Amazing Opossum Facts and Theories

• Opossums are the only marsupial native to North America
• They lived 70 million years ago during the Mesozoic Era in the late Cretaceous period 
• Adults weigh 5 to 15 lbs, while newborn babies are about the size of a honey bee
• Their life span is 3 years in the wild; longer in captivity
• They are often mistaken for a large rat, but they are not rodents, they are marsupials
• Opossum fur can be white or black, but is usually gray
• Older opossums often have a brown or red tone to their fur
• They are solitary, nocturnal and can live wherever there is food, water and shelter
• They can strike surprisingly fast like snake (I've been bit so I know!)
• They can swim
• Opossums are excellent climbers using their hands, feet and tail to grasp
• Prehensile tail is used for climb-ing and for carrying nesting materials - both males and females build nests
• Young opossums can hang upside down by their tails, but only for short periods of time
• Sense of smell and hearing are excellent; eyesight is poor
• As omnivores, they eat anything: frogs, snails, mice, snakes, bugs, fruit, even road killed animals
• They mate once a year, but have two litters: one in spring and one in late summer - the theory is the 2nd pregnancy is delayed
• Gestation period is a very fast 13 days
• As many as 25 babies are born and make their way into the pouch
• The first 13 babies that attach to a nipple survive - mama can only accommodate 13 babies in her pouch
• Babies spend two months in the pouch continuing their development
• Once out of the pouch, babies ride on top of mom, hanging onto her fur
• Opossums are immune to rattle snake venom, rabies and distemper
• Roam from place to place but sometimes stay in one location if they have food and security
• They do not gnaw or chew on things, dig up gardens or attack people and pets
• Common ways the opossum is injured are by being hit by cars and attacked by dogs
• Some are needlessly trapped, driven off, abused and killed by misinformed humans
• If a mom is fatally injured, her babies can often be rescued and raised by wildlife rehabilitators
• Flea infestations resulting in anemia are a commonly seen problem
• They are hardy creatures and often recover fully from illness and injury
• Because they are slow moving, they often cannot escape predators
• To scare off attackers, they show off their sharp teeth, growl and drool - as a last resort, they will play dead "Play Possum" 
• While "playing possum," they emit a smelly substance from their anal gland which smells like rotten meat. This makes the opossum appear to be a rotting carcass and most predators will not eat him.
• Opossums have a peaceful nature and will avoid confrontations, but they will bite if provoked as a defensive
• They have 52 teeth - more than any other mammal in North America