Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
It is North America’s only native marsupial. Females raise young in a pouch.
It is North America’s only native marsupial. Females raise young in a pouch. Give it an escape route. Secure attractants and never handle a sick or injured animal.
Habitat:
Woodlands, Wetlands, Neighborhoods, Gardens
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Insects, snails, fruit, carrion, eggs, and small animals.
Behavior:
Nocturnal scavenger that often shelters under decks, in brush, or inside hollow trees.
Night
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Look during night in suitable Florida habitat.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Common native wildlife
Safety Level:
Harmless. Avoid Handling
Safety Information:
Give it an escape route. Secure attractants and never handle a sick or injured animal.
Benefits to Property:
Opossums remove carrion and eat many insects and snails.
Property Concerns:
They sometimes raid pet food, trash, compost, or poultry areas.
Fun Fact:
It is North America’s only native marsupial. Females raise young in a pouch.
Wildlife Laws:
Give it an escape route. Secure attractants and never handle a sick or injured animal.
Identification:
Gray coarse fur, white face, dark ears, pointed snout, and a nearly hairless tail.
Credits:
Facts: wildlife reference. Images: primary image and secondary image, Wikimedia Commons.