wide range of plants and animals, but they must compete with other animals for these resources. If protecting their young, add biting to the list. The opossums conservation status is classified as stable, but they are often subjected to unnecessary mortality. When theyre highly active, they produce a high-pitched chirruping twitter. An opossum is finally an adult once it leaves the pouch and is ready to live without its mom. Opossums are roughly the size of a grain of rice when they are born. Humans and domesticated animals like dogs and cats also pose a problem to the small opossum. During day to day activity, they are almost silent, so it isn't easy to detect them. Virginia Opossum Courtship and Mating. She has a background in Broadcast Journalism & Political Science from CUNY Brooklyn College. . When they are 75 to 85 days old, they are weaned and rarely return to the pouch. Average life span: The life period of an opossum is the shortest for mammals of their size. Opossums | Diet, Lifespan & Habitat | Study.com Most of them, sadly, don't even survive their first year, let alone die of old age. It is an involuntary response (like fainting) rather than a conscious act. This helps them survive in many different environments and climates. But opossum droppings are not broken in small pieces and are generally one large dropping. Lifespan We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. However, they are immune to viper venom and several diseases, including Lyme disease. On average, opossums have a short lifespan. The oldest opossum ever seen in the wild was three years old. When threatened, opossums run, growl, belch, hiss, urinate, and defecate. Those living near humans will also take the opportunity to explore garbage cans and dumpsters to enrich their diet. Create your account. Females keep tabs on their youngsters through a series of clicks, lip-smacking, and bird-like sounds. How Long Do Possums Live [Facts and Information] - Pest Control Weekly 2 to 4 years. They have a short lifespan of only two to four years, but they reproduce rapidly and have a stable population. Light grey fur with a white face, dark eyes, a pointed snout and naked tail are a few distinguishing features of this animal. This is the shortest gestation period of any North American mammal. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. They generally live for about 2 4 years. They often dont attack pets, so your pets are likely to be safe from this wild animal. Also, make sure that there is always an available source of water so that your opossum doesnt become dehydrated. This means that even if they eat the remains of an animal with rabies, they don't get sick themselves and don't pass the illness along. Being cared for properly means feeding them the right diet, giving them proper exercise, and tending to their needs accordingly. Fruits and vegetables are common choices for smaller animals like an opossum. Where Is It Legal To Own Opossums as Pets? This will likely not bode well for the opossum. Opossums are classified as marsupials, which are mammals that carry and nurse their young in pouches. They have no visible eyes or ears. Taurine and other supplements such as calcium are important for opossums. Opossums are generally considered to be wild animals. Often misunderstood and persecuted by many, opossums actually help keep the environment healthy and tidy by eating dead stuff and lots of disease-carrying ticks. They will remain with their mother until they are 3 to 4 months old. Answer (1 of 5): One thing to remember about opossums is not only do they have short lifespans, they tend to hit old age all at once. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". What Does A Badger Sound Like? You may see the drag marks in their tracks because their long tail often drags behind them. In addition to rolling over with their eyes rolling and tongues hanging out, they also release a foul smell from their anal glands to imitate decay and disease. Well, they are actually responsible for killing thousands of ticks. Giraffe On average, females typically have eight pouch-young per litter. This New World species is correctly called an "opossum" as opposed to the Old World "possum". The lifespan of an opossum is relatively short for a mammal of its size. These soft nesting materials make the den a dry place to live. There have always been challenges with this concept, but some other animals have responded well to being a pet. When she's not writing she loves traveling, perusing used book stores, and hanging out with her other half. Another reason for death is the slowness of theopossum; theyare hit by cars very often. In the wild, opossums generally dont survive very long due to the number of predators out there. Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) longevity, ageing, and life history While they are small and easy to care for, they are naturally created to be out in the wilderness. This state of catatonia can last from a few minutes to four hours. They also hunt snails, mice, beetles, and other harmful insets- providing a type of pest control.Their urban-dwelling den is found in garages, porches, firewood piles, inside sheds, and underneath houses. The ones that are lucky enough to locate a teat will increase their chances of making it into adulthood. The oldest opossum captured in the wild was only three years old. He spends most of his day sleeping in the trees, rock crevices, abandoned burrows, etc., and goes out at night to find food. However, since the lifespan of each opossum varies, it is difficult to determine whether male or female opossums live longer. They have the ability to scavenge for rotten fruit, garbage, pet food, and roadkill. This wild animal has powerful claws and prehensile tails that makes it a strong climber and helps it grasp branches.