The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is more closely related to
kangaroos
than to any other mammal in North America. It’s our only member of the ancient group of animals called the marsupials, or animals with pouches. Opossum is the official name.
Are opossums in the rodent family?
Are opossums a type of rodent? The answer is:
No
! While opossums resemble rodents with their long faces and a big rat-like tail, opossums are not rodents. Rather, there are marsupials!
In fact, the opossum is a marsupial, or “pouched” mammal, and is therefore related to other marsupials such as
the kangaroo and the koala
. Like kangaroos and koalas, infant opossums stay inside the mother’s pouch to nurse and develop.
Is it bad to have a possum in your yard?
If there is an opossum in the backyard, don’t worry.
They aren’t a threat
, and more than likely they will be moving on in a short while. … But far from being a nuisance, opossums can be beneficial for your garden, eating snails, slugs, insects and sometimes even small rodents.
Can a possum be a pet?
Short-tailed opossums have grown in popularity as an exotic pet. They are
very good pets for beginners
because of their cleanliness, omnivorous diet, and general good health. These opossums are small, generally friendly creatures with easy care requirements, and they certainly are cute!
What is the difference between a possum and an opossum?
Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the
Virginia opossum
frequently seen in North America. In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. … Most English speakers who encounter the creature drop the Virginia and refer to it simply as an opossum.
Can possums have fleas?
Opossums have ectoparasites
, such as fleas, ticks and mites, that can cause issues. They can carry diseases such as tularemia. … If an opossum can get in, a lot of other things — including other species of wildlife — can get in, too.
What do possums hate most?
- Garlic.
- Onion.
- Hot peppers.
- Hot sauce.
- Mustard.
- Quassia chips.
- Black tea.
- Fish oil.
Do possums eat cats?
Opossums do not prey on cats or other larger mammals
but will attack them if cornered, or if competing for food. Opossums cause loss to home gardens by eating nuts, berries, fruits, and grapes. They eat pet food left outside and may raid compost bins.
What attracts possums to your house?
They are attracted to
overflowing or odorous trash cans
, uncovered compost heaps or other containers that you may have outside. They like to set up their habitat near water or moist areas. If you live near a pond, drainage ditch or sewer, you’re more likely to see opossums on your property.
Do possums bite humans?
Opossums are more likely to growl, hiss and show their
50 sharp teeth than to bite
. They are a relatively placid animal and like to avoid confrontation at all costs. However, if cornered they do have the ability to bite.
What is the possums favorite food?
What is a possum’s favorite food? Possums like to munch on
vegetables and fruits
. They like sweet things but should not eat them in excess. They eat almost anything.
Are possums friendly to humans?
Opossums are omnivorous and are beneficial to humans
because they cause very little damage and they consume undesirable insects, snails, and slugs. The many beneficial qualities of opossums include: Keeping neighborhoods clear of unwanted pests like cockroaches, rats, and mice.
Do opossums carry diseases?
Opossums carry diseases such as
leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease
. They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Opossums are hosts for cat and dog fleas, especially in urban environments.
Why is the O in opossum silent?
People in
this region do not usually pronounce the “O”
. Possums are native to Australia. When English explorers first met the Australian creature, they thought it looked like the North American Opossum. As a result, they called it a possum and recorded the name like North Americans would pronounce it (without the “O“).
