Standing in a category of their own the opossum is the only marsupial in North America. They are not the first thing that comes to mind when people think of cute and cuddly, but they play an integral part in keeping our ecosystems balanced. Opossums are know to consume over 90% of the fleas and ticks they encounter. Their diet also consists of rats, mice and snakes. While working hard to keep insect and rodent numbers symbiotic to their environments here are five interesting facts about the commonly misunderstood opossum.
- Opossums can give birth to 20 babies in one litter. Baby opossums or joeys (yes, like kangaroos) are born just after 11-13 days. That’s the shortest gestation period of any mammal in North America.
- Joeys will fight their siblings for one of their mothers 13 nipples and latch on 24/7 for around 6 weeks. The joeys that do not find a nipple will not survive.
- Opossums have an innate immunity to a variety of snake venoms. Opossums are born with specific peptides that render the venom of snakes useless. These snakes include cottonmouth moccasins, diamondback rattlesnakes, copperheads and more!
- North American opossums do not sleep upside down. Contrary to popular belief opossums do not go to sleep inverted hanging by their tails.
- Opossums may play dead when threatened. “Apparent Death” or playing dead is an involuntary reaction opossums have in dangerous situations. Their apparent death may be complimented with a rolled out tongue, drool from their mouth & the release of their bowels.